Trailer axle question.


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Old 06-15-15, 11:51 PM
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Trailer axle question.

Hello. I have some questions about a trailer I just got a couple months ago.
I am wondering what the weight capacity for this trailer is.
I did some research. I couldn't find any stamps on it or info on the weight on the axle.
I saw online to measure the diameter of the axle.
(It's a dual axle)
Each axle (round not square) measures 2.4" which from what I read, it means each axle can hold up to 3500lbs. (I read 2-3/8" axle can hold 3500lbs)
I believe I Have the "Fayette" or "dexter" bolt pattern or axle however.
And I read if it's One of those 2 axles. They are actually rated at 4000lbs each.
And because my bolt pattern is 4 lug and each lug is 9" apart(across) That the axle could actually be rated at 4100lbs.

I am more than okay with 3500lbs. But 4100 would be sweet. Can anyone verify if I at least have 3500lbs on each axle or it its 40-4100lbs?
Thank you in advance.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 03:39 AM
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Who made the trailer & can't they be contacted?
 
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Old 06-16-15, 03:56 AM
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What is the capacity of your towing vehicle? I doubt you would ever exceed the need on the trailer, since each axle would be rated at over the vehicle's capacity. What will you be hauling?
 
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Old 06-16-15, 03:58 AM
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We just had a news item here last week where someone tried to move a 14' X 72' Mobile in the middle of the night and the axles fell off several miles out, midway between the start and the destination, and did thousands of dollars of damage to the road.

They abandoned the unit blocking the road, and disappeared . . . . and are hoping the authorities don't catch up with them. I guess they failed to do the research that you''re doing.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 04:55 AM
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I've never seen a 4 hole rim on a 4000 LB. rated axle.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 04:59 AM
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Wow, that's a wild story. The cops will find them. They may have been drinking & that's why they left the scene. At one time, leaving the scene of an accident was a worse offense than a DWI. Now, it's the other way around. So it's better to run & return the following day.

I had sold a van once. The buyers paid me $900 cash & never returned. In the meantime, someone hit it at 5AM on a Sunday & sent it flying on a some grass. They left the scene & appeared at the precinct a few days later. The cops couldn't find me & impounded the van. I claimed it but I couldn't do anything with it. I had already given the signed title to the new owners. That was in 2005 & they still haven't come back for it. I filed a claim with the insurance company, of the guy who hit it & received another $2,100. I called the county & told them that I had some unclaimed property that I wanted to "turn in". They said "We only take wallets". Then I called Albany & they wouldn't take it either. I finally had it crushed.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 05:42 AM
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I'm like Joe, don't think that I have ever seen a 4,000 lb. axle with 4 lugs, and, going a step farther, might be wrong, but doubt that you will find any tires with a 2,000 lbs. + rating to fit those wheels. What is the rating on the tires it has now? And, frankly, unless you have a specific load that you will be hauling regularly, in which case you would have checked the rating before buying it, does it matter much? Sounds to me though like something in the range of a 6,000 - 7,000 lbs. capacity trailer, plenty able to support a standard size automobile or one heck of a lot of furniture.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 06:23 AM
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I don''t want to hijack this thread; but if someone else finds this story about the abandoned Mobile Home interesting, here's a link to the material:

mysteries Archives - Barton Chronicle Newspaper

Technically, there should have been a Bill of Sale, and a Permit for taking the Unit on a State Numbered Highway . . . . and possible an Escort of some kind.

The parties involved skipped all of those cumbersome formalities !

And the Owner of Record doesn't remember the name of who he sold the Unit to.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 09:49 AM
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@Pulpo If the axles are dexter axles then in guessing they made the axle. I might try to contact them later today and see if they can help.

@Chandler the truck is rated at 6500 tow rating. I don't think I would ever exceed that though.

@vermont that is pretty crazy. Those axle bolts must've been rusted or the wheel hitting the straight ground shook everything loose and bam! But this trailer is way smaller. 14'x5'x3' tongue

@aka Pedro. Yea, I'm not going it all the time. The tires it has arrested at 1000lbs each.
I will probably just used it to haul a car once in a while or some outdoor ad ons to the house.

So is it kind of safe the day the axles are at least rated for 3500 lbs each. Going of the diameter?
 
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Old 06-16-15, 10:20 AM
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"Fayette" or "dexter" bolt pattern
4 bolt right?

The tires it has arrested at 1000lbs each.
Its a 2000lb axle...

DEXTER 1-1/16" Bearing, 4 on 4" Stud Wheel Hub Kit #K08-091-91
 
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Old 06-16-15, 10:27 AM
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So is it kind of safe the day the axles are at least rated for 3500 lbs each. Going of the diameter?
Good luck with that. You can kill someone or injure yourself and others in the vehicle.

Let me know your actions as I may close this thread..

But we are not there and going from what you told us, and my personal knowledge..
 
