I need a new axle

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My 76 Scamp looks to be lower than others I've seen.
I just got it and am fixing it up.
Can anyone tell me from a photo if it appears worn out?

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3edee96b20e7fPaint_rack.jpg/>

I've seen axles for sale at Northern Tool but has anyone found better or cheaper or both?

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I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but I have to comment on two things: Wild paint job! and, is that an aluminum roof rack over your rig? If so did you make it yourself? I am very curious about it and would welcome any information.

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It looks fairly similar to my 76 Boler - Course that COULD just argue that the axle on my Boler needs attention too...

Actually - the older eggs rode lower. My Boler originally spec-ed out as a height of 6'10". I know it has sagged a bit below that (maybe 2 inches top) because my garage clearance is 6'10" and it's got a bit to spare rolling in. :)

Now - others might have a more informed answer - but I would think that you could check to see if it was a problem by looking into the wheel wells. If the axle has loosened up too much, shouldn't the tires be scrapping the well and wearing it?

mkw

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Orginally posted by Maggie O.

I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but I have to comment on two things: Wild paint job! and, is that an aluminum roof rack over your rig? If so did you make it yourself? I am very curious about it and would welcome any information.

Oh, Maggie, we have talked all about this great rack over in General chat.
Cargo Carrier
good information.

forgot something - Thomas they say to check the wheel clearance
if there isn't any, you need a new axle.
or if the axle sags, you need a new axle.

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:zz

Sorry to not reply sooner, I was sleeping....

I have checked the wheel well and there hasn't been any scraping yet. I do have about two and a half inches between the tire and top of the well...

I just have to believe that the torsion arm rubber bushings have worn or hardened in the 25 years of it's life and I doubt the axle has ever been changed.....
It is not bent, it just looks lower than others..

Thanks for the tip on the fact that older ones rode lower. I'll look into that.

Maggie, I did make that rack and did post info in the cargo carrier zone of this forum. I primarily made it to lift the sagging rooftop.
But it also has many added benefits. It is made out of electrical conduit available everywhere. It is the bending part that is tough. That is if one wants all the bends to look alike.

Thanks for your help,
I think I should still look into axle repair/replacements...

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Thomas:

Get in it and see if it'll rock side to side. Should be able to feel the 'springyness' if there's any.

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Dear PineCone,

I have done just what you suggest. It has movement. A bit.
Though it still could be low or worn.

I wonder if I should call Scamp and ask what is the clearance on the old models...

I thank you very much for your help and reply

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I have the same problem as you on my 79 13' Acorn. I wrote to Scamp and Kent Eveland told me that the torsion axles do go bad. If spindle of swing arm is above the axle center than it is sagged and needs to be replaced. They have replacements for $300 or $445 installed (2200 pound rating.) Spindle should be below axle center, making camer higher.
I have seen the ones in Northern tools. The torsion axle probably will work as long as the width is the same. They also have a $2000 trailer swing arm unit that i will probably try that is two independent torsion spindles not attached to an axle. These will probably be easiest to weld to frame. Since the torsion units are independent of each other there is no connecting axle, so width is no a factor.

My swing arms presently face forward. Is this correct? It seems trailing arms would be better but i think they won't fit to frame because of dropped floor section of trailer.
Please respond anybody if you have tried the Reliable brand of trailer torsion units that Northern tools sell.
Thanks - Joe

Orginally posted by Thomas Haney

My 76 Scamp looks to be lower than others I've seen.
I just got it and am fixing it up.
Can anyone tell me from a photo if it appears worn out?

I've seen axles for sale at Northern Tool but has anyone found better or cheaper or both?

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I'm certainly not an axle expert, but one thing I did learn about was positive and negative articulation on axles. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, because the terminolgy may be off.

When you were told that ''If spindle of swing arm is above the axle center than it is sagged and needs to be replaced, this is not necessarily true if I'm understanding you correctly. It may very well be true for Scamps because I do not know what articulation that they use. Dexter makes two (that I know of) axles with negative articulation. (ones that are of the appropriate size for our trailers). One is a 20% up (or negative) and the other is a 10% up (or negative).

If one has a 20% negative and replaced it with a 10% negative, it would raise it a couple of inches or so.

I'm not disputing what the person at Scamp said. He definitely knows his product better than I do. I just wanted to point out that his statement does not cover all axles, only the ones he knows about.

Interesting side note: Someone told me (not an axle salesman ;) )that it can be difficult to visually see if an axle is bad (other than the obvious). The rubber bushings inside do wear out over time, but since they are enclosed, they cannot be inspect. Fact or Fiction? :shg

Thanks.