Axle Replacement on 1985 13 ft U-Haul CT

[Bill Demarest]

I lost my Ford Ranger truck to an accident and want to tow my.
U-Haul CT with a Subaru outback. To do this safely I will need to add brakes. Reading through the posts, it looks like the best solution is to replace the axle with an assembly with brakes installed. There was a post that mentioned a lost post by someone who did this replacement. Can anyone with experience replaceing the axle on there U-Haul CT please provide some info as to the axle chosen, cost and installation experience.

Thanks

[Panoz77]

I don't think you'd need brakes with an outback.

[Bill Demarest]

The Outback spec requires brakes if the trailer is over 1000 lbs. We are planning some long trips and want to be on the safe side of caution.

[CindyL]

Try contacting Marty : http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...s-42722-2.html

CindyL

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Bill Demarest

I lost my Ford Ranger truck to an accident and want to tow my.
U-Haul CT with a Subaru outback. To do this safely I will need to add brakes. Reading through the posts, it looks like the best solution is to replace the axle with an assembly with brakes installed. There was a post that mentioned a lost post by someone who did this replacement. Can anyone with experience replaceing the axle on there U-Haul CT please provide some info as to the axle chosen, cost and installation experience.

Thanks

Hi, Bill

Before I bought my Trillium (has brakes) I considered a Scamp that didn't have them. The guy here locally that works on trailers told me that brakes could be added to the Scamp (presumably others, too) for about $100.00 per wheel. You might want to check out that option.
I wouldn't tow any TT without brakes- not just for the extra stopping power, but also for the marvelous effectiveness of the brakes' ability to bring a "sway" under control.
Manual activation of the trailer brakes (while backing off accelerator and keeping foot OFF vehicle brakes) during a sway event immediately stops the sway. That feature alone has saved my bacon more times than I like to admit to.

Francesca

[Bruce Thomas]

Francesca is right....brakes applied will usually reduce swaying right away....think of it like going uphill..they hardly ever sway then.
Uhaul rented those things to people with alot of smaller less capable vehicles then yours and they survived to be sold off eventually.
It isnt a heavy trailer, but peace of mind is nice too....if youre worried get brakes.
Bruce

[Francesca Knowles]

Didn't U-haul also direct folks to keep speed down (45mph?) while towing?
Sway is almost always related to speeds above 50mph with these little rigs...


Francesca

[Bruce Thomas]

back then alot of speed limits were 55 so maybe. I think there is a way to install brakes and not replace the axle though..it has bolt on hubs like the 16footer so it must be possible....same hubs

[JMS]

Originally Posted by Bill Demarest

I lost my Ford Ranger truck to an accident and want to tow my.
U-Haul CT with a Subaru outback. To do this safely I will need to add brakes. Reading through the posts, it looks like the best solution is to replace the axle with an assembly with brakes installed. There was a post that mentioned a lost post by someone who did this replacement. Can anyone with experience replaceing the axle on there U-Haul CT please provide some info as to the axle chosen, cost and installation experience.

Thanks

I just had the axle on my '83 Burro replaced with a new one with brakes. Total cost depending on whether the brackets need to be changed runs $500-$600ish

[Bruce Thomas]

Jim,
was that a torsion axle like the uhaul has?

[JMS]

Originally Posted by Bruce Thomas

Jim,
was that a torsion axle like the uhaul has?

Yes, a Dexter Torflex #9