Trailer mods

[RCP Phx]

I'm looking to redo my car trailer and the first thought is to go with "torsional axles". Does anyone have experience with them. I'm trying to get max width to provide the maximum trailer space(width). I will buy new tires and wheels to fit this so any recommendations on that would be good too.

 

[RCP Phx]

It's not quite a disaster but close, it was probably originally built in the late 60's! It was hand built even the axles which are bent along with the fenders. The plan is new axles, tires, wheels, fenders, planking, and winch and a lot of mods to clean up the frame.

 

[tonytech]

Good luck on this project!

 

[RCP Phx]

It's not a "project", I've owned it for 20yrs, it just needs some "love". Yesterday I ordered the tires and wheels (5), today I will get my order in on the axles.

 

[RCP Phx]

It's pretty ghetto fabbed (looks like something Evan would make) but I do have a plan. Got the axles ordered yesterday and fenders today. I'm scrapping the planking and plan to use diamond plate and "perf" instead.

 

[RCP Phx]

I got all the metal removed that I can for now, my axles will be in tomorrow so I can start mocking things up and go from there.

 

[RCP Phx]

My axles won't be here until Monday but I did get the installation kits which includes the brakes for both axles (which I didn't have any before). They are Dexters which will last for my life-time!

 

[Phil]

I welded one of these to each back corner of my trailer over the winter.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/etrailer/SJ-R208.html

Nice to keep the tongue from lifting when loading and unloading, and I set them all the way down before unhitching to serve as a little bit of a parking brake. I park on dirt, on a slope.

 

[RCP Phx]

Those are a must but that type doesn't work good with empty vs heavy loads. I will probably do something like a trailer scissor jack that can be "un-loaded" when the suspension gets compressed, but I'm not there yet!

 

[RCP Phx]

Monday I picked up my tires and wheels, yesterday I moved up the equalizer bar for a trial fit-up. Today I finally received my axles as they got delayed do to Covid, so now it's time to get busy!

 

[Phil]

Is there a reason you didn’t go 5200lb axles, if you were buying all new wheels and tires and axles and brakes?

 

[JohnX]

Guess I'm a bit late, I have the torsion axles on one of my trailers.

I think you made the right choice though, the torsion does take up some room that a leaf setup does not. Torsion do seem to ride very nice though.

I see you have a hand crank winch, I can't tell you how much I have used my used 2000lb warn winch on my trailer, worth every penny of the $50(?) I spent on it around 8 years ago. Probably used 100s of times, no exaggeration. Hand crank gets old real quick.

 

[Calvin Bnvds]

I like your choice of modular wheels. I've seen many off-road vehicles with this wheel. I am excited to see it on your ride.

 

[RCP Phx]

Is there a reason you didn’t go 5200lb axles, if you were buying all new wheels and tires and axles and brakes?

Well it's a pair of 3500# so a total of 7000# which is more than suitable for my use, like I said I didn't even have brakes before.

 

[RCP Phx]

Guess I'm a bit late, I have the torsion axles on one of my trailers.

I think you made the right choice though, the torsion does take up some room that a leaf setup does not. Torsion do seem to ride very nice though.

I see you have a hand crank winch, I can't tell you how much I have used my used 2000lb warn winch on my trailer, worth every penny of the $50(?) I spent on it around 8 years ago. Probably used 100s of times, no exaggeration. Hand crank gets old real quick.

I had a electric on it but I don't want to carry a battery and as infrequent it gets used a little hand crank(3500#/2 speed) is easy.

 

[RCP Phx]

The u-bolts that came with the axles are to short for my spring packs (8 leaves)so as soon as my spring shop opens I will run down there and have them make me a new set.

 

[RCP Phx]

Those guys are great, been dealing with them for 50yrs and they bent up a new set (1-1/4" longer) in under 15minutes!

 

[RCP Phx]

I didn't get as much done as I wanted but I needed the lift for 2 jobs this weekend (clutch on a friends Subaru and a stolen cat on my sisters CRX). I had to modify the spring plates as my leaves are 2" vs the std 1-3/4" but I did get the brakes installed plus a couple of tires to move it and also check my new width so I can determine how much to widen the frame rails.

 

[RCP Phx]

This project just took a turn toward "Expensive". I wasn't finding any parts for my old suspension, so after ordering a new kit with all new leaves and hangers I have decided to build from scratch. I have a massive steel order in and will completely abandon the old frame entirely.

 

[Anak]

Ouch!

Steel hasn't exactly been affordable lately.