14 Bolt outers for trailer axles

[pseudomike]

I'm looking to upgrade to heavier axles on my car hauler and I was thinking about cutting the tubes off a couple 14 bolts and fabricating new axles. Basically plan to cut tubes at the housing and weld new DOM tubing (either over existing tubes or inside depending what I can find) to extend them to length. From there I would cut the axle shafts off and use them like a bolt on dust cover. Would run standard 14 bolt brakes, seals, bearings, and more importantly same spare as the truck. I was thinking I would put a hydraulic brake actuator on to run the 14B brakes at the tongue and ditch the finicky electric setup I have. What do you guys think? I've used 14B outers for other projects and I know they can take serious loads. Just a thought, wanted to get some input.

 

[throttleissues]

Hey Mik, were you thinking an electric/hyd actuator or surge brakes? I'm opposed to surge brakes myself. I've worked on a lot of them, and I just really don't like them. There's no tuneablilty to them other than changing masters to get the ratio to where it'll work decent. It always seems like they're either locking up or not doing sh!t.
Also, trailer axles aren't that expensive to begin with. I can see the recycling theme here being kinda cool, but I think a set of 5200 or 6000 lb trailer axles will also be much lighter and have more reliable brakes. I'm running 2x5200 axles (both with brakes) on mine with few problems other than having to check and adjust the brakes once in a while.
Was your fiincky electric brakes an issue with the axles or the controller? I run a Prodigy controller, and the only issues I've had were from brakes needing to be cleaned/adjusted.

 

[pseudomike]

I think the brake problems I've had are water/salt/weather/mud/abuse related. magnets rusting out and falling apart, bad connections, so on. I have a nice Tekonsha in the cab. Works great with my buddy's trailer but he doesn't drag his trailer around and abuse it like I do mine. Most of the time I'm running anywhere from 2500-9000lbs with no brakes...not a good idea of course. At this point I have 1 bent axle, a broken leaf spring, in need of 4 tires, brakes don't work, and 2 of the 4 wheels are close to leaking due to rust, but the deck and remainder of the trailer is in good shape.

I was thinking about running the hydraulic surge type breaks and of course recycling the 14 bolts that I can hardly give away. Basically it would save me from buying at least on axle ($200), 4 new brake sets, 4 new tires, and 4 new wheels. Start adding it up and it's either ditch it on craigslist for a nickle and buy a good used trailer for $1500-2K or fix it up with what I got and run it.

I don't know, it was just a thought. I hear you on the surge setups, on the other hand crappy brakes are better than no brakes. I don't keep the thing inside so it really gets the elements of the weather. I just plowed the tongue out and dragged it from 3ft of ice and snow. Time to decide on fixing or ditching it.

 

[throttleissues]

I can see your point on the elect brakes with that many issues with the elements. How much is it gonna cost you to get the surge setup though? I guess that would at least be a little more resistant to weather. On the up-side, you'd NEVER wear out a set of shoes if you put new ones on the 14bff setup when you put it together.
My next question is whether the trailer itself is really up to the abuse you're putting it through. Personally, I went with a 10K instead of a 7K, because I knew I was gonna load it heavy and drag it offroad. That meant 6" channel frame instead of 4" and much heavier springs. Just something else to think about while you decide. My trailer was about $3K new with some extras and 4 wheel brakes, but that was a few years ago.

 

[pseudomike]

I actually picked this one up a long time ago as an insurance deal. Guy flipped it and his truck over and bent the tar out of it. I rebuilt it...and re-engineered it a little...I tend to go a little overboard with things too. I've had way more weight than I should have. Tires will pop way before the trailer gives. I have no idea what it is rated for, but I do know I had 12k lbs of scrap on it when I broke the leaf spring which led to the bent axle. I built removable sides for it out of 2x12's. I've had 3 cords of green fire wood on it.

I've seen a lot of good deals on used ones lately. Today there is a tripple axle dovetail 6ton for $1650 on craigslist. Looks decent, he didn't specify length but it looks all of 18-20'. I bet the trailer weighs 2 ton alone haha.

We'll see. Definitely in the market for something just don't know what yet. I thought the 14B outers would be a funny touch. The actuator is fairly cheap, under $200 for an 8klb, like $250 for a 12k. I have eons of tire and wheels.

 

[1BEATK5]

i was thinkin about the same thing. i have a trailer with a wasted surge brake master, and its kinda long.
i want to chop it shorter, just long enough to hold a cherokee, and sling some 14 bolts under. gutted, but whole housing. and run an electric/hydraulic actuator.
no wheel bearing failures, big brakes, 16" wheels= E-rated cheap tires.
sounds good to me if the controller is inexpensive.
but yes a gutted 14 bolt, w/ pinion gear, chopped off axles, no carrier. is still going to be like 475 lbs. times 2 = 950lbs in axles.