Our next large project was replacing the dual axles on
our trailer. Just like holding tanks, it’s not the sexiest of items one must
tackle to have a fully functioning vintage RV. It shouldn’t be ignored, either.
Have your heart set on an Airstream in particular? Depending on the age and
maintenance history of your model, just plan on replacing the axles at some
point during your ownership. Airstream started using torsion axles during the
1960s. Most torsion axles have a life-span of 25 years (according to the
experts). Regardless of axle type and depending on condition, many vintage
trailers’ axles may need replaced. We strongly recommend getting an expert
opinion regarding the axles, especially if your trailer is going to be used for
travel. Corroded axles and worn suspensions just aren’t safe. Eventually
failure of these parts can occur. They can do significant damage to numerous
things too; such as premature tire wear, uneven load balance and increased
likelihood of nasty accidents.
When it comes to the axles and suspensions for
Airstreams, you deal with replacement in a couple of ways. Plenty of
information can be found on sites like Airforum concerning axles. Start there
before making any decisions. You will
find some DIYers who did the axel prep and installed themselves; other DIYers
who ordered complete axles from someone who specializes in Airstream parts, and
installed them themselves; a few who ordered the parts and paid someone else
for installation, and others who had the
repair shop handle everything. What you decide to do should be based on what
best suites your circumstances. When it comes to cost, the adage “You get what
you pay for” definitely applies. There are only a couple of suppliers who deal
with direct Henschen replacement axles (that we could find), and yes, it does
affect cost. But here’s the advantage these specialists have. They can use the
Airstream VIN/Serial number to ensure the new axles match your trailer’s
specifications. Torsion axles made for Airstream from the 1960s on should have
a metal label from the manufacturer. The specialists will want that information
also, because the label not only has axle specs but date of manufacture as
well. (There is always the possibility a PO has replaced original axles with
something else and may have made significant modifications to the trailer to do
so.)
We chose a parts specialist and ordered our axles as a complete
set, which means they came with new brakes. An added bonus of ordering new
axles is newer technology, such as a balancing kit, self adjusting brakes and
an easier method of lubing the hubs. If axles are replaced, the shocks should
be too. The types of shocks used on Airstreams are quite a bit different than
shocks found on other trailers. Again, a qualified supplier is best in
determining the correct shocks. Make sure your new axles include the
connections for installing the shocks.
Torsion axles can be notoriously tricky when trying to
determine if they’re past their prime. They have rubber rods on the inside that
make these axles more than just holders for your tires, but also part of the
suspension system. From what we could find, you have a few options to help
guide you in determining condition. Lots of rust on the axles and all
connecting parts are one indicator. Other signs that point to replacement: how
straight the axles are hub to hub (they should have a slight bow up), how far
the wheels come up in the fender well (the fender covers the top of tire just a
bit), and do any of your tires look like they’re bending inward? (This is much
easier to see on dual axles). Check all the tires for wear. Are any uneven?
Either tires haven’t been properly maintained with rotation etc., or the axles
are bad. We found most of this information in online articles. It’s a good idea
to look these up. Make sure they have accompanying photos to aid your
diagnostics. Beyond these methods, the only other way to determine if the rods
are bad is to cut an axle open. Once you do that the axle is no longer usable.
(If
you are in the market for a vintage trailer, make sure you are armed with
information concerning good or bad condition of all the major functional parts.
Price all the things you’re most likely to replace. We found from the forum you
can enlist the help of very knowledgeable people that may live in your area who
are willing to go with you to look at a dream traveling candidate)
Changing the axles is a major job we decided to
outsource. We don’t have a shop of our own; our driveway is a bit too steep;
and for liability reasons it just wasn’t a good idea to use our storage space.
This winter, we have also had a lot of wind in our area. If you decide to do the
work yourself and don’t have an indoor space to complete the task, you will
need to keep a close eye on the weather. In order to change the axles, your
trailer has to be lifted up a bit. Also consider that proper disposal of the
old axles is your responsibility.
Our new axles were shipped to an RV repair shop located
on the south side of Houston. The owner has been acquainted with our supplier
since 1969, and he recommended them. The trailer went to the shop a month ago
and came home last week.
Preparing the axles to our trailer’s specifications took
our supplier about 2 weeks, with delivery occurring a week later. That seems to
be standard, but the time of year you order can make a difference. We ordered
our axles at the end of December. The manufacturer had been closed for 3 weeks
during the holidays. Fortunately for us, our order was placed shortly before
they returned to work, so we didn’t experience a significant delay. Meaning we
were able to keep the tentative appt. arranged with the repair shop.
Just
a reminder: For any project where you want the help of
professionals, make sure you plan far enough ahead not only to get your parts
in a timely manner, but to assure the repair shop can schedule the work in the
time-frame you need. We got serious about the purchase of our axles in Oct.
2015. By the beginning of Nov. we had decided on the parts provider, determined
when those parts fit in our budget, and made arrangements with the repair shop
(the parts were being sent directly to them after all). RV repair shops,
whether attached to dealers or stand alone, are in high demand. There aren’t as
many of them as there are places to fix autos. At most places you just can’t
show up for service, unless it is some sort of emergency. But even in an
emergency, repairs can take some time depending on your location and what the
issue is. Your choices narrow considerably when you want work done on a vintage
trailer (think trailer restoration shops, which our shop does as well.) We were
thankful to receive a recommendation, saving us a considerable amount of research
time (though even on recommendations it is a good idea to check the shop’s
history). Still, the repair shop which best suited our needs is a fair distance
from us. We live just North of Houston, while they are on the south side. Since
this distance includes some big city driving, we had to plan accordingly with
respect to rush hour(s). That is not a time to be towing something if brakes
are iffy.
Bob Jones RV repair shop did the work we needed, and our
experience was very positive. We highly recommend their shop for any type of
needed RV services; from repairs, to ordering parts and appliances. (Bob Jones
RV, if you visit us here; feel free to toot your horn in the comments. In fact,
if you would like to do a guest post, even a short one, consider this your
invitation.) The other items on our wish list, such as our signal light
bugaboo, have been dealt with. We no longer have to make ourselves crazy trying
to sort them out. Along with the new axles and brakes, fully functioning safety
lights will allow us to hit the road with confidence. And once we get the gray
and black tanks back into the trailer, we can start focusing on the fun
interior stuff.
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