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Old 10-17-2016, 11:02 AM   #21
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Name: Nick
Trailer: Bigfoot 17
British Columbia
Posts: 9
Axle replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by markjeff View Post
I'm looking for some first hand knowledge about lifting an 17.5 bigfoot.

Any help is appreciated.
If you're installing a straight axle, for about $60. You can have the saddles welded on both top and bottom so you have a bit more flexibility on how high you want your lift. If you decide to raise higher, it would just be the cost of some U-Bolts and your time.
I got a 3" tube as well when I did mine!
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Old 10-17-2016, 01:09 PM   #22
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Trailer: Bigfoot 17 ft (15B17G)
Posts: 150
Bigfoot axle swap

Swapped the axle on a 1986 BF 17', worked great, particularly for winter camping in the Rockies.

Still have a brand-new shock absorber kit for it, sold the trailer before I got it mounted.
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Old 10-17-2016, 01:20 PM   #23
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Name: Nick
Trailer: Bigfoot 17
British Columbia
Posts: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_L View Post
Swapped the axle on a 1986 BF 17', worked great, particularly for winter camping in the Rockies.

Still have a brand-new shock absorber kit for it, sold the trailer before I got it mounted.
Is the shock kit for sale, if so what are you asking for it?Nick
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Old 10-19-2016, 04:06 PM   #24
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
Posts: 2,254
I replaced my drop axle with a Dexter straight axle and I installed a new set of brakes at the same time. Agree it's one of my favorite mods and did not affect towing behavior.
Walt
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Old 10-19-2016, 04:43 PM   #25
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Name: Brad
Trailer: Beachcomber
British Columbia
Posts: 25
I recently built a fully customized Beachcomber trailer, and I had a fabricator and Wildwood Metal Works built me an aluminum frame. He was able to source out someone local to build an adjustable torsion suspension that can be raised or lowered. Its REALLY cool. I would give them a call. That way you can always fine tune it. For instance... I wanted to store mine inside my garage for the winter, but lifted, it wouldn't fit with the AC unit on it, so I lowered it 4 inches (took me 15 mins) and then it fit just fine. Highly recommended and they weren't all that expensive. Their number is 1-604-427-3060.
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Old 10-20-2016, 11:17 AM   #26
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Name: Steve
Trailer: 17' Bigfoot
British Columbia
Posts: 13
I changed my axle for a straight axle. I thought I would end up with the same clearance between the frame and the ground as I went from spring over the drop axle to spring under the straight axle. As it turned out the axle had an extra 4" clearance but the frame ended up lower.
Now I am thinking of having some square tubing welded to the frame where the springs connect to give me more ground clearance for the overall trailer.
I also had shock absorbers installed at the same time but there was so little vertical room I am not getting much travel on the shocks.
Does anyone have ideas about the safety around welding more square tubing to the underside of the frame? I have been discouraged from using longer shackles allegedly because they might make more sway. As it is there is no sway at all at any speed I can make the trailer go.
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Old 10-20-2016, 12:10 PM   #27
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Name: James
Trailer: Bigfoot B-17G
New Brunswick
Posts: 5
Hello, I am next door to you in New Brunswick. Where did you get the axle from? Did you get the brakes separately? Thanks very much. James
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Old 10-20-2016, 12:34 PM   #28
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Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
Posts: 1,561
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephe View Post
I changed my axle for a straight axle. I thought I would end up with the same clearance between the frame and the ground as I went from spring over the drop axle to spring under the straight axle. As it turned out the axle had an extra 4" clearance but the frame ended up lower.
Now I am thinking of having some square tubing welded to the frame where the springs connect to give me more ground clearance for the overall trailer.
I also had shock absorbers installed at the same time but there was so little vertical room I am not getting much travel on the shocks.
Does anyone have ideas about the safety around welding more square tubing to the underside of the frame? I have been discouraged from using longer shackles allegedly because they might make more sway. As it is there is no sway at all at any speed I can make the trailer go.
Can you crawl under the trailer and post a photo of the change. Specifically a photo of the wheel, spring and axle?
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Old 10-20-2016, 01:26 PM   #29
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Name: Nick
Trailer: Bigfoot 17
British Columbia
Posts: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephe View Post
I changed my axle for a straight axle. I thought I would end up with the same clearance between the frame and the ground as I went from spring over the drop axle to spring under the straight axle. As it turned out the axle had an extra 4" clearance but the frame ended up lower.
Now I am thinking of having some square tubing welded to the frame where the springs connect to give me more ground clearance for the overall trailer.
I also had shock absorbers installed at the same time but there was so little vertical room I am not getting much travel on the shocks.
Does anyone have ideas about the safety around welding more square tubing to the underside of the frame? I have been discouraged from using longer shackles allegedly because they might make more sway. As it is there is no sway at all at any speed I can make the trailer go.
I think I'd have another set of saddles welded on top of the axle and mount the springs there rather than welding on the frame.
Nick
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Old 10-23-2016, 04:18 PM   #30
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
Posts: 2,254
Unhappy

There are two ways to get a lift. One is to swap the dropped axle for a straight as most have done here. Me too with a Dexter axle.
The other lift is by converting the spring under configuration to spring over. This option is less desirable for two reasons. First it raises the shell but not the axle, so ground clearance for the axle is still problematic. Second, it's necessary to rotate the brake drums properly or the torque on the springs is in the wrong direction and it will destroy the springs over time. Please don't ask me how I know.

Walt
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Old 10-23-2016, 10:33 PM   #31
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Name: Nick
Trailer: Bigfoot 17
British Columbia
Posts: 9
Axle flip

Quote:
Originally Posted by WaltP View Post
There are two ways to get a lift. One is to swap the dropped axle for a straight as most have done here. Me too with a Dexter axle.
The other lift is by converting the spring under configuration to spring over. This option is less desirable for two reasons. First it raises the shell but not the axle, so ground clearance for the axle is still problematic. Second, it's necessary to rotate the brake drums properly or the torque on the springs is in the wrong direction and it will destroy the springs over time. Please don't ask me how I know.

Walt
Further to this statement, I'm told by an axle and spring specialist that turning your drop axle upside down as indicated above also changes the camber of the wheels and will cause early tire wear as well.Nick.
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Old 10-24-2016, 06:15 AM   #32
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
Posts: 2,254
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cantnotar View Post
Further to this statement, I'm told by an axle and spring specialist that turning your drop axle upside down as indicated above also changes the camber of the wheels and will cause early tire wear as well.Nick.
I'm not sure it's possible to turn the drop axle itself upside down. I don't think so. I was referring to rotating the brake drums only so that the torque on the spring remains in the correct direction when the brakes are applied.

Walt
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Old 10-24-2016, 07:39 AM   #33
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Trailer: Bigfoot 17 ft 1992 / Chevrolet S10 4.3L.
Posts: 146
axle

If you made only to the axle below the springs you do not change the direction of rotation of the brake system so nothing has to change position
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Old 10-24-2016, 07:42 AM   #34
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Posts: 146
the electric brake wire for the brake always come back in the upper rear part of the back plate
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Old 10-24-2016, 10:47 AM   #35
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Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
Posts: 1,561
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaltP View Post
I'm not sure it's possible to turn the drop axle itself upside down. I don't think so. I was referring to rotating the brake drums only so that the torque on the spring remains in the correct direction when the brakes are applied.

Walt
I actually saw a small stick built trailer in Moab Utah that had this modification. It was being towed by a rock crawler type jeep. I don't know if they had re bent the axle to get the camber correct. In addition to rotating the drop axle, they also mounted the axle under the spring. It appeared to be a good example of a bad example.
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