Replacement Parts to Lower Hay Trailer with Mobile Home Axle

Updated 11/13/2019 | Published 11/09/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Trailer Axle w/ Electric Brakes - Easy Grease - 5 on 4-1/2 Bolt Pattern - 89" Long - 3,500 lbs

(252)

$531.31

U-Bolt Kit for Mounting 3,500-lb, Round Trailer Axles - 5-1/2" Long U-Bolts

(2141)

$76.38

Question:

I need help finding a way to lower my 16foot hay trailer from what the standard 27inch max height and I have heard that you can get conversion kits to change out the existing lugs from a mobile home style to say a 5 or 6 lug, 6 lug being the best choice and be able to get a 12 to 14 ply 3100 lb tires. What can you share with me that will get the job done? Thanks,

asked by: C. H

Expert Reply:

If I'm understanding the big picture here, you're wanting to lower the trailer by putting smaller wheels and tires on; but there is a major issue that's going to hold us back from this-mobile home axles and their components are only designed to be used once, and then thrown away. For this reason, parts are either very difficult to find or just aren't made. I can't say that I've ever heard of a lug conversion kit for a trailer axle and if they are available, it isn't a product that we currently offer.

In order to lower your trailer, you may be able to flip the axle to accomplish this. To determine if this method will work for you, you'll need to determine if your leaf springs are currently mounted under or over your axle. If they are mounted over your axle, you'll be able to switch them using something similar to the U-Bolt Kit for Mounting 3,500-lb, Round Trailer Axles # APUBR-1 and lower your trailer by a few inches. If your leaf springs are already mounted under the axle, you won't be able to lower your trailer in that manner.

We do carry 14.5" wheels or tires. At the end of the day, your best bet is going to be a full axle replacement and here's why. You could change the hubs to something that works with a smaller wheel and tire combo, but you would need to find a compatible set of hubs for your mobile home axle's spindle- which feeds back into the difficulty in finding replacement parts for mobile home axles; I'll also say that going smaller is likely not going to give you the weight capacity you're looking for in your tires (smaller tires hold less weight).

If you wanted to go down the road of changing the hubs, in order to determine if there are compatible hubs and associated bearings to replace your current hubs to a more standard size you will have to take several precise measurements on the spindle of your axle. It is recommended to use a set of digital calipers to obtain these measurements.

You will need to measure the seal, inner bearing, and outer bearing. It is also possible that there may be bearing numbers stamped on these parts as well, and those would be helpful in obtaining the correct replacement compatible hub. I have included a photo showing these measurement locations and possible bearing numbers.

At the end of the day, you're likely going to have to replace the entire axle with a trailer axle in order to change everything out. In order to determine which trailer axle is going to work for your trailer, you'll want to find out the distance between the 2 leaf spring mounts (center on center) as well as the distance from the hub face on one side to the hub face on the other side. Once we have those 2 measurements as well as the capacity of your trailer, we can determine if an axle like the Trailer Axle # # e43SR or something similar would be a good option for you.