Recommended Drop Axle for Trailer With 80 Inch Spring Center

Question

Question:

I am converting an old Sheridan boat trailer to haul and airplane. Current axles are rusty and need to be wider. The trailer is tandem axle galvanized steel about 23 feet long. There will be about 5 feet of bed behind the back axle. Rail widths are 81. Load width is 92inch so I need trailer wheels wider to prevent interference. Plane is relatively light 1400lb, but would like to be able to haul other heavier loads. I would like to run the trailer bed low to the ground to make roll on loading easier. Current axles are straight with 24inch wheels on leaf springs. I was thinking a drop axle might be a good choice and wanted to see what you guys have. Also curious as to whether the leaf springs could be shackled under the axle to it down lower. Disclaimer. I am pretty good with a welder, but have no trailer design background.

asked by: David F

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Expert Reply:

The best option we have for you is going to be with the Dexter Trailer Axle Beam with 4" Drop E-Z Lube Spindles part # 7685269 which has a 3,500 lb weight capacity. This will allow the tires to extend out past your load and will provide you with the low load height you will need. The spring center spacing on this axle is set at 80" but if this does not match what you have on your trailer now then you can always move them to where you need them with part # TRSS238. The leaf springs will be located under the axle tube with this setup.

If you would like to add brakes to this axle then you can do so with the Electric Trailer Brake Kit part # AKEBRK-35-SA and the Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly part # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K otherwise, you can just use the Trailer Idler Hub Assembly part # AKIHUB-545-35-EZ-K. I also recommend that you replace the u-bolts as well for which we have the U-Bolt Kit for Mounting 3,500-lb, Round Trailer Axles part # APUBR-1.

expert reply by: Conner L

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Answer 1

We do have drop axles that measure 95 inches from hub face to hub face, though the spring centers are going to be a bit longer. What you can do though is simply weld on new spring centers at the exact spacing you need. You didn't mention…

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Answer 2

What you are experiencing is common on tandem axle trailers when little or no weight is on them. The weight compresses the suspension and would not allow this to happen, or at least not as easily. If you were to use the E-Z Flex Equalizers…

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Answer 3

The old version of the #HBA-CAM used 4 wires, but the product was updated awhile back and now uses only two wires as shown in the photo on the product description page. The white wire from the HBA-CAM would tap into the white ground wire and the blue…

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Answer 4

Based on my research, the Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - 8,000-lb E-Z Lube Axles #AKHD-865-8-EZ-K will be a replacement for the 90865 Rockwell hub and drum. Both of these hub and drum assemblies are 12-1/4" diameter, have an 8,000 lb capacity,…

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Answer 5

I've never heard of an actual third brake light connector on a camper shell to plug in on a truck and we don't carry any parts to do that. The light generally needs to be hardwired into the truck's brake light circuit. The issue with this…

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Answer 6

The only way you could power interior dome lights on a trailer without it being connected to a tow vehicle would be to power the lights with a battery like a breakaway battery. How you choose to wire up the batteries will in the end be up to you, but…

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Answer 7

You will need the Red LED Trailer Clearance or Side Marker Light #328-K-52 or Amber LED Trailer Clearance or Side Marker Light #328-K-51 for your 2018 Forest River Sunseeker motorhome. These lenses have the same Top Command SAE-AP2-16 markings on the…

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Answer 8

The two sizes you mentioned are pretty similar and fit many of the same 15 inch wheels. The 205/75-15 fits rim widths of 5 inch to 6-1/2 inch whereas the 225/75-15 fits widths that are 5 inch to 6 inch. The 205 is 27.1 inches tall and the 225 is 28.4…

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Answer 9

Since you have a wheelbase/axle spacing of 38 inches the correct hanger kit for slipper springs would be the part #HAP-105-205-01. And then for a 7k trailer axle the u-bolt kit you'd want would be the part #APUBR-8. I attached the diagram to use…

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Answer 10

From what I could find it looks like your 122R (red) and 122Y (amber) lights measure 3.75" x 1.70" x .81". We don't have any replacement lense directly for the GLO-BRITE lights but we do have some similar lights that you could use…

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Answer 11

If you are needing the hub and drum assembly then you will want to go with the Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly #8-201-5UC3-EZ but if you are just looking for an idler hub then you will want part #8-213-5UC1 instead. These come with the correct…

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Answer 12

By "mobile home type bolt pattern" I believe you are talking about a 5 spoke utility bolt pattern such as what is on the Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - 6,000-lb and 7,000-lb Axles #8-174-5UC3. To measure your axle from hub face to…

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Recommended Drop Axle for Trailer With 80 Inch Spring Center

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