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Old 06-16-15, 11:59 AM
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The wheels look exactly like these. 4 on 9"
http://api.ning.com/files/JLyzlitvvV...eemailview.jpg
And the tires the trailer has now. I don't think they're are trailer tires which I do plan to replace before using it. And most weight it will carry is a 2500lb car+weight of the trailer. I just want to make sure it can hold it. Unless the trailer comes off the truck. No one will get hurt.
I could not find that bolt pattern on any axle on online.
Thanks
 
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Old 06-16-15, 12:31 PM
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Thats an old dexstar vintage rim. 14". You probably should of posted a picture earlier.

IMO since the tires carry the load I would get the proper tires on them.

If that is indeed yours in the pic and they are the 14" variety then,

Those are rated @

Rim dimensions: 14" diameter x 5-1/2" wide
Bolt pattern: 4 on 9.44"
Wheel bolt size: 1/2"-20
Offset: +0.5"
Mounting surface of wheel sits outside of rim centerline
Load rating: 1,860 lbs


They also make 15" and 13" and weight ratings change..

See video here

http://images.etrailer.com/Merchant2/Graphics/00000001/video/Demo-Dexstar-Tires-and-Wheels-AM20312.webm
 
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Old 06-16-15, 02:46 PM
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Thanks for the video and specs lawrosa!
Yea I do plan on getting trailer tires on it with at least a 1500-1700 lb rating.
Saw some yesterday online for around 70$ with 1735 lb rating.

But back to the specs. 1860 lbs is rated for 1 wheel? Which would bring 2 wheels at about 3700 lbs/axle correct?
 
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Old 06-16-15, 04:02 PM
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Most likely a 3500 lb axle IMO.

But you did not state the size of the wheel/rim. 15, 14, 13??? How wide
 
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Old 06-16-15, 04:52 PM
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Thanks for some confirmation. That is more than enough. It will probably never see 3000lbs loaded on it anyways.
It is a 14" wheel and about 5" wide. I would like to get 15" or maybe even 16" if I found a good set, but these style wheels are pretty expensive.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 06:26 PM
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Keep in mind that the load may not always be centered exactly over the two axles, and, even if it were, some of it is transferred to the tow vehicle, and that may change while underway, depending on the type of suspension, so it is good to be aware of the tire rating, but that alone is not going to determine the load capacity. In other words, 4 times say 1800 does not necessarily mean that you want to throw 7200 lbs. on it.
 
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Old 06-16-15, 07:17 PM
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Yea I get what you mean. If it's not centered it could be a serous when driving.
It has 4 leaf springs.
And I will never get close to 7200 lbs.
the truck only allows 6500 lbs and the hitch is rated for 6000lbs.
Most will probably be about 3-3500lbs, if that.
 
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Old 11-11-15, 10:15 PM
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I was able to get under the trailer while attempting to flip the axles and just one of them has the original metal plate from factory rating each axle at 2800 lbs!
I did end up selling the trailer because it was too small for i intended to use it for.
I also found out it was the base for a mobile home trailer. it have L beams popping out and the rear left side slanted out from factory and also propane tank holders!
it was sturdy but just not for me.
 
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Old 11-12-15, 10:20 AM
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The way I interpret "mobile home trailer", those axles were built to get it from the factory to the dealer and then to its final site. Not an axle I would trust. But that's just me.
 
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Old 11-12-15, 11:41 AM
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MH axles are routinely taken off and installed on the next MH to be moved. I wouldn't be leery of them provided the trailer that has them doesn't exceed the rating of the axles. If I'm not mistaken MH tires aren't allowed by DOT to be used on regular trailers although I have them on my tandem axle utility trailer and they work just fine.
 
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Old 11-12-15, 03:34 PM
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Oh sorry for the miss use of terms. It was a trailer. Similar to a fifth wheel camping trailer but it used a coupler instead of fifth wheel attachment.
So I think they were the original axles for the trailer when it was used as a living space. Or do they swap axles on trailers like this as well?
I am guessing it was torn down to the base to make a utility trailer. I wish it wouldve been wider. I would've kept it to haul cars but it was only about 5.5 ft wide
 
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Old 11-12-15, 03:37 PM
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That is some good info to know marksr, so people aren't allowed to use mobile home tires on other trailers?
I thought you could use any tires if they do not exceed your load.

Since that trailer. I found a smaller trailer about 4'x7' for FREE! I just had to dig the dirt around the wheels and haul off a few pieces of wood for the owner and I got to keep it. Pretty sweet.
 
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Old 11-13-15, 03:29 AM
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I'm not 100% certain about the MH tire rule but I've heard that from multiple sources over the years.

While it's common for mobile home axles to be removed once the MH is set up, it's not routine to remove or swap out any other type of axle. It's not uncommon for folks to build trailers out of scrap or repurpose a trailer frame.
 
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Old 11-13-15, 07:10 PM
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Mobile home axles are regularly pulled off the road by our highway enforcement people.
The type we see most often are 6000 lb capacity axles with lug type wheels.
There are non-mobile home axles that are similar to this so what the inspector looks for is that the tires are "transport rated" and not tagged "for mobile home use".
Another Mobile home axle sign is that highway axles have a removable brake backing plate.....backing plates on a mh axle are welded on.
 
 

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