Need new axle for trailer

[milkie62]

I have a homebuilt firewood trailer that I bought back in 1983 for 100 bucks and it has served me well. It hauls a little more than a face cord of wood which is all I need with the hills I have. It has maybe a 50's front car axle on it now which is worn along with the springs have flattened out. Anyplace I can get a custom width axle for this with possibly 16" wheels. I have been using old tires but the 14" & 15" tires are drying up and most car tires now are 16". Plus I would rather have something like a 6 or 8 ply tire.

 

[4570Man]

You can buy trailer axels online. Or if it’s just an old straight axel you could probably find another one in a junkyard pretty cheap. They sell weld in trailer hubs to build your own trailer axel but they’re pretty light duty. But you’re probably going to stroke when you see the price of a new axel with spring and tires compared to your original purchase price.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would, and have, use used mobile home axles, wheels and tires from a mobile home dealership or from craigs list.

I bought them with springs attached for $100 and 14.5" wheels with tires for $25 each. Axles and tires are rated at 6000# so you can really load them up. I would not get a new tire for a wood hauling trailer because they will just rot out anyway.

The axles are straight so you just cut out the length you don't need and reweld. Maybe scab a chunk of 3" angle iron over the joint for strength. I have 2 trailers right now that way and they are great, and not afraid to take them over the road. If a tire goes bad just get another one with rim for $25,

 

[kthompson]

Price of mobile homes axles and tires are not near that low of price here. Also not as easy to find the tires and rims as few years ago. Often axles are removed in the setup and recycled. Not sure if it is the dealer or company moving them doing this. Tongues are same also. I have trailer I made for same purpose 20 some years back so knew the shortage of use tires and rimes well here.

 

[Chansey]

If you go the MH axle route, there are hub retro-fits that will take you to 16" tires.

I have made many axles by using Ford, Dodge or Chevy 1 ton rear diff housings and leaving the hub and brake assy in tact. If you cut the housing outboard of the spring perch, you should have a 3 to 4 " stub. I use sch 40 3-1/2 id for the axle portion cut to the desired width.

Depending on the pipe you are using as a tube, you may have to hone the ID to get a VERY snug fit on the hub stub. Some times you may need to clean/brush/grind depending on the crud on the hub stub.



Sch 40 tube and 1 ton hub s/b about 8,000 rating

 

[Chansey]

Here's a few more pic's

 

[nyone]

Mh axles are way to heavy of a axle for a face cord of wood. Your talking less than 1500lbs for wet red oak.

Eastern marine has trailer axles available in 2in incraments for a decent price. Get one thats got the grease zerk in the spindle.

There was another custom width place that i had found when i rebuilt my 6.5x12ft trailer but i think eastern marine was cheaper.

 

[crazyal]

Sounds like you aren't looking to spend a ton of money on this. I would keep an eye out on Craig's list for a small used trailer. Either you can swap the axle over to your trailer or use it. As for tires, once you have an axle you should be able to find steel wheels in a junk yard with the right bolt pattern. I think finding 16" wheels that will work with a smaller axle might be a little tough. So I would look for a trailer with 5 lug nuts per wheel.