Will Switching From a Drop Axle to a Straight Axle Increase Tire Clearance

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Question:

Thanks Conner for that valuable information. I have another question. Would you help me figure out why my concession trailer is 3/4” lower on one side than the other. I have ruled out the tires because they are the same height. The leave springs are not that old so I don’t think there is any sag there. What could I do to correct this? Thanks

asked by: Charlie

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Expert Reply:

The 175/80-13 tire that you have now is 24" diameter x 6.9" wide and the new 225/75-15 tire is 28.3" diameter x 8.9" wide. Therefore, the new tire size will be 4.3" larger in overall diameter and 2" larger in overall width. However, you will only need to account for half of each measurement so 2.15" for diameter and 1" for width.

The conversion from the 4" drop axle you have now to a straight axle is actually going to bring the spindle down in line with the axle which means you are actually going to have more tire to fender clearance with the new axle than you did with the old drop axle.

I have attached a list of our 6,000 lb trailer axles as well as our 225/75-15 wheel/tire combos for you as well. If you can tell me the spring center and hub face measurement of your axle then I would be glad to see if we have a match for you. For example, the Dexter Trailer Axle Beam with E-Z Lube Spindles part # 8327830 has a 74" spring center and 89" hub face measurement. If you were to add the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brake Kit part # 23-458-459 with the Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly part # 8-201-9UC3-EZ you could then use Karrier ST225/75R15 Radial Tire with 15" White Spoke Wheel - 6 on 5-1/2" - Load Range E Item # AM32680, which is rated at 2,830 lbs and has an 81 mph speed rating.

expert reply by: Conner L

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Charlie

1/31/2019

Thanks Conner for that valuable information. I have another question. Would you help me figure out why my concession trailer is 3/4” lower on one side than the other. I have ruled out the tires because they are the same height. The leave springs are not that old so I don’t think there is any sag there. What could I do to correct this? Thanks

Reply

Conner L.

1/31/2019

Are both tires filled to the same psi? I would check this first but if they are and you have the same leaf spring hangers on either side height wise then the only other component that could be causing this are the leaf springs. It is also rather hard to just look at a leaf spring and determine whether or not it needs replacing. However, a trailer sagging to one side is almost always a tell tale sign of worn leaf springs. The good news is that they are relatively inexpensive and rather easy to change. It just requires a bit of work to make sure you get the correct ones. In order to be sure you get the correct one you will first need to measure the width and then if at all possible remove it from the trailer and measure from the center of one end to the center of the other. If you can provide me with this info I would be glad to make a recommendation otherwise, I have attached a list of options for you. The combined weight capacity will need to be similar to that of the axle.

Reply

Answer 1

Hello Mike, Great question! You can tell your toy hauler trailer's leaf springs are worn out by looking for several visual and performance-related signs. Visually, worn springs may appear flat or even bowed downward, rather than having their…

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Answer 2

Hey Levi, when picking out trailer leaf springs you want to base it off the axle capacity of the trailer and the length. You want to go with a spring that's about 1/4 inch shorter in length than one of your old springs when there isn't a load…

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Answer 3

Hey Darrel, we actually have exactly what you are looking for with the part #TRU52FR which is for a 7k axle and is 25-1/4 inch from eye to eye. This is also a 6 leaf spring as well. The spring you referenced would be too short.

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Answer 4

I may have another option for you, but you are correct that all of the Dexter 3500lb axles we offer do not have the 70.5" spring center to spring center measurement you mentioned. As long as the hub face to hub face measurement of the axle…

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Answer 5

The easiest solution I may have for you would be to use a triple axle brake line kit like the #20TR-BLKIT or #HS496-253 and route everything like the picture I attached.

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Answer 6

If you are measuring your current leaf springs and are getting 26 inches from the center of the spring eye to the center of the spring eye and they are older springs it makes sense that they were originally about an inch less than that because…

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Answer 7

In order to find the correct replacement axle you will need to know the capacity of your current axle, as well as the hub face to hub face measurement. Based on what I found, your 2006 Weekend Warrior SuperLite FS2300 more than likely has two 3,500…

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Answer 8

Yes, you are correct. In order to correctly take this measurement you will need to measure from the center of the spindle to the center of the main axle tube. I have included a picture for reference.

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Answer 9

Hello Jason, The Dexter 072-098-02 are 25" long, 3,500 lb double-eye leaf springs, and while we don't have those specifically, we do have a similar option with the 25-1/8" long 4-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 3,500-lb Trailer Axles #e54SR.…

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Answer 10

You ask a very good question and I am happy to respond. Axle over-under kits #K71-384-00 and #K71-385-00 will raise the height of a trailer by the sum of two dimensions: the axle diameter plus the height of the leaf spring stack. So a 3-inch axle and…

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Answer 11

An axle without idler hubs would not have a left or right side assigned to it. It could basically be ran either direction. If it has brake assemblies installed though then it would need to face the right direction. Otherwise you'd have to swap…

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Answer 12

I went out to our warehouse and measured the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers part #K71-358-00 for you. The dimension for the shackle kit are as follows: The distance between the top and bottom steel brackets is…

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Will Switching From a Drop Axle to a Straight Axle Increase Tire Clearance

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