Learned a new skill today...
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 3:45 pm
How to build and replace an axle on my utility trailer. I have a flat utility trailer that I've been using to haul totes up to my woods house. It's a dual axle and will hold 7K lbs. A load of 5 empty totes weigh about 675 lbs. A double load as shown below.. 1350 lbs.
Better days....
So I was hauling it home yesterday from the woods house empty. Driving a 2 lane highway and came up on an old lady driving about 40. I went to pass her and she inexplicably turned left and hit my trailer. It bent the axle and I would guess totaled her car. No one was hurt but she was towed I had to get the trailer home. Fortunately I took off the wheel/tire and drove it home on three wheels.
Crunched the fender as well
So I didn't know the first thing about replacing an axle so I called different trailer repair shops. No one had any axle in stock but one guy said If I bring it it he can measure it and order a new one. So I took it in this morning and as he was measuring it his tech guy walked by and said, I think I may have an axle that will match that. He comes back a few minutes later with the axle. He had to weld on stops and then showed me how to swap out the hubs from the old to the new. $365 later I was on my way. It took me awhile to remove the old, swap the hubs from the old to the new but I got er' done. Of course I had to take it apart 3 times to get it right but eventually I got back in business.
Old axle...
So there is a learning curve to swapping an axle but I'm pretty sure I could do it again in 1/3 of the time it took to do the first one. Not to mention I'm getting friggin old. But I'm proud of myself.
I know...cool story bro
Better days....
So I was hauling it home yesterday from the woods house empty. Driving a 2 lane highway and came up on an old lady driving about 40. I went to pass her and she inexplicably turned left and hit my trailer. It bent the axle and I would guess totaled her car. No one was hurt but she was towed I had to get the trailer home. Fortunately I took off the wheel/tire and drove it home on three wheels.
Crunched the fender as well
So I didn't know the first thing about replacing an axle so I called different trailer repair shops. No one had any axle in stock but one guy said If I bring it it he can measure it and order a new one. So I took it in this morning and as he was measuring it his tech guy walked by and said, I think I may have an axle that will match that. He comes back a few minutes later with the axle. He had to weld on stops and then showed me how to swap out the hubs from the old to the new. $365 later I was on my way. It took me awhile to remove the old, swap the hubs from the old to the new but I got er' done. Of course I had to take it apart 3 times to get it right but eventually I got back in business.
Old axle...
So there is a learning curve to swapping an axle but I'm pretty sure I could do it again in 1/3 of the time it took to do the first one. Not to mention I'm getting friggin old. But I'm proud of myself.
I know...cool story bro
