Car axle used on a trailer?

[Stihlrunner]

I think I would stay away from automobile axles. Spring perches, brakes, etc will all be headaches.

Trailer axles are relatively inexpensive new and usually can be found very cheap on craigslist. In my area you can find a complete axle with springs and electric brakes for $150-200, usually with tires.

 

[Travelover]

I think I would stay away from automobile axles. Spring perches, brakes, etc will all be headaches.

Trailer axles are relatively inexpensive new and usually can be found very cheap on craigslist. In my area you can find a complete axle with springs and electric brakes for $150-200, usually with tires.

+1 I've seen bare axles at TSC - surprisingly cheap.

 

[pat32rf]

If this smoker is gonna need a 3000lb axle, then you are definitely going to need trailer brakes...
Magic Wagon/Caravan axles are great for light duty stuff, where you don't need a lot of ground clearance, but I'd keep the loads under a ton, because of the lack of brakes.

 

[aczlan]

One benefit to a minivan axle is you could use a surge brake actuator with the existing brakes if you want surge brakes, or you could use the brake cables from the ebrake and make parking brakes.

Aaron Z

 

[Whatswrong]

I would just build it because unless you plan to have 4 sides of beef and a couple pigs on the BBQ at the same time you will have way more axle than load and it would no longer be a small utility trailer .

 

[bnew17]

If this smoker is gonna need a 3000lb axle, then you are definitely going to need trailer brakes...
Magic Wagon/Caravan axles are great for light duty stuff, where you don't need a lot of ground clearance, but I'd keep the loads under a ton, because of the lack of brakes.

Im guessing the ballpark weight of this smoker to be around 1000 pounds.

 

[bnew17]

I would just build it because unless you plan to have 4 sides of beef and a couple pigs on the BBQ at the same time you will have way more axle than load and it would no longer be a small utility trailer .

Since i already have this trailer i mise well use it. I dont have the money to go out and buy another trailer, plus i figure i can beef it up to what it needs to be for much less than building an entire trailer.

 

[bnew17]

+1 I've seen bare axles at TSC - surprisingly cheap.

I checked with tsc the other day, their bare axles are $250+

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Since i already have this trailer i mise well use it. I dont have the money to go out and buy another trailer, plus i figure i can beef it up to what it needs to be for much less than building an entire trailer.

I agree with you. This sounds like a dedicated trailer that you're not going to be overloading with metal scraps or something crazy like that. You have the trailer, you have the axle, and it sounds like you have the skills needed to modify it.

Do the modification and enjoy taking your smoker wherever you want.

 

[Travelover]

I checked with tsc the other day, their bare axles are $250+

Ouch! The ones I saw were in the $150 range.