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

Hey Donald. The Dexter 072-032-00 is a 26-1/2" long slipper spring, with a hook end, 5-leafs, that works with a 7,000 lbs axle. Our closest option to replacing this spring is the 5-Leaf Slipper Spring for 7,000-lb Trailer Axles - 26-1/2"…

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Answer 2

When choosing a U-bolt kit for you trailer, you want to choose the correct kit based on the size of your trailer's axle. The width of the leaf springs isn't the main factor. The U-bolt kits you referenced will not both work on the same…

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Answer 3

If you are referring to two white wires from the brake magnet that are coming from the rear of each electric brake assembly, then it would not matter which wire is connected to ground and which wire is used for the brake feed. The magnet that…

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Answer 4

Can you please send me a photo of your equalizer and how it is positioned on the axle? As long as the shackle straps are facing the correct direction (see photo) and the equalizer is not contacting the trailer frame then I don't see an issue. The…

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Answer 5

We don't have a way to look up the length of your leaf springs as that's not something that a record was kept for. But I can say that nearly every 3,500 lb axle spring out there needs the 25-1/8 inch replacement like the part #e54SR so while…

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Answer 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

Although we do not have spacer blocks of that dimension we have an option for you that will allow you to lift your trailer with what is called an over/under conversion kit. This moves your trailer's leaf springs to the top of your axle and lifts…

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Answer 12

There is a solution for you, but the lift kits you referred to such as #K71-725-02 will not work with welded on torsion axles. The best option is for you to simply remove your torsion axles and use the Timbren Axle-Less Trailer Suspension System…

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

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