Some folks from the Casita website may have seen this. I thought for all of you that have not it might give you some insights.

When I bought my 17' Casita I wanted to have more ground clearance. At the time Casita did not offer to the US market any options for a High Lift axle. I went to my local welding supply and found out that I could get a Dexter axle with any lift (articulation) I wanted. The axles cost $410 plus shipping (additional $100 to Califorinia) at that time. I would then have to weld it on or have someone weld it on.

At this point it started to sound too expensive.

Just about the time I gave up, Casita started offering the High Lift axle on new 17' Casitas. This was about two months after I took delivery.

I called Casita and they worked with me and sold a New High Lift axle to me at their cost because I had asked for one two months ealier. So I ordered a New High Lift axle.

:cblob The New High Lift axle arrives...

Who was it out your way who lifted his by welding a lifting block between the frame and axle? Seems like he got a full 4" lift. Was it WB Willy?

I have all of the tools to weld as you have seen in my generator box thread.

:o Am I up to cutting off the old axle and replacing the new one by my self. I didn't feel I want to chance it. I have a friend that was a construction supervisor for our local Nucular Power plant - a very good welder. He use to build steel boats down in Morro Bay, CA.

I offered to give him the old axle if he would help me replace the axle on my Casita. He said sure. I'm glad I had him help me. He can weld upside down and make it look like dimes all lined up. Also, he is maticulas in aliening and making sure it was correct.

The hard part was cutting the old one off. Man they had that sucker really welded on there. There is not much room to get a cutting wheel in there to cut the old welds.

I thought I was getting 3” lift. It turned out to be a little under 2” lift. But hey, it is just right. We never drag going in and out of driveways and the such. The height is just right for getting in and out.

Wanna see?

:wiggly

Morgan,

Eric Mayer (Los Angeles, CA) had a 3” square tube spacer added between the frame and the old axle. Net lift was 3”.

His cost was about $350. Just about what I spent.

The key difference is that the axle has a negative articulation. (hits bumps harder)

Thanks for defining that, Michael. I'm sure Morgan knew what you meant, but I sure didn't! :lol

Mary,

Articulation is the angle the trailing arm is in relation to the axle.:o

OK, OK, OK let me see if I can try again.

If the wheel hub is higher then the axle, then it has a negative articulation. If the wheel hub is lower (making the trailer lifted), then it is said to have a positive articulation. With a positive articulation, when you hit a bump, the hub swings back and up to pass over the bump.

If you have a negative articulation, hitting the same bump, the wheel hub has to push forward into the bump making the bump more severe.

OK, I give up. Word pictures are hard. If you could see my hand gestures and facial expressions, it would be so-o-o clear.

Lori could take some pix and you could upload them, so I'd get the hand gestures and facial expressions.

Yeah, the facial expressions. That's what I need! :reye2

Actually, Michael, believe it or not, I do understand what you're talking about! (Not sure what I'll do with the info, and will probably forget it before I ever “need” it, but hey, what an educational afternoon!)

Thanks...! :yep

Ummmm. I'm not going to be tested on my understanding/appreciation of positive and negative articulation, am I? :wink

Mary F,

Michael hasn't even touched on equilateral articulation yet ;)

I'm surprised Pignone Don in OKC hasn't chimed in :r

Is Pignone the same as Piñon?

It's Itiliano for pine, piñon, pinecone, pinion or anything resembling any of the preceding. Those folks make a word go a long way.

For example, I once worked for Pignone Sud in Milano. They made gears; a few were pinions :) (Milano is in the north, sud is south)

My brother (and the nice Mary Foster) live near Milano (Texas).

Hi all
Question. On my Boler my axil is rated for 3000lbs. Can I get a higher rated axil.:o

Absolutly. When you order your axle, you pick what weight rating you want.

While you can of course stick any axle you'd like on there (rating-wise). It sorta begs the question: How much stuff do you plan on cramming in that Boler??? Assuming the '17-er weighs about 1500lbs, that leaves 1500 lbs worth of stuff to cram in there. That's a lot cans of chili. I'd think the wood floor would give out long before the axle did.

mkw

Hi Mike
The Boler weight is about 2350lbs Dry. I have added some weight during my renos.As you can see this would put me on the line.Reason I asked was to get a bigger safety margin.:)