Dexter Axle?

[IndyTom]

How much should I expect to pay for a 2200# Dexter #9 axle? I have gotten some prices and they are all over the map from $160 to $600. I just want to make sure I am ordering the right thing and paying a fair price.
Thanks guys.

[asianflava]

Under $200 is good but I don't think it should be over $250.

[madjack]

...it really depends on the dealer...locally, my welding supply house is a RedNeck Trailer dist and will sell me a Dexter #9 with hubs for around 160 bucks...that is a really good deal. So shop around cause you can order a Flexirde for 229 plus shipping from etrailer...
madjack

[IndyTom]

Thanks guys, I was hoping that the $160 price was legitamite. The guy that quoted me $600 acted like he didn't want to sell me one anyway. The only additional cost will be to upgrade to 5 on 4.5 hubs.
I have two other questions I am sure someone here knows. Is the axle bolted on or welded on? Can the start angle be changed?

Thanks for tolerating my newbie questions. Now it UPS would just hurry and bring my welder.

[madjack]

...the axle is designed to be bolted on...you cannot weld to the axle tube because it is full of rubber...they sell a weld on mounting kit, which is welded to the frame and then the axle bolts to it...we simply welded the mounting tabs to the frame...dunno if we were not supposed to but we did...the start angle on the Dexter is not adjustable, you have to tell them what you want when you order and they weld it up...the angle is adjustable on the Flexiride...we have the Flexiride and it came with a 0* start angle, which gave us about 13" of ground clearance with 205-70-15 tires
madjack

[asianflava]

When you order your axle from Dexter, they will ask you what kind of bracket you want, weld or bolt on. I asked for weld-on brackets, so we welded the axle brackets to the frame.

As far as the start angle is concerned, you cannot change it on a
Dexter. Once it's put together, that's it. You can change the start angle on a flex-ride axle. There are splined stubs that come out of the axle. The trailing arms have corresponding splines and clamp to the stubs. I had no idea what start angle to get, 45 looked too high and 0 looked too low. I just split the difference and went with 22.5. It is a bit tall but it works out perfectly with our SUV.

[cracker39]

My Dexter #9 cost me $174 before state tax was added, and that was with the 4.5 hubs and the EZ-lube hub option. I think the price without the EZ lube hubs was about $163. I picked it up at a Redneck store, so I didn't have shipping to pay.

[cracker39]

...the axle is designed to be bolted on...you cannot weld to the axle tube because it is full of rubber...they sell a weld on mounting kit, which is welded to the frame and then the axle bolts to it...

Jack, I asked the Redneck dealer about welding, and he said people weld on the axles all the time. He said OK to weld the mounting part to the frame, just not to weld anything to the axle tube. I'll call and ask again before we weld it on. I may have gotten a bum answer. I had planned to stopping the weld an inch or so from the tube anyway. They do sell the weld on brackets to bolt the axle to, but I could make them out of 3/16" 2" x 2" angle cheaper.

[madjack]

Dale, they sell a weldon set of brackets that weld to the frame and axle bolts to it...like I said we just welded the bolt on mounting brackets to the frame..
madjack

[cracker39]

Yeah, I know they sell those brackets. That's why I'd like to know why the guy at Redneck said I could just weld on the axle. It doesn't jive. That's why I'm calling them again on Monday to ask.

[Nitetimes]

Yeah, I know they sell those brackets. That's why I'd like to know why the guy at Redneck said I could just weld on the axle. It doesn't jive. That's why I'm calling them again on Monday to ask.

You can weld it right to the frame it's not a problem until you have a problem with the axle and it needs to be removed, then you have a problem.
The guy from Redneck was right, we've welded them on for years, it doesn't cause any problems with the axle but it is a real pain if you bend or break one, it really bites having to try to cut and grind the welds off to drop the axle, particularly with all the wood surrounding it. My advice, buy or make brackets to bolt it to.
Always try to build in a little repairablility.

[cracker39]

Rich, thank you for that info and advice. I wasn't thinking about repairability. But it's good to know that I was given the correct info about the welding. I have some 1/8" angle, and welded to the frame, I think it should hold the axle in place, but I may go get a piece of 3/16" to be sure it holds. I'll check the axle again tomorrow to see if home made angle brackets will work. I'd just have to do them in two pieces, one on either side of the axle tube, because it comes right up to the frame. The brackets sold for the axle have a cut-out for the tube.

[asianflava]

I guess it was a bit difficult to understand my other post. The axle came with a bracket welded to to it. We just welded this bracket to the frame, stopping about an inch or 2 from the actual axle tube. I asked for weld on brackets, nothing else extra came with my axle.

[Nitetimes]

I have some 1/8" angle, and welded to the frame, I think it should hold the axle in place, but I may go get a piece of 3/16" to be sure it holds.

I think I would opt for the 3/16" at least, I am pretty sure the ones you can get for it are either 1/4" or 5/16". I think 1/8" might be a bit thin, keep in mind all the torque from the axle will be on those 2 bolts.

[cracker39]

I have some left over 3/16" x 2" x 2" tubular steel. In the morning (this morning? it's after 4AM), I'll look at the axle mount again to see if I can split some into angle pieces to use. If not, I'll check back with my steel supplier and get what I need, or just order the brackets. I have more time than money, so if I can make them cheaper, I will. The frame and brackets will take the weight, not the bolts, but, I plan on using at least grade 5 bolts, as large as the holes in the axle mount allow. I have some large ones left over from my hitch installation that may fit.