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Any way to identify trailer axle ratings by looking at them?

Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:24 PM
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From: York, PA
Any way to identify trailer axle ratings by looking at them?

I'm pretty sure mine are 3500 lb axles, but I want to make sure. They are 6-lug, that's about all I can tell ya about them.

Also, if someone I knew were to go over their rating, how much 'safety margin' do they factor in? I mean, they're not going to bend/break at 3501 lbs...what can they ACTUALLY do? (I know the limit SHOULD not be exceeded...)

Thanks,
Dave
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:29 PM
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most 6 lugs axles are 4800 or 5200# rating
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:41 PM
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That would be REALLY nice. Any way to ID them? How's about springs? IIRC, there's 5 or 6 leafs per spring, I know more info than that is needed though...
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 05:10 PM
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There SHOULD be a tag on each axle with the identifying info on it. If you get that info you can try going to the mfgr's website and see what you can find.
Tom
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 01:20 AM
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Six lugs on a 3,500 pound axle would be rare. My money would be on 5,200 pounds. This is a pretty standard size. Most axles have a model number on a tag that wraps around the axle.
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 02:41 AM
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I have 6 lug 6000 pound axles on my trailer. I don't know if there is a difference between Torflex and spring type axles.

Mine is Torflex suspended and they are each rated 6000 pounds.
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 04:23 AM
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Usually

5 lugs = 3500lb
6 lugs = 5200lb
8 lugs = 7000lb

I'd bet they are 5200 or more..
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 11:36 AM
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Sweet, I hope they're 5200 lb axles. I just redid the lugnuts on them last night, wow these drums are weird. They're like a regular drum, but in there's also a rotor-like friction surface in the middle as well. Very strange. Need to figure out what to torque these wheels to.
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 11:43 AM
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Originally posted by Dave88LX
They're like a regular drum, but in there's also a rotor-like friction surface in the middle as well. Very strange.
That surface is for the actuating magnets on the electric brakes.

Rusty
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 08:37 AM
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From: PA
Originally posted by Dodgezilla
Usually

5 lugs = 3500lb
6 lugs = 5200lb
8 lugs = 7000lb

I'd bet they are 5200 or more..

That is what i have always been told
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 05:11 PM
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Originally posted by csramsey640
That is what i have always been told

i retail 30-50 trailer a year.

5 lug 3500
6 lug 5200
8 lug 7000
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 07:47 PM
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My trailer axles have 13inch drum brakes and they have 14.5-8 tires. ~2800lb rating per tire and they have 5 leaf springs. But they dont have the traditional 5-8 lug bolt pattern, I think they are motorhome tire/hubs. Not sure but the brake assembly is bolted to the axle and the trailer is pretty heavy, about 3300lbs. Im thinking 6000lb rating but Im not sure.
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Old Aug 15, 2005 | 10:04 PM
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If they're 14.5" tires, you may have mobilehome/trailer house axles.
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 03:46 PM
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Cool, hopefully I have the 5200 lb axles then. I'll post up some pics of it at some point to show for sure. I have 16x7 wheels, and they BARELY fit over the drums...
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 02:30 PM
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From: York, PA
The axle "bar" I guess you'd call it, running from one side to the other of the trailer, is solid 2" across square tube, tapering to 2" round tube. The drums are around 13.5" across. We'll see today when I load up the truck!
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