Can I use truck axles on a trailer?

F

Farmer Rock

Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I am thinking of building a goosneck trailer,and got to wondering about using 2 ton truck axles.As far as I know,the axles themselves will work,but my concern and question is the brakes.Would I be able to use an electric over hydraulic setup with the truck axle's hydraulic brakes?thanks

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I’m interested is this as well . I have a trailer that the builder used Mobil home axles on a walking beam setup well something is out of kilter Because I can’t get a set of tires to last 250 miles

 

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newhollandnut

Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I’m not sure how it’s done but a local guy that passed away not long ago built one with f550 axles. I remember him saying something about welding square tube in between the hubs. Maybe someone has more info on this method

 

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Wheat47

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I know of a guy that can re-align axles like that.
He said he often has to cut them from the frame and
reweld them to get them lined up.
I have no idea how he measures to do that.

 

Janicholson

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

The alignment of axles is the critical ingredient for tire wear (after overloading/under inflation). Even 1/16th of an inch difference between the distance form one axle to the other (measured on the spindle center drill holes) loaded and unloaded checked separately and carefully, will create tire wear. Worn bushings in the non-flexing spring eye, or a sagging spring will allow the axles to deviate from parallel. Deviation causes the pair of axles to steer the trailer (left or right) and put strain on the hitch that is translated into tire wear. Un-balanced loads (left to right) will also do this by stretching springs on one side more than the other making the axles not parallel. I built Michigan trains in the 1970s and welded many an axle mount to 1-1/2 inch thick bottom flanges to trailers designed to carry 125,000 pounds. It matters. Jim

 

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Location

Gehl Country, Wis.

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

Um.... those tires aren't rubbing under the deck of the trailer are they?

Mike

 

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TractorTucker

Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I've been told not to use mobile home trailer axles for anything since they are designed for low speed and going highway speed wears them out.

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

No . There is no suspension the wheels stay the same distance from the bed empty or when it has 12 ton on it

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I am going to take it and have the tire shop look at it and see what they can come up with on it

 

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Wheat47

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

They may know of someone who can aline trailer axles.

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I’ve ran this trailer many years hauling all kinds of loads even at freeway speed and no complaints on the axles

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 16, 2020

• #1

I hope so either that or I’ve got to rebuild it or quit using it

 

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Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Location

Virginia

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

Can't get a trailer inspected in Virginia with Mobile Homes axles,illegal to run on a trailer.

 

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caterpillar guy

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

I'd junk them for at least 16 inch truck wheels. Or even better if you can get a couple old lowboy axles the tires would hold all you will haul with a pickup and the axles will carry the load without any guff from them either. Then if you use a threaded link like on semi axles you can just move the axle on the suspension the slight amount you need to adjust them. Look at any old semi trailers and you will see the link. If not then they have to cut the suspension loose and then reweld it. My old stepdeck has a cam eccentric deal to adjust the axles for alignment. I've never needed to do that in 20 plus years now. It is probably going to need a lot of work or visit the scrape yard for a one way trip.

 

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Mike M

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

Measure from the center of the hitch back to each axle and see how close they are. I had a new corn pro trailer that the axles were out on it. Took me years to see the tire wear patterns as it did not get used a lot.

 

5

504

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

No one has answered the question,but I have wondered the same thing,will an electric over hyd brake pump work on a truck axle?

 

jon f mn

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

As for the electric over hydraulic brake actuators, there are several sizes and you need to make sure the actuator displaces the proper amount for the brakes you use. That said, I doubt you can acquire, install and repair old truck axles for the cost of new trailer axles that actually work properly. By the time you fabricated hangers, fixed springs and brakes and got the alignment right I would think the cost would be more than trailer axles.

 

jon f mn

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

Are you sure they used trailer house axles? Just because they are cast hubs does not make them trailer house axles. If the brake backing plates are bolted in rather than welded direct they are regular trailer axles and you can just replace the hubs to get standard 8 bolt wheels.

 

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ztrmowers

Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

you say walking beam axle, looks like do they rub when walking. i had unit that would do that ,i finally took it to auction let some one else deal with it. i put sign on it has axle issue, still brought more than was expecting.

 

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ztrmowers

Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

would never do that again ,build my own trailer,you will have more in it than just go buy you what you want.

 

Blackhole49

Well-known Member

Location

White Lake MI

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

Don't understand a couple of things. How can they stay the same distance from the bed at all times on a walking beam? How are the mounted to the beam that they can be out of line with no suspension?

 

DoubleO7

Well-known Member

Location

Crystal River, FL

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

(quoted from post at 02:48:31 12/17/20) I hope so either that or I ve got to rebuild it or quit using it

Click to expand...

If you have to change out axles use axles and hubs so that you can run the one ton dodge rims and tires.

 

C

comfortking

Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

We built a triple axle single wheel 24 foot flat plus five foot dove. We first used mobile home axles without much good luck.
we replaced those axles with Ford 3/4 ton rear axles. We cut the pumpkin out and spliced the tubes together. Bought the right springs and hangers for it.
We have electric over hydraulic brakes the work great. This is the smoothest pulling trailer we have empty or loaded. We had all of the frame work in the repurpose pile.

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

The axles don’t move far enough to rub I have had this trailer for 20 years Got it from my uncle who had it for 20 years before that .

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

They are trailer house axles . I’ve looked at the kits to convert to regular wheels but by the time I buy 8 hub kits and 8 tires and wheels I have as much into the trailer I could buy a used trailer the ol gal has made me enough money it may just get semi retired to hauling hay .

 

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

• Dec 17, 2020

• #1

They can walk like an axle on a digger but my far enough to rub . They are scuffing the tires off sideways

 

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BarryfromIA

Well-known Member

• Dec 18, 2020

• #1

One of the advantages of a trailer is the low deck height of commercial axles compared to a truck. A deck over trailer is still lower than the average truck bed. It all depends on what you need.