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07-05-2003, 01:23 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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torsion axle lifetime?
First post here, great site!
I have a new to me 1987 13ft scamp. Being in alaska it has seen some rough usage. The frame has been reinforced with angle iron and plated and welded in a few areas.
Also, the torsion axles are sagging well into the wheel wells with extreme tire wear on the outside of the trailer tires. Does this mean that my axle needs to be replaced or that the trailer is not aligned?
The fiberglass has been slightly damaged where the frame exits from under the camper to the tongue. I will try and post pictures of the affected areas tomorrow. My guess is she has taken a few big bumps a little too fast or that the suspension isn't doing its job. Has anyone modified a scamp with a standard leaf spring axle?
On the bright side she pulls great behind my cummins diesel (20+ mpg, same as no trailer) the previous owner sealed every crack to the outside with 'great stuff' and had all the appliances/electical in working order. Looking forward to many adventures.
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07-05-2003, 01:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Hi, ''anomad''!! :wave Glad you found us! Hope you enjoy the site and have much to contribute!
Since you're new you may not have noticed we really prefer that members register using their real names. You can put your ''handle'' in your signature.
Thanks for your attention to this matter.
Good luck with that axle question.
:sunny
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07-05-2003, 03:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Hello, and welcome, fellow 1987 Scamp13-ers! :wave And congrats on that new egg. I'm too a newbie myself to help with your axle question but glad you asked. Enjoy the forum - learn lots.
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07-05-2003, 03:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Mary, I forgot to say:
Aren't you going to be :red if "anomad" is his/her real name?!!!!
:lol
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07-05-2003, 06:34 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Sagging Scamp
Sounds like you need a new axle and tires. Scamp will sell you one or you can order direct from the factory. Scamp trailers use to come standard with leaf springs. I had a 90 16 ft. one with them on it. But the torsion axle is a better set up, because it gives you some shock absorption. But they tend to sag when they get older.
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07-05-2003, 09:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Howdy and Welcome Anomad...
I seem to remember that an earlier posting on these boards dealt with this. Try the search button and type in torsion axle or sagging axle. Alos a while back someone mentioned that when the trailer is parked to keep the weight off the axles and this will prolong the torsion springs lifetime.
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07-06-2003, 05:01 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Sagging axel
As my 7 year old Scamp 5er is sagging some and I plan on adapting the same wheels as my pickup to eliminate the need for another spare. My thoughts are to cut the side and rear welds and hinge the axel down while still attached at the front and welding in whatever spacers needed to bring it back to its orriginal clearance this will change the caster and camber slightly but will be worth the try.
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07-06-2003, 06:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Axles
I know that Henshen which is the manufacturer of axles for Airstream will not sell parts for axles over 20 years old. They only recommend replacement of the axle at that age.
Anyway good luck with your Scamp.
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07-06-2003, 07:51 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Quote:
Orginally posted by Lyndon Laney
As my 7 year old Scamp 5er is sagging some and I plan on adapting the same wheels as my pickup to eliminate the need for another spare. My thoughts are to cut the side and rear welds and hinge the axel down while still attached at the front and welding in whatever spacers needed to bring it back to its orriginal clearance this will change the caster and camber slightly but will be worth the try.
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adapting to tow vehicle sounds like a good idea, IF you alwas buy the same brand and size of vehicle. As I do the entire spectrum when buying, that would not work for me. I assume you don't have that problem.
But going to original clearance; you said hinge the axle? or do you mean frame?. I need more help here with this picture in my head.
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07-06-2003, 08:48 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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I will make adapters to adapt from 5 bolt to 6 Which I have done often . Then what I mean is to leave the weld on the front of the axel and pry down the end as a hinge . weld in a 1 inch riser on the droped end Brige the gap in between that and the original end weld. This will actualy drop my wheel about 3 inches .
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07-07-2003, 11:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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more things to worry about
Well I spent a little time crawling around under the trailer after jacking it up. Much to my dissatisfaction I found a major crack in the tubular frame on the passengers side. That will require some welding.
As for the axle, the drivers side is sagging worse than the passengers, based on when they left the ground. That might explain some of the abnormal tire wear.
So, right now I am thinking a little welding, two new tires, and a "for sale" sign might be best for this little guy. I would have to come clean about the frame damage, but its repairable.
Lyndon:
Eliminating a spare tire sounds like a crazy idea! Up here in alaska many guys carry two spares for their trailer and two for the truck, depending on where they are heading. <img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3f0a5cb792849scamp2.JPG/>
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07-08-2003, 05:55 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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The frames on these little trailers aren't as critical to perfect alignment as on our cars and trucks. Have the frame fixed professionally, fix the axle and most of all, clean it up. It's probably eating away at you to have that filthy thing sitting in your driveway. So take lots of pictures to document it, and then start putting some love into it. It won't take that much work and it will suddenly seem like yours; and you can probably still enjoy some of the summer. Spend the fall going after the dealer or seeking retribution.
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07-08-2003, 11:33 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Quote:
Orginally posted by Herb Peyerl
most of all, clean it up. It's probably eating away at you to have that filthy thing sitting in your driveway.
Spend the fall going after the dealer or seeking retribution.
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Don't get me wrong, we love the little guy! We have already used it a couple times and only had it 3 weeks now. Depending on what my welder/axle guy tells me it just may not be worth sinking the money into it.
I did clean it! Can't you tell? Its construction season here and the road is all torn up, so I can't leave the house without getting the trailer filthy. The cars are filthy too, the whole neighborhood will be out washing their cars when they finally pave.
I'm not going after retribution, the individual I bought it from is very honest, however I don't think he was very mechanically inclined. I examined the frame before buying it, but the crack I found only appears when she is jacked up in a way the flexes the frame. I am sure he didn't know about it.
Salmon and moose are the only things I'll be going after this fall!
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07-08-2003, 11:59 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Chocolate Moose
ummmm now thats got to be better then a tough old bullwinkle
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07-08-2003, 12:31 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Anomad... my two cents... if you got it... keep it. I think the bucks that would need to go into fixing it would be worth it since these little babies are hard to come by... and new... well... KA-CHING... but thats just me....
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07-08-2003, 03:44 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
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Posts: 18,870
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Send it up here.I will fix it and sell it back to you.:laugh :laugh
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07-08-2003, 04:39 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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Hey, Ches. Sounds like you're really getting into this repair stuff! ;) I think you're having way too much fun! :) Beside, that's what I wanted to do. Now that I have mine rolling, I want another one to piddle with.
Forget the frame stuff, though. Welding is something I never quite got around to learning. :o
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07-10-2003, 07:46 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
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There's a whole bunch of info on Scamp axle replacement in the Yahoo Scamp archives. The big trick is to get the axle yourself (after consulting Steve at Scamp as to exactly the right one -- If you order thru an axle place it might cost more than twice what you'd pay ordering direct from Dexter (voice of experience speaking here). Next best thing is to order it from Scamp.
Now is also a good time to consider brakes if you don't have them because they are very inexpensive if ordered with the axle.
There is a LOT of info on Dexter's web site about measurements, etc., but it is sometimes hard to dig out. Download everything, print it out and read it. BTW, Dexter wants to see three or more inches between the top of the tire and the fenderwell; anything less is weak "rubbering".
There is also another company out there making torsion axles for small trailers called ALCO.
Pete in the RatHaus in Silverton Colorado
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