My trailer has no axle????

[MWBoatFan]

As shown in the pictures, my chariot trailer has no axle. The spindles are mounted in an armature built into the frame.

I'm hoping to add breaks to the trailer but the kit I am looking at requires a backing plate that is not present here. The cost is negligible between purchasing the backing plates and having them welded onto the spindles and getting new spindles that have the backing plates already in place. My question is....

How in God's name do I get these spindles off the trailer. I have never seen anything like this and I am really hoping they are not welded in place. I'd imagine that there has to be some way to replace them since ... well ya know stuff happens and they might need to be replaced at some point.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My trailer has no axle????

That is an axle, yours is a bit weird for a trailer - it is a drop axle.

Not removable. The spindles are welded to the axle - and most of them are. To replace them you cut them off and weld on new ones.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: My trailer has no axle????

You do not remove those spindles because they are welded onto the axle. The axle is the entire square tube with the spindles attached and is commonly called a "dropped axle".
It also appears you cannot add the brake flanges because there is not enough gap between the hub and the point where the spindle is welded. Lastly, unless the flanges are welded using some sort of jig, there is a good chance they will not end of square laterally or vertically in relation to the spindle, as well as longitudinally (in/out). All of that means the brake assemblies would not be square with the drum/disc and improper braking and excessive brake wear occurs.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My trailer has no axle????

So the short answer is - you want brakes, you need to replace the whole axle assembly unless you are capable of doing the cut/align/weld of new spindles. To do that you need a welding table that you can tack some brackets to using the existing spindles as a guide. Paying someone to do it would not be cost effective.

 

[batman99]

Re: My trailer has no axle????

.

To add electric brakes to factory idler / spindles, one can:

A - Buy / install (by certified welding) on a brake flange. There's different sizes of steel flanges. Some for round and some for square axles. Before buying, do "double/triple" check the specific steel flange (aka: mounting plate) for your existing factory spindles. For more details about flanges, surf: http://www.etrailer.com/c-tpbamf.htm
Note: Get a certified welder to weld the brake flange onto the spindle. Being certified, they know the proper welding method and heat levels. Exact placement of flange (steel plate) can be found using google search.

B - Buy / install the electric brake assemblies. Before buying, ensure you pick the LEFT and RIGHT assemblies. For more details about brake assemblies, surf: http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Brakes-sf-Electric_Drum_Brakes.aspx

C - Buy / Install the brake drum. Before buying, do "double/triple" check inner bearing size, outer bearing size, etc. etc. For more details of electric brake hubs, surf: http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Hubs_and_Drums.aspx

D - Using thick 12V - 10 gauge wire, install 7-pin connector on trailer's tongue and wire to each brake assembly. For best results, use black wire for ground (instead of frame grounding) and use blue or red wire for 12V current (from Tow Vehicle's onboard Brake Controller). Electric brake assembly magnets aren't polarity sensitive. Thus, why 2,000 assemblies use white wire and 3,500 assemblies use green wires.

Notes:
- The hardest part is investigating / confirming the existing spindle size. For example, it might be 3,200 lbs spindle, might be 3,600 lbs spindle and might even be 5,000 lbs spindle. Best to remove the idler hub and compare its measurements against detailed chart within: http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Spindles.aspx
- The 2nd hardest part is determining what parts can fit your existing spindle. For example, my boat trailer spindle is for 3,200 lbs load but with measurement comparisons, I'm pretty sure parts for 3,500 lbs axle will fit it. Today, I confirmed electric brake assembly for 3,500 lbs axle fit perfect. Not too sure about brake hubs / drums for 3,500 lbs axle. For my boat trailer, I will confirm later - when 3,500 lbs hubs are on sale (during winter months).

Also… Do shop around. E-Trailer isn't the only brake supplier in town. And when possible, wait for "seasonal discounts" - to save dollars as well… For brake items sold by iboats e-store, surf: http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Accessories/dm/keywords.brake

Long mumblings short…. One can install electric brakes (or other braking systems) on their factory spindle/idler hubs. It's just a matter of "double/triple" checking ALL measurements of needed brake flange, assembly and hub/drum "before buying" the individual parts. If wondering, I've "fitted" electric brakes on 2 previous trailers - that had factory idler system. Now, I'm installing electric brakes on my new (new to me) Boat Trailer as well.

Hope this helps...