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5200# replacement axles

76zimmer

76zimmer

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looking to upgrade my 5 year old trailers capacity....18' beavertail, diamond plate deck, USA trailer. Has 3500# axles now w/one axle braking...in anticipation of towing the Iron Maiden on it, I need to up the capacity of the axles...I assume they are pretty much a bolt on? Any other concerns to switching axles?
 
None that I know of. Is the trailer frame up to the task, since it's really a 7k trailer? Or is this just an upgrade for insurance because it'll be right around the 7k mark?
 
I am sure you already know this Dave but new tires and wheels may be in order too. Check the weight rating of your tires, The larger axle are probably going to be 6 lug axles.

Other than that not sure, I would imagine your frame is up to task, I have seen some 10k rated trailers and their frames are the same as mine just axle difference.
 
Good point on wheels and tires. I kind of assumed you were swapping the whole package. I made a point of getting 8 lug axles when I bought my 10K trailer, so that spares were swappable between trailer and tow vehicle in a pinch. Just something to consider.
 
best bet to not have a can-o-worms is sell it and buy what you need and be done with it. and upgrade to torsion axles. no leafs and rides MUCH better
 
I know the trailer weight is 1700#....I'm thinking the Iron Maiden will be 6K???? so yeah a little extra insurance....I bought this trailer new 5 years ago, and it has seen no salt....so its in great shape. It has the tongue framing that comes back almost as far as the axles, plus the perimeter frame on top of that. It seems pretty stout frame wise, so that's why I want to upgrade just the axles....It is all box frame too.

And yes upgraded tires were planned also. I would try to sell these axles from tire to tire and replace with the upgraded axles.
 
sweetk30 said:
best bet to not have a can-o-worms is sell it and buy what you need and be done with it. and upgrade to torsion axles. no leafs and rides MUCH better
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When I was looking at new trailers, several I looked at that were rated at 10k were the exact same trailer as a 7k as far as the frame goes.

All the 7k ones had one brake axle, the 10s had 2, obviously bigger tires on the 10s and more leafs. But as far as the frame goes they were the same.

There were some 7k ones that used a different frame but they were cheaper. I bet Dave has the better frame
 
Here is the trailer in reference...The frame is all 2x4 boxed, and the crossmembers are 2x4 C channel @ 16" o.c. front to back. I have hauled more than the 7000gvw, but only 100 mi. or so. I don't want to try that going to Moab next year, so the axle upgrade would be some good insurance. I feel pretty confident in the frame strength. It will also be using an equalizing hitch, and a sway control. It pulls real nice that way.

misc007-1.jpg


misc006-1.jpg
 
My 10k is 6" C channel tongue running all the way to axles, with 6" channel perimeter frame, just for reference. I'm not a fan of boxed steel trailer frames, simply because you have no idea what the rust is doing inside the frame (but that's really off topic). I'd be likely to do the same thing you're doing if I hadn't bought a 10k to start with.
 
throttleissues said:
My 10k is 6" C channel tongue running all the way to axles, with 6" channel perimeter frame, just for reference. I'm not a fan of boxed steel trailer frames, simply because you have no idea what the rust is doing inside the frame (but that's really off topic). I'd be likely to do the same thing you're doing if I hadn't bought a 10k to start with.
Click to expand...

I would have too, if I would have looked into the future more back then....7000 seemed like plenty, as its primary purpose was the Vette (3150), but as I said this is only 5 years old, never seen salt, and structurally is in great shape. It appears as though the axles would have the toughest part of this journey if they were left at 3500#. I would feel more comfortable with the 5200#'s with this many miles to travel. And the K5 with trailer would probably only be 7500-8000 total weight. Everything I can, I will put in the truck for this long of a trip. However, finding a good deal on a 10K trailer and selling this one is still a possibililty.
 
76zimmer said:
And the K5 with trailer would probably only be 7500-8000 total weight.
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Thats the thing here Dave (and I know you know) the axles are more for peace of mind, I know guys that overload their 7k trailers with regularity.

Not much but some. They know they do this and take really good care of their trailers and have had less problems than guys that don't overload their trailers and don't take care of them.
 
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