jkpell
New member
I have an old trailer that has a set of mobile home type wheels on it and I hate them. Can I replace these with a new (regular) style wheel and hub?
joe
joe
Mobile home Axles
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Bird
Rest in Peace
Joe, it can be done, although I think you'll be better off replacing the entire axle, hubs, wheels, etc.
ragkar
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For many years I lived in a mobile home park and about every ten years there'd be someone offering to buy my axles for $100. And probably sell them back to me for $400 many years later when I decided to move the trailer.
I'll bet the manager of some local mobile home park can tell you how to locate these guys and they could help you.
I'll bet the manager of some local mobile home park can tell you how to locate these guys and they could help you.
Bird
Rest in Peace
Many years ago, when you bought a mobile home, the axles (entire suspension system) was included in the price; i.e., they were yours. Then a lot of the dealers and/or installers started removing and keeping the axles; sometimes they paid the buyer a little bit for them, sometimes they did not. But they usually charged considerably more for axles, tires, wheels, etc. if or when you had to move the mobile home. That resulted in a lot of complaints. The last time I had a mobile home moved, it was my parents' mobile home and they did still have the entire suspension system that had never been removed. However, at the new location, the electric company (co-op) would not install a meter or hook up electricity to a mobile home unless the axles were removed; the theory being that the home might not be there long enough for them to recover their installation costs. But I found the market to be very limited and the only people who would buy the axles would not pay much for them. But in more recent years (and not too recent, at that) the dealers have contracts that specifically state that the axles, springs, tires, and wheels will be removed upon delivery and do NOT belong to the buyer. I bought a new double wide in 1997 and that was the first time I saw that in a contract.
DamonH
New member
I had an old farm trailer with the same axles. I haven't researched to find if it's true or not, but when I replaced them the shop I got the new axles from told me it's illegal to use them in Texas now. By the time you buy the hub, you might as well get the whole axle, it wasn't much more if I recall correctly.
Mahana79
Silver Member
DamonH said:
I would have to question that shop and ask them to show me. i have "Mobile home" axles under three trailers. I got them from Clayton homes in Abilene. They are 7,000# Dexters with UMH (Universal Mobile Home) hubs. the ID tag ont he axles has a DOT number as does the wheels and tires. i dont see anything that would make them illegal for highway use. the brakes are even 2x12 with a 5 bolt backing plate wich you can find at any tractor supply.
I can get a 7k# brake axle with springs, u-bolts, spring plates, shackles, equalizer, 3,600# rim and Load Range G 14 ply tire for $200.
Dargo
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I have a very wealthy uncle who owns several manufactured housing dealerships (it really upsets him if you call them "mobile homes") as well as gated manufactured home subdivisions. He probably moves a few thousand homes a year. (yeah, he's a multi, multi millionaire) Anyway, I asked him several years ago if he'd get me some axles so I could build me a trailer for some of my heavier equipment rather than having to buy a new trailer.
To my surprise, he said he'd give me all the axles I wanted but wanted to warn me that I wouldn't like them. He told me that the axles were of very, very poor quality with the cheapest bearings that could be had. The reason being was that the homes generally are moved very little in their lifetime. He told me that I'd end up spending more to make the axles up to my standard than what new appropriate axles would cost me. Being that these axles were designed to last a couple thousand miles (max), I decided that they weren't for me.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but he had no reason to not want to give me a set of axles. He had hundreds of them at the time and they were becoming an issue to store. Maybe some guys who have used them could shed more light on this subject. Based on what I was told, I ended up passing on them when they were free to me.
To my surprise, he said he'd give me all the axles I wanted but wanted to warn me that I wouldn't like them. He told me that the axles were of very, very poor quality with the cheapest bearings that could be had. The reason being was that the homes generally are moved very little in their lifetime. He told me that I'd end up spending more to make the axles up to my standard than what new appropriate axles would cost me. Being that these axles were designed to last a couple thousand miles (max), I decided that they weren't for me.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but he had no reason to not want to give me a set of axles. He had hundreds of them at the time and they were becoming an issue to store. Maybe some guys who have used them could shed more light on this subject. Based on what I was told, I ended up passing on them when they were free to me.
jimainiac
Platinum Member
That's interesting to hear that the axles are DOT approved. I was told long ago that using mobile home running gear was sketchy because they were under HUD rules. But it also makes sense that they might not be engineered for high mileage.
DARGO - If you're out there - What's the signifigance of your avatar? I've been curious about that for years.
DARGO - If you're out there - What's the signifigance of your avatar? I've been curious about that for years.
Jimbrown
Veteran Member
Here is what Dexter says about their own axles.
AXLES - Can mobile home axles be reused?
The Dexter MH (mobile home) type axle is designed for limited usage in the delivery of manufactured homes and has a one-time limit use. The axle has steel forged spindles that are not precision ground. The brake assembly is welded onto the beam and not intended to be field replaced. Additionally, the bearing package is smaller than the more expensive service type axle. Most MH axles are also equipped with a single leaf spring suspension for very heavy loads. We do not have components that would convert MH axles to servicable assemblies
AND Champion trailers.
www.championtrailers.com/Mobile%20home%20axles.pdf
AXLES - Can mobile home axles be reused?
The Dexter MH (mobile home) type axle is designed for limited usage in the delivery of manufactured homes and has a one-time limit use. The axle has steel forged spindles that are not precision ground. The brake assembly is welded onto the beam and not intended to be field replaced. Additionally, the bearing package is smaller than the more expensive service type axle. Most MH axles are also equipped with a single leaf spring suspension for very heavy loads. We do not have components that would convert MH axles to servicable assemblies
AND Champion trailers.
www.championtrailers.com/Mobile%20home%20axles.pdf
schmism
Super Member
Jimbrown said:
what that says is, if we said it would be ok to reuse them on other houses, people would, and we wouldnt keep selling axles because the first set is your last set. but we want to sell axles so... no you cant use them more than once.
as for the rest of what they said, its true, breaks can not be replaced with out rebuilding the assembly with diffrent parts. and bearings are more like bushings than bearings.