Quote:
Originally Posted by Aircastle64
John B
I have a 1993 Solaris T-2653.
How do I determine which brand and part number for my rig?
I'd like to replace the tandem axles with all new axles hubs brakes wheels and tires.
Mine is underslung.
I'm thinking this is the right place.
Dexter Camper Axles
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Hi,
You have some of this correct, let me fill in some of the gaps.
Your 1993 T-2653 has a 7,000# GVWR. Meaning the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The most the camper can weigh fully loaded.
Your tandem axles, springs and wheels/rims should be rated to handle 1/2 the load each. In this case you need 3,500# axle tubes, leaf springs with at least 1,750# ratings and the wheels/rims to be able to handle at least 1,750 # each. I say the least as the springs and wheels can be rated heavier, just not lighter. The 3,500# axle tube is the right size and the next size up is 4,200# and that is a big jump and not needed.
Tires are a different story. The new way of thinking is too have an extra 20% tire capacity (reserve capacity) per actual tire/wheel location to handle the weight and the twisting forces in tire from a tandem axle setup. This twisting is called interply shear in the tire world. I am not 100% sure what tire size your 93 camper has. I'm assuming Sunline would of put on ST205/75R15 load range C. Which is a 50 psi tire rated at 1,820# each. The next jump up is load range D, which is 65 psi rated at 2,150# each. Make sure you check and confirm if they have 14 or 15" wheels.
If you loaded the camper all the way to, 7,000# + 20% =8,400# worth of tires. But your trailer tongue does handle some of the weight and the truck is holding that up. Your camper fully loaded might have 850# to 1,000# loaded tongue weight and the tires would not need to hold all the weight. Assuming you have 850# on the tongue weight, then the tires are only handling 6,150# + 20% = 7,380# worth on the tires. The C tire load range is very close to this.
Going up a tire load range to a D load range gives you more tire reserve capacity to handle interply shear, but you may or may not need it. This all comes down to, what is the heaviest tire location on the camper? Camper floor plans differ and where cargo can be stored is different. While Sunline did a good job on camper weight and balance, all 4 wheels are not loaded equal. The ideal way to solve this unknown is, you load up the camper with all the camping gear and fresh water you must have and tow with, then go weigh the camper and get individual wheel weights. If that is not possible in your case, then you need to estimate and manage your cargo to fit the extra 20% goal.
Since you are buying new wheels, buy the wheel/rim to meet the tire load rating or the next load rating up in case you need to upgrade in the future. You can mount C load range tires on a D load range rim without issues.
On the axles tubes, you need to measure 2 dimensions on your existing axles. The center to center distance of the axle seats where the leaf springs mount and the brake drum machined face (hub face) where the tire mounts from drum to drum. Your new axle needs to match those two dimensions.
If you are buying new leaf springs springs, (suggest you do) you need the weight rating, the eye to eye center distance of an unloaded spring, the width (1 3/4" is common on the Sunlines of your size) and the vertical height from the axle seat mounting area up to the spring eye centers (the arch). Also check the number of leafs match what you have now that. Do not get any less leafs, too harsh a ride. Equal leafs is OK and more leafs are OK just check the tire/wheel well bump clearance if you go more leafs.
This company, Axle Inc. is very helpful with supplying your Dexter parts.
AXLE Inc. - Towable Trailer Axle Specialists Call them and they will help you on the sizing I am talking about above. Other then maybe the tire sizing, I am not sure they do the extra 20% guideline yet.
They have a form to fill out and they can then quote you.
Sprung Axle Order Form - Axle Inc. of Elkhart
I would shop them at least to get a cost. I'm not saying you have to go with them. I did buy may axle tubes from them but did not buy may brake parts from them.
Other axle providers are these places. I have used them and had good experiences from them.
Eastern Marine. You may have to buy them in parts then a complete assembly. But they have a good supply of Dexter parts at good prices.
https://www.easternmarine.com/
Etrailer. You may have to buy them in parts then a complete assembly. But they have a good supply of Dexter parts at good prices.
https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=dexter+brake+axle
Freight, check the freight as that can be a big adder and some places charge and others like ETrailer does not.
Dexter also sells direct in some cases.
Who ever you buy from, call and talk to them to make sure you know exactly what they are supplying. Feel good they know what they are talking about.
Odds are high, you need to order the correct dimension axle tube widths for your camper. They are made to order. It takes about 2 weeks to have them made up and shipped. All the web based axle tubes may be size for cargo or flat bed trailers. Campers may not fall into the standard sizes that regular trailers use.
Wheels/rims. I myself look for DexStar wheels if you are after steel wheels.
Dexstar Wheel - Trailer Rims and Wheels These are good quality wheels. There are a lot of cheap wheels out there, I cannot speak for those brands. I have bought many DexStar wheels from Etrailer and had very good success.
Tires, this is subject in itself. The first is to get the right type and size correct. The brand can be a personal thing. For ST tires, I would only use these 3 brands and the specific tire I linked not in any order. Others may have there opinions and they good too.
Goodyear Endurance,
https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires...e-trailer-tire
Maxxis ST Radial M8008,
https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-...t-radial-m8008
Carslie Radial Trail HD
https://www.carlislebrandtires.com/o...dial-trail-hd/
You may find it better/cheaper to break up the order rather then buy everything from one source. Tires and wheels, seperate from axles, springs, brakes, drums as a separate set.
It is not that hard to size all this up once you know what to look for, but it does take time to shop.
Hope this helps,
John,
PS. This place you found,
Dexter Camper Axles I do not know them, and I can't speak to their service and cost.
PS 2. The term brake axle, often refers to a axle tube, brake drums and complete brakes as a set. The brake axle may or may not have the leaf springs. Axle tube is just the actual tube. Brake plate often refers to the complete brake shoe assembly but not the brake drums.