Trailer Axle Build

BigBody79

BigBody79

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Location
Lumberton
I would like to build an axle for my boat trailer.

What I have are 4200lb spindles/hub/brakes

What I need help with is the tube that goes across.

The OD of the spindle is 1.70

2x2 1/4 wall tube is only 1.50 ID
2.25x2.25 1/4 wall tube is 1.75 ID
Thats for both round and square.

What's going to be my best bet?
 
Square tube will be MUCH stronger than round. Also easier to mount to leaves without welding perches on.

What is the spacing between the springs, and what is the track width?
 
Alright went with the 2x2 1/4 wall. Pretty stout stuff. Next problem. The spindle is 1.71 OD the tube is 1.5 ID So it doesn't fit inside the tube. Should I have it machined down to fit or should I cut the tube to make it fit?
 
Decided to have the spindle turned down to fit the 1.5" ID of the square tubing.

Next problem: There is a seam on the inside of the tube what's the best way to go about removing that?
 
Rust Bullet. Comes in silver and black. We used to use it on marine parts where we had to grind galvanizing off to weld. Sometimes we'd get a part back. The galvanized areas would have rust popping through. Not the rust bullet.
 
uploadfromtaptalk1398892759280.jpg


Guess which parts has seen the salt water?
 
So this trailer is going to need some camber. I am going to put some some toe into the trailer when I weld the spindles on. Probably about a degree or so.

I want to put about 1.5 degrees of camber in the axle by bending it in the middle. The axle is set up to be 84" from hub face to hub face. and 77.75" from mounting flange to mounting flange. How much will the axle have to deflect in the middle to produce 1.5 degrees of camber.
 
Alright, so this is turning into more of a blog than a thread. But...

I finished up welding the axle last night. Everything came out looking pretty good. 1/8" toe in and 0 degrees of camber.

Today I tried to bend the axle in the middle to put some camber in it. I found the heaviest thing I could find. Our Ford 555 backhoe and put a bottle jack under the backhoe and tried to bend the tube down. I got some deflection on the tube but mostly just lifted the backhoe.

So, I'll have to figure something else out.
 
Cut a slit in it and weld it back together. Plate the sides and bottom, as needed.
 
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