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Author Topic:   Galvanized Trailer Axle Needed

John McBride posted 06-09-2011 10:09 PM ET (US)
My 2001 EZ Loader trailer axle is bent. I called the manufacturer and they want $400 for the darn replacement.
I have taken all the usual measurements and it looks like I will need one fabricated. Ordering just spindles and fabricating one is an option but I'm think the welds to the galvanized square tubing might be a bad idea as the boat will be in the salty stuff pretty frequently.
In case it matters, the measurements are:
2" x 2" galvanized axle rated about 3,500 lbs.
70.5" center to center on leaf springs
89.5" hub face to hub face
Currents hubs are untapered 1 1/16" inner race I.D.
5 hole 4.5" hole spacing on current hubs.
I'll be replacing the relevant fasteners and the 25 1/4" double loop leaf springs while I'm at it. Buying hubs with the new axle is an option.
Any sage advice?
jimh posted 06-09-2011 11:41 PM ET (US)
This article has been posted in duplicate.
divtruk posted 06-10-2011 12:19 AM ET (US)
Call Karavan Trailers. They have a website. I just bought an 84" axel for my trailer and it was $129 plus about $51 for shipping out to the west coast. If you are back east it would be much cheaper shipping.
Chip
jimh posted 06-10-2011 09:05 AM ET (US)
If you are located in an area where there are trailer manufacturers, you may find a trailer axle can be built locally. I suspect that shipping of a trailer axle from E-Z-LOADER in Washington will add more to the cost.
WIth the proliferation of lawn and landscaping service providers, it seems like every city now has a local trailer fabricator that makes trailers for carrying lawn equipment. Such a fabricator may be able to make an axle to your specification. However, getting an axle galvanized properly to prevent corrosion may not be something that every trailer builder can properly accomplish.
Whalrman posted 06-10-2011 01:01 PM ET (US)
Hi John, did you contatact the factory in Port St. Lucie Fa. just accross the state from you? I have been to that factory and they are very reasonable, I thought, when I got my parts.
John McBride posted 06-11-2011 10:53 PM ET (US)
jimh - Sorry for the duplicate post, it was purely accidental.
Whalrman - I called the factory and spoke to the very man who built my trailer. They wanted $400 for an exact replacement.
A friend reminded me that a friend of our is in the trailer business and he is building my axel and it will be available Monday with local pickup.
Whalrman posted 06-12-2011 09:29 AM ET (US)
Great news, and keeping a local guy going at the same time.
Jefecinco posted 06-12-2011 10:52 AM ET (US)
John,
That axle must have been very badly bent to make it unrepairable. Usually a little heat and a bending jig can straighten an axle nicely. If just enough heat is used it may not damage the galvanized finish but that, too, can be repaired with some cold galvanizing finish in a spray can.
Perhaps next time.
Butch
John McBride posted 06-13-2011 04:48 PM ET (US)
Butch - The bend was very minor as it turns out. A sibling of mine had hit a post with one of the fender supports which ties into a front leaf spring support. This caused the front spring mount to distort, rip a bit and push the axle aft a bit. My new trailers tires had one that was starting to scallop from the tow out on that side....ouch.
The axle had a bend that was at the outboard end of a leaf spring as well.
The rebuild has given me a chance to tear it all down and start anew with a couple new leaf spring supports, new springs, axle and hubs. I think the trailer has served me well for the last 10 years and I expect many more years to come if I don't allow my sister to tow the trailer into a post!

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Author	Topic: Galvanized Trailer Axle Needed
John McBride	posted 06-09-2011 10:09 PM ET (US) My 2001 EZ Loader trailer axle is bent. I called the manufacturer and they want $400 for the darn replacement. I have taken all the usual measurements and it looks like I will need one fabricated. Ordering just spindles and fabricating one is an option but I'm think the welds to the galvanized square tubing might be a bad idea as the boat will be in the salty stuff pretty frequently. In case it matters, the measurements are: 2" x 2" galvanized axle rated about 3,500 lbs. 70.5" center to center on leaf springs 89.5" hub face to hub face Currents hubs are untapered 1 1/16" inner race I.D. 5 hole 4.5" hole spacing on current hubs. I'll be replacing the relevant fasteners and the 25 1/4" double loop leaf springs while I'm at it. Buying hubs with the new axle is an option. Any sage advice?
jimh	posted 06-09-2011 11:41 PM ET (US) This article has been posted in duplicate.
divtruk	posted 06-10-2011 12:19 AM ET (US) Call Karavan Trailers. They have a website. I just bought an 84" axel for my trailer and it was $129 plus about $51 for shipping out to the west coast. If you are back east it would be much cheaper shipping. Chip
jimh	posted 06-10-2011 09:05 AM ET (US) If you are located in an area where there are trailer manufacturers, you may find a trailer axle can be built locally. I suspect that shipping of a trailer axle from E-Z-LOADER in Washington will add more to the cost. WIth the proliferation of lawn and landscaping service providers, it seems like every city now has a local trailer fabricator that makes trailers for carrying lawn equipment. Such a fabricator may be able to make an axle to your specification. However, getting an axle galvanized properly to prevent corrosion may not be something that every trailer builder can properly accomplish.
Whalrman	posted 06-10-2011 01:01 PM ET (US) Hi John, did you contatact the factory in Port St. Lucie Fa. just accross the state from you? I have been to that factory and they are very reasonable, I thought, when I got my parts.
John McBride	posted 06-11-2011 10:53 PM ET (US) jimh - Sorry for the duplicate post, it was purely accidental. Whalrman - I called the factory and spoke to the very man who built my trailer. They wanted $400 for an exact replacement. A friend reminded me that a friend of our is in the trailer business and he is building my axel and it will be available Monday with local pickup.
Whalrman	posted 06-12-2011 09:29 AM ET (US) Great news, and keeping a local guy going at the same time.
Jefecinco	posted 06-12-2011 10:52 AM ET (US) John, That axle must have been very badly bent to make it unrepairable. Usually a little heat and a bending jig can straighten an axle nicely. If just enough heat is used it may not damage the galvanized finish but that, too, can be repaired with some cold galvanizing finish in a spray can. Perhaps next time. Butch
John McBride	posted 06-13-2011 04:48 PM ET (US) Butch - The bend was very minor as it turns out. A sibling of mine had hit a post with one of the fender supports which ties into a front leaf spring support. This caused the front spring mount to distort, rip a bit and push the axle aft a bit. My new trailers tires had one that was starting to scallop from the tow out on that side....ouch. The axle had a bend that was at the outboard end of a leaf spring as well. The rebuild has given me a chance to tear it all down and start anew with a couple new leaf spring supports, new springs, axle and hubs. I think the trailer has served me well for the last 10 years and I expect many more years to come if I don't allow my sister to tow the trailer into a post!