i want to lift up my horse trailer about 4-5 inches so it sits level behind my truck. I have herd that flipping the axles is an easy way to get a few inches of lift, is that true? do i need anything or is it just an unbolt rebolt job?

steve

 

I am getting ready to do the same on a trailer of mine. I have looked at it before and did some research last fall and it looked pretty simple as you describe. I am most concerned with the brake axle. I am more worried about breaking something as I am removing it since the trailer is probably 30yrs old. I may just go with new axles.

 

my trailer is older but not that old. I would think as long at the lines are long enough and you dont break them then i should be good. i think.

 

Trailer axles are 'bent', or pre-arched, (upwards), to accept and support the weight they are intended to carry. Flipping them upside-down places this arch in the opposite direction, (downward), and makes them less capable to carry this weight. With that said, I have seen a lot of people do exactly what you are wanting to do with varying degrees of success. Usually tire wear is the most obvious negative effect as the arch of the axle is already in the 'wrong' orientation and placing weight on it make the arch more pronounced and in the process toes the top of the tires inward. Also, it's not quite just a matter of unbolting/flipping/rebolting; you'll have to either move or replace the spring perches that are welded to the axles.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Axles are comparitively cheap compared to a high speed axle failure on the highway.

chaikwa.

 

"flipping the axles"? I think when most people talk of doing this they mean moving the springs from below the axle to above the axle. This is easily done if the axle has a plate on the bottom and top of the axle, then all you need is new U bolts and nuts. If the axle doesn't have a plate on the top of the axle a trailer shop could probably weld one on for you.

 

Yes, that would be a different story altogether. I was thinking he meant physically flipping the axles top to bottom, 180 degrees.

chaikwa.

 

sorry, i do mean putting the axle under the springs not a 180* flip...sorry for the confusion.

 

A kit can be purchased from dexter axle. You will need to know the axle diameter. The axle angle needs to kept relatively the same. It is called a over / under axle relocation kit. http://dexteraxle.com/over_under_conversion_kits

Another thing is that electric drum brakes work best in one direction of rotation. Do not turn the axle upside down, that changes the direction of rotation.

 

I don't think you really meant the direction of rotation. That wouldn't change but the brake orientation would. The front shoe would now be the rear and they are not meant to work that way.

 

I would talk to somebody about making custom spacers for the axles because back to what chaikwa was saying they come pre-arched for a reason and you don't want to end up braking them and having to go have to buy new axles. I have a friend that has a 28ft Travel trailer and every time he would turn it would scrap the bed of his truck with a 3.5in lift and he went to a local metal shop and they customized some spacers for it and he said he hasn't had a problem with the spacers yet and that was about a year and a half ago. He travels to branson Missouri 4 times a year.

 

I relocated the axles from above to below the sping pack on my 5th wheel.

As mentioned above, Dexter makes a bolt on sping perch kit for the converstion that locates to the existing spring perch, but buying regular weld on perches is cheaper, and I think more secure.

I've spoken to people who have cut the stock spring perches off and welded them back on the other side, but for as little as they cost I'd recommend buying new ones. That way you can use the stock perch as a point of reference to get the new ones clamed square, and also if you leave the stock perches in place you can put the trailer back to stock height easily...

I'm quite happy with the results. It is still stable and handles well, with lots of clearance.

 

Nope, it's ME that needs to be sorry. I read too much into your post/question.

These other guys, (jballou, Russ Roth, Ryan Hyatt & Jeff in TD), all offer sound advice, and by the sounds of it, experience too! Don't be afraid of doing what you're looking to do, if you're careful and pay a reasonable amount of attention to detail it'll come out great, (and SAFE!). I deal with Dexter on a regular basis and I wasn't even aware they had a relocation kit, (I've always made my own reloc kits for my customers), so I learned somethin' too!

You came to the right place for good advice, just listen to these guys, don't be afraid to ask more questions as you go along and you'll be successful.

chaikwa.

 

Last week i "flipped" my axles on my TT. Took me 2 nights, about 3-4 hours each night, $20 for new spring perches that i welded on and $60 for new u-bolts. Easy to do if you take your time and are cautious.

 

what kinda lift do you get out of it?

 

For your application, measure the spring pack thickness and then the axle tube thickness add 3/4 to 1 inch, add them all up and that's what your new height will be.

With mine I got roughly 5 inches.

Use new u-bolts and check them after first use for tightness.

Good luck.