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Torsion axle replacement for aluminum trailer

13K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  tiggershark  
#1 ·
Found some new galvanized axles online for my trailer. What kind of bolts should be used? galvanized?-basic steel? Also, where would I get new plastic isolation "plates" to keep the steel from touching the aluminum? you'd think the trailer place would sell them but I cant find anything. I have a 2004 Triton 4 place and the stock steel axles maybe have a couple of years left in them. Rusting horrible. I replaced an axle on a 2 place Floe trailer (1998 model) a few years ago that collapsed from rust and reused the plastic as it was in fair shape. I might spray the new bolts with bed liner where it will contact the aluminum as an option for regular steel bolts.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Use caution with the rubber. It obviously won't absorb water but being soft and crushing around the bolts it will hold salty moisture around your bolts longer than a hard material and allow corrosion sooner than you might find acceptable.
 
#5 ·
Lots of knowledgeable trailer gurus over @ Arctic chat...Especially c-note...just ask him...Merry Christmas...
 
#6 ·
when I did my last axle on my open deck trailer, I went with a dexter galvanized coated torsion axle, I couldn't find a good piece of something to stick between frame and axle mounting plate
so, I simply painted both sizes(trailer side and axle mounting plate side) with 3 coats each of POR 15
as I had some on hand

I also went with grade 8 bolts,
only I went with fine thread and not coarse threads as they are less prone to coming loose with vibrations, after they were installed and torqued down good
I hauled a few things on trailer(couple hundred miles or so on some bumpy roads) then went and rechecks torque on them, made sure tire wear was good and things straight as there si some wiggle room for things to run off true!
and once sure, I painted over the bolts again with POR 15, to ensure NO rust and well, its will STOP things from ever walking loose that crap dries like a weld!

its been a few yrs now and nothing has moved and still rock solid

its also the third axle on this trailer, since 1998

If you wanted more exact advice on what GRADE metal bolt to use, you can contact the trailer OEM and ask them, I am sure they would tell you if asking the right person there , just know your trailers spec's well in case they ask, as bolt strength might change from a single place 2500K axle trailer to one that can carry 10k or more!
or even contact who ever's brand axle your going to use
Dexter has always had great customer service from all my talks with them!
 
#8 · (Edited)
Some gaskets on ebay



 
#10 ·
Lots of good info here. As soon as my new credit cards arrive, I'll order 2 new axles. Lost my wallet for 2 days and had to put a halt on the cards. " Replacement cards will take 3 to 5 days to arrive" yeah right, that was over 8 days ago. One other thing to mention. I have the 7 pin connector that most everyone with electric brakes has. Last season while driving north, the truck's info center thought the trailer connection came disconnected. So a loud warning chime rang out every 30 seconds for about 15 miles until I unplugged the trailer connection totally. No brakes, no lights. The truck was the problem and still under warranty. This season I added a flat 4 prong to the 7 pin on the trailer so I can still have lights if this ever happens again. Just pull the 7 pin out and plug the flat 4 in as the truck accepts either. Last year I disassembled the connector and pulled the 2 brake wires out and plugged it back in so at least I had lights. I also replaced the tires this year. The old ones were from 2013 and all weather checked and cracked in between the treads. Spares now.
 
#11 ·
Axles installed. They raised the height of the trailer about 1.5 inches. The torsion angle is greater on these galvanized axles, about a 45 degree angle compared to the stock 30 degree (est) Used the plastic cutting board sheets, 4 for $8. Stainless steel washers painted with Herculiner bed liner. Sprayed the bolts where they might come in contact with aluminum with same stuff. Sawzall used to cut the nuts off. This was a very easy job overall. Today I align the axles/square them up and run new wires for the electric brakes. Axles came with new hubs/bearings/lug nuts. I ordered acorn/closed end lug nuts from ebay. The deck is a couple of years old, so basically I have a new (2004) Triton elite 4 place trailer. Both axles came with the square plate to mount electric brakes. trailerpartsdepot.com Overall very happy with the results.
 
#14 ·
your axles on your trailer might have sagged down from there original angle and were just not holding trailer up as much as they were when new
That or you got different than exact OEM replacement axles!

if you looked on the form I added above, there are options on what angles you can get from Dexter, and sure other OEM axle makers have same options, just a heads up, no bash!
and dexter will galvanize any axle they offer too!(or so they told me that when I ordered my last one from them
 
#13 ·
when installing the new Acorn lug nuts, I highly recommend using some anti seize grease on the threads, even being sealed and all, them trailer nuts seem to have a way or getting rusty and being extra work to get off

or I use use a little on every trailer I have any more as well as many other things

and I will also suggest this, as if your trailer doesn't have back up light's, adding some now while under there is a super option and NO clue why every trailer doesn't have them is past my understanding, they should be required
there easy to add(as long as you have a junction box which almost every trailer with brakes has)
and there are tons of very good cheap off road lights that can be used
I add's 3 cubes to my last enclosed trailer, slightly angled on each corner and one in the middle
what a HUGE difference backing up at night is now,
didn;'t cost much or take long to install either!
so food for thought for you, you'll like your trailer a LOT more if you add them!
 
#15 ·
3rd set of acorns on this trailer over the years. They rust eventually. I use anti seize all the time on the studs. The axles were listed as Triton axles.. My 2 place Floe trailer's axle was replaced in 2016 and it sat higher after also. Good info on the extra lights. I purchased 100 roll of 2 wire 12 gauge, so Ill have plenty to run more wire. Stock was Dexter. On the website listed above, I didnt see an option for electric brakes, I guess I should have called them. The new axles look exactly like Dexter's. Setting a little higher is okay by me. I noticed in the picture that the angles were different, so I wasnt surprised when they arrived.