axles

[BrwBier]

Half axles or full beam? Are their any down sides to using half axles or is it better to go with a full beam axle
Brwbier

[madjack]

personally, I say full beam(this relates to torsion axles)...with a full beam axle the axle tube acts as a crossmember eliminating one of 'em, with stub axles you haveta build bracing/crossmembers etc for them to mount on. Full beam axles usually have a slight bend in the tube to provide camber(caster) to help give better tracking and it is easier(Ithink) to mount stubs so they are outta line...however, they are less expensive and can give equally satisfying service...it is your decision after all
madjack

[remarquian]

...with a full beam axle the axle tube acts as a crossmember eliminating one of 'em, with stub axles you haveta build bracing/crossmembers etc for them to mount on....however, they [half torsion axles] are less expensive and can give equally satisfying service...it is your decision after all
madjack

Yes, I'm thinking of using a Flex-Ride 1400. At 37 pounds it's pretty light, and, in my case, I think it's a plus that the cross member can also act as a support for the floor.

I'm wondering if anyone else has used them (the FR-1400, in particular), likes them, and can report on how hard it was to get them aligned.

Thanks,

rob

[asianflava]

Not shure about the flex-ride but you can't use a Dexter as a floor support. It will tie the frame sides together but due to the peak in the axle it won't do a good job of supporting the floor.

[remarquian]

AF,

The FR 1400 is a torsion half axle.

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

rob

[angib]

can report on how hard it was to get them aligned.

Every back-street trailer builder in Britain, and most of Yurp, uses separate half-axles and their trailers tow just fine. Put a straight edge acroos the two units to line them up with each other before fixing them down. It's popular here to buy the pre-drilled plates to bolt the units to - the plates are bolted to the units, they're aligned and tack welded, and then unbolted for full welding. It would be sensible to sequence the welding to minimize distortion.

Everyone here tells you using half-axles is a big problem because they haven't seen it done - but that doesn't mean it's a big problem, it means they haven't seen it done!

Andrew

[cracker39]

Not shure about the flex-ride but you can't use a Dexter as a floor support. It will tie the frame sides together but due to the peak in the axle it won't do a good job of supporting the floor.

Besides, the axle shaft is under the frame side rails, below the floor.