tortion axles

jake32244

had to change both axles on my trailer 3500 lbs ones, after an exhausting search in the local area best price I could find was 575.00 each.  so I went off the reservation and found textrail in Ocala on 301, got each axle with hubs for 455.00 each, dexter is the manufacture they seem extremely heavy duty compared to my old tie-down axles and I saved a few hundred bucks.  just fyi.   

Tarponator

Thanks for the heads up.  How will they take saltwater?

aimlow

They last longer than most leaf springs, but must be flushed after every use.

kmagnuss

I've had Torsion axles on my last two trailers.  I'll never go back to leaf springs again.

Soda Popinski

kmagnuss said:

I've had Torsion axles on my last two trailers.  I'll never go back to leaf springs again.

Are there any cons of torsion axles vs leaf springs?   Each tire has independent suspension with a torsion axle.   Seems like a no brainer. 

Cyclist

Soda Popinski said:

kmagnuss said:

I've had Torsion axles on my last two trailers.  I'll never go back to leaf springs again.

Are there any cons of torsion axles vs leaf springs?   Each tire has independent suspension with a torsion axle.   Seems like a no brainer. 

Cost.

Soda Popinski

Cyclist said:

Soda Popinski said:

kmagnuss said:

I've had Torsion axles on my last two trailers.  I'll never go back to leaf springs again.

Are there any cons of torsion axles vs leaf springs?   Each tire has independent suspension with a torsion axle.   Seems like a no brainer. 

Cost.

Initial or longevity?  Don't the torsion axles last longer?  I had to replace the leaf springs on mine after 3 years and I rinsed them down after every trip but they still look like they were from the civil war after 2 years.  And I didn't want to chance breaking down on my way to the keys.   It was a PIA too.  If the torsion axles last 5 years or longer I'd say it's worth it. 

CaptJ

I painted my springs with grease and they've lasted 10 years so far

kmagnuss

To my understanding torsion axles will typically outlive leaf springs by a large margin... far offsetting the cost.  Also, you can replace the actual "torsion spring" part without the whole axle so it helps the cost (unlike in years past where you had to replace the entire axle)
My last trailer with them was 12 years old and doing great... never washed down a single time.
Current trailer is 10 years old with the same (lack of) care.

surfman

They are more expensive and I'm not so sure about lasting longer either. The ones I have seen usually rust from the inside out. I have a buddy that has them on his trailer and he loves them. Has replaced them 3 times in the time he has owned the trailer/boat since mid 90's. That's not bad but I have a tandem trailer also with leaf springs and I have had mine for about the some time and I may have done 4 replacements but, it is only a few hundred dollars for springs compared to something like $3000 for the axles. I still have the original axles on my trailers, they were heavy but the spindles need replacing due to the seals wearing grooves in the metal over time and they don't seal anymore. If your trailer has them then great, if my trailer had leafs I would not switch to torsion.

surfman

CaptJ said:

I painted my springs with grease and they've lasted 10 years so far

I have coated my axles with a solution of roofing tar thinned with mineral spirits, the axles are almost 30 years old. But not the springs.

My new boat has torsion axles on the trailer.

kmagnuss

You can replace just the torsion springs on most axles now.  MUCH cheaper than having to replace the entire axle like before.

Alex from GA

If the spindles are wearing out due to grooves there is a product called spindle sleeves that go where the seal rides and renews the surface.  They take oversize seals and aren't expensive.

surfman

kmagnuss said:

You can replace just the torsion springs on most axles now.  MUCH cheaper than having to replace the entire axle like before.

That's fine but I have not seen a problem with the rubber, usually the ones I have seen are total rust and can't be fixed. The rubber outlasted the metal, but I am sure there are cases like in freshwater use where that is done.

FS Dan

kmagnuss said:

I've had Torsion axles on my last two trailers.  I'll never go back to leaf springs again.

This
FSD

waldnerr

My Loadmaster had a single torsion axle, and the torsion "springs" outlasted the axle itself (it was replaced after 16 years of salt-water use). Torsion axles are the only way to go.

Saltwater Junkie

If you want worry free trailer. Buy a Rolls Axle. The axle is aluminum, the hubs are stainless, the which post is aluminum. All stainless bolts and LED lights.

K-Dawg

surfman said:

it is only a few hundred dollars for springs compared to something like $3000 for the axles. 

Did you read the original post? $455 ea for new torsion axles and hubs.

Torsion axles also let the trailer sit lower and don't rust all over my driveway.

MelbourneMark

Saltwater Junkie said:

If you want worry free trailer. Buy a Rolls Axle. The axle is aluminum, the hubs are stainless, the which post is aluminum. All stainless bolts and LED lights.

That is the only true aluminum trailer i have seen.  only thing not alum/ss is the hubs and tires/rims.  

Saltwater Junkie

MelbourneMark said:

Saltwater Junkie said:

If you want worry free trailer. Buy a Rolls Axle. The axle is aluminum, the hubs are stainless, the which post is aluminum. All stainless bolts and LED lights.

That is the only true aluminum trailer i have seen.  only thing not alum/ss is the hubs and tires/rims.  

Maybe the SS hubs and rims were options, I can't remember. But when I ordered my trailer. It came with Aluminum wheels and radial tires, SS hubs, LED lights, SS coupler and aluminum fenders. They only thing on the trailer that was galvanized was the winch. The winch post is aluminum just like the trailer.  

surfman

K-Dawg said:

surfman said:

it is only a few hundred dollars for springs compared to something like $3000 for the axles. 

Did you read the original post? $455 ea for new torsion axles and hubs.

Torsion axles also let the trailer sit lower and don't rust all over my driveway.

Yea I also googled it seems the prices have come down considerably over the years or the guy that replaced his just got screwed. That is what a friend of mine told me he paid to have a set replaced but, that was a few years ago, maybe I misheard him?

JWT

the only drawback i notice with mine is the tires don't wear evenly. the inside of the tread wears out before the center/outside.  i have been told it is just a fact of life with them & also been told the camber wasn't set right............ either way,13 years without any other issues so i would definitely sign up again.

StankBait

Replaced a 3500# axