Can I turn my Boat Trailer Axle Upside Down to Gain the Clearance I Need?

Question

Question:

Boat sits less than half inch from axel , hit a bump an boat hits axel. Dont sell a kit with 4 1/4 hanger.what size should I put in back an they say have to use shackles. Second they suggested a over an under conversion kit which would put my fender 7 inches over my tire. I wouldnt order it any way quest they think Im stupid just tak off springs from hanger an disassemble everything turn axel 180 degrees pull center pin out leafs an turn it the opposite way an now put springs on top of axel dont cost anything , but still puts boat trailer to high.so using a 4 1/4 hanger in front what would I need in back with shackles,an how much clearerence would this give me from boat to trailer

asked by: Allen C

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Expert Reply:

Wow, your boat sitting just 1/2" from your axle is definitely a concern. You should have 4-1/2" of clearance for to keep your boat safe from bumps when traveling. I can understand not wanting to spend the money on a over-under conversion kit like # K71-385-00. But, it would not be safe to turn your axle 180 degrees and mount it upside down. Most trailer axles are designed with camber or a slight 'bend' in the axle that deflects when a load is applied, like axle # e43SR. This allows the wheels to sit perpendicular to the pavement and the tires to wear evenly when under load. If you turn your axle upside down, the camber will be facing the wrong direction and your wheels will not be perpendicular to the pavement which will cause uneven treadwear and other potential issues.

As far as determining the height of your rear hanger, it will depend on the hangers you currently have on your trailer. You will want to increase the size of the rear hanger the same amount that you increase the front hanger. So, if your front hanger is 2" and you are increasing to 4-1/4", that is a 2-1/4" increase. So, with an original rear hanger of 1", you would add 2-1/4" and get a 3-1/4" hanger for the rear. I've provided a link to the hangers we offer on our website.

In regards to using shackles on the rear hanger, shackling the 2 components together instead of bolting them directly allows for the necessary pivot of the springs. I've also provided a link to our selection of shackle straps.

expert reply by: Amy W

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Answer 1

When you use an over under kit like the part #K71-385-00 you end up gaining a lift that measures the diameter of your axle, plus the spring seat, and the thickness of your leaf springs. You will need to measure those items on your trailer to…

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Answer 2

Trailer leaf springs are traditionally mounted under the axle. To mount them on top of the axle, you need to use an over-under kit to allow you to put spring seats on top of your axle. If you already have the spring seats mounted on top and bottom,…

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Answer 3

I have a few options for you to help with identifying the axle capacity on your trailer. The first and easiest method is simply by crawling under the trailer and looking for the axle tag on the center of the beam. Depending on age, the axle capacity…

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Answer 4

The Dexter Trailer Idler Axle Beam with EZ-Lube Spindles - 60" Long - 2,200 lbs #T20BTR-EZ-6048 will fit any trailer with spring seats 48 inches on center. If you Harbor Freight trailer has leaf springs that are 48 inches on center then you will…

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Answer 5

How deep is it? It is hard to tell from the picture. You may be able to use some emery cloth and take care of it unless it is too deep. Then you would want to go ahead and replace the axle. Even though spindles are available by themselves you would…

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Answer 6

A larger trailer tire basically wins in every category like you mentioned. Less rolling resistance, less affected by bumps in road for smoother ride quality, and bearings/hub spins less so in theory less wear and tear. So as long as you have room for…

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Answer 7

It is highly recommended that the spring seat be at minimum tack welded to the axle. There have been issues that have resulted from the seat not be welded to the axle. If you do not have access to a welder, I recommend taking the trailer to a local…

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Answer 8

When positioning a 2000 pound trailer axle like #T20BTR-7258, it is recommended that the hub face to spring seat measurement falls between 5.75" to 7.625" on each side. (11.50" to 15.25" total on both sides). (see picture). As…

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Answer 9

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 10

To determine the size of the hub assembly you need to purchase you have to determine which bearings are in the old assembly. If the old assembly has L44649 inner bearings, you would use the hub you chose #8-258-5UC1. If the inner bearings are marked…

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Answer 11

A BT8 spindle would have a diameter of .99 of an inch where the bearings would both install and would have a diameter of 1.24 where the great seal would ride. That would require a hub part #AKIHUB-440-2-1K for an idler hub. A BTR spindle would have…

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Answer 12

To find the load capacity for your axle you should look on the trailer VIN plate or sticker that lists the VIN number. The weight rating of the axle should be listed on that same plate or sticker. Also, the axle could have a tag or plate on it that…

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