I have a 6x12 enclosed single axle trailer and would like to put in a new axle with brakes. How difficult would be this be to do myself? I'm thinking that I can have the trailer attached to the truck, lift up the rear.....disconnect the axle and just roll it out and then reverse for the new axle.....any thoughts?....any of you done this before?

 

I swapped the leaf spring axle on my boat trailer for a torsion beam axle because I got tired of listening to the springs squeak. It was an easy swap. I put the trailer up on jack stands and made the swap in a couple of hours.

 

Check out Champion Trailer and the lube axle. I use it on my boat trailer. Allows me to flush a small amount of grease before every trip. 4 years and never lost a bearing. Even though you are not dunking the trailer in water, it would still be a good idea to flush a little grease every so often. Also, they are very easy to work with.

Tony

 

Hey Deke,
I just swapped a similar axle minus the brakes. It was really easy except that the u-bolts had to be cut off. It cost about $20.00 for new u-bolts. I had to remove one complete hub so that the axle would pull through the opening at the leaf spring. I hooked the ball to the truck and jacked the rear up and put it on jack stands. If your trailer currently has brakes then I would just be careful when you handle the hubs so you don't screw up the wireing. I got a complete axle with leaf springs for $180.00.
By the way, I'm Got Diesel from the other site..

 

we sell a lot of trailers every year and have occational repair work on some. axle swaps are pretty straight forward and easy to do . a good 1/2 air rachet and a good jack with a couple good jack stands are about all you need.
you may need to jack up the free end of the spring after bolting one end of the spring into the shackle and leverage the spring eye into position with a crow bar or? to line it up with the shackle mounts

 

Thanks for all the info guys....One more question.....Should I unbolt the axle before I jack it up or after?

Oh...and hey Dodgezilla!....I knew that was you....I saw the homemade torque tube thread....hahaha

 

before---bolts will come out easier that way

 

My trailer was only two years old and those u-bolts were still badly rusted. I couldn't even get them off with the impact without them breaking....

 

You probably don't need to swap out the axle...

I added electric brakes to my 3200 lb. single axle trailer.
The backing bolt plate is already there on the axle, just bolt up the brake backing plate and change hubs to brake drum type. Don't forget to add the breakaway battery...

SouthWest Wheel has the complete kit available www.southwestwheel.com

 

I just re-read your original post. Roadranger is correct. If you are only trying to add brakes, most axles are set up at the factory with a square plate with four holes in it behind the hub. If you want to add brakes, a standard backing plate for electric brakes will bolt right up. If you are running with 3,500 pound axles you need 2-1/2" x 10" brakes, if your axles are heavier you will need 2" x 12" brakes.