Quote:
Originally Posted by montereyfgrv
The dexter axles should be replaced every 10-12 years. Wondering if everyone follows this rule, or otherwise cares to share some thoughts/tips on knowing when you must replace the axle.
I know fiberglass cracks and busted cabinets are a giveaway that your axle is all dried up. What about loud squeeking when towing?
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I don't know where that "rule" originated or how it got disseminated, but I am certain that it was not from Dexter.
I just changed mine on my Scamp13D after 16 years. It was in good shape with many years of life left in it, but I wanted a "ZERO" axle and 10"
brakes.
Change your axle when it is worn beyond serviceability.
A worn torsion axle will display negative camber and/or tow out.
This will be manifested in excessive tire wear to the tread toward the inside of the tire.
The axle should be replaced when the difference in wear across the tread is sufficient to require tire replacement in an untimely manner.
That is to say...
If you replace your tires every 4 years and the inside tread still exceeds 3/32" then you don't yet need a new axle.
As long as the tread wear difference across the tread is not so rapid as to require premature tire replacement.
Most trailer tires start at 11/32"
Mine start at 8/32". After 4 years the inner tread was about 1-2/32nds less than the outer tread, but still above 3/32". This was after 16 years and more than 80,000 miles on the original axle.
I have towed this Scamp about 5 to 7 thousand miles per year.
The
weight on my axle is about 1700 pounds loaded (a bit less than 80% of the original axle rating). Most Scamp13s are lighter.
It is also advised by some to lift the trailer enough to relieve the
weight on the axle when in storage. Good advice which I have often failed to follow.
A bit of a tangent....
If you have a brand new Scamp and you pick it up at the factory, I suggest recording the distance from the very top of the rim (not the tire) to the inner fender straight up on each side of the trailer this will give you a starting reference point, measure again after 5or6 hundred miles and note the "set" (usually around 3/4"drop) then once again when loaded for a trip.
None of this matters much but it may give you a sense of what is normal.