Changing 3,500 Pound Trailer Axles to 5,200 Pound Axles

Question

Question:

I have 4400 #Llppert axles on my 26inch Heartland TT I have a bent axle and want to replace axles and upgrade to 5200 # axles I see that the spring mounts you have listed for the Dexter axles are mounted on the bottom do you also have axles mounted on the top of the axle? My Heartland trailer spring mounts are top mounted . Also what other parts would be needed to complete the switch? Thank you

asked by: Scott G

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Expert Reply:

The first thing to consider is if the axle(s) are actually bent. Trailer axles have a bow in them so they are higher at the center than at the ends. When under load the axles straighten out some. That is part of how they get their capacities.

If the axles are bent from damage then that is another story. Like you said the 5,200 pound axles that we have include spring seats that are on the bottoms of the axles. In order to have the spring stacks on top of the axles all you would need to do is weld on new spring seats. Each axle would need 2 of # TRSS300 since 5,200 pound axles are 3 inches in diameter. I have included a link to the 5,200 pound straight axles we have.

Something else to consider is the leaf spring length difference between springs for a 3,500 pound axles compared to those for a 5,200 pound axle. A difference in the length will mean that other components will need to be moved or changed which could include the leaf spring hangers and equalizers.

Spring # e78SR rated for 3,000 pounds per spring measures 25-1/4 inches from eye center to eye center. If you can tell me the length of your existing springs (with no weight on them) I can determine if any additional parts will be needed.

Or you could start from scratch by removing the hangers and equalizers and go with an all new set up. Suspension kit # APT5 is a popular option for 5,200 pound axles.

For a u-bolt kit to mount the new axles to the leaf springs you can use # APUBR-8.

expert reply by: Michael H

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Answer 1

It's definitely possible to upgrade a trailer's axle rating to a higher rating by just swapping the axles. To pick out the correct axle you'll need to measure the distance between the hub faces and the spring seat centers and…

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Answer 2

You want between 1/4" and 1/2" of preload on the SumoSprings Trailer Helper Springs item #TSS-106-40. If not you'll get a harsher ride quality because the springs will always been engaged or you'll get nothing out of…

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Answer 3

The Dexter Trailer Axle w/ Electric Brakes - E-Z Lube - 6 on 5-1/2 Bolt Pattern - 86-1/2" - 5.2K #8327816-EB will not work for your spring locations and are also too long for your application. My recommendation is to use the Timbren…

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Answer 4

The hub/drum/brake assembly components are a totally different size between a 3,500 lb axle and a 5,200 lb axle. You can easily swap to the 5,200 lb axle like the part #8327816 but you will need new hub/drums like the #8-201-5UC3-EZ which has a 12…

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Answer 5

Most likely the measurement is 25-1/8 inch as that is a common size. But in most cases we recommend measuring the spring with it off the trailer and typically there is a bit of stretch to old springs by around 1/2 inch or so. The spring you would…

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Answer 6

Well shackle length is mainly based on the height difference between the front and rear hangers. The rear hanger normally doesn't hang as low as the front so that the shackle can offset the difference and add the ability to move. What is the…

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Answer 7

You can add a heavier axle to the trailer but the rest of the components of your trailer may not be rated for a higher weight capacity such as the suspension components and wheels. If you go from a 3,500 lb axle to a 7,000 lb axle like part #8327834…

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Answer 8

Trailer manufacturers don't usually keep a record of parts like these that they install at the factory, so I cannot be sure as to the exact length of the shackle strap that would have come originally on your trailer. With this in mind, a 3-1/8…

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Answer 9

One inch of preload is too much for the install of the SumoSprings kit part #TSS-107-40 that you referenced. You want between 1/4 and 1/2 inch of preload otherwise you'll have a harsher ride quality. If you have spacers installed you would need…

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Answer 10

I would recommend Dexter Torflex axles the highest for torsion axles. And then put Al Ko and Lippert at about the same in quality. I was searching around online and the common consensus among the trailering forums is that the Dexter axles are…

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Answer 11

It really just depends on what you are looking to get out of the bushings. Bronze bushings, like part #K71-291-00, will last longer but are more noisy and it is recommended to use wet bolts like part #126B2 to keep them lubricated. Nylon bushings,…

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Answer 12

Thank you for reaching out! The best thing for your situation is to go with the 3,500 lb Dexter Axle #T3584F-8974 you are looking at. While you can upgrade your axles to the 5,200 lb #e55GR, you won't really see a benefit from it unless you also…

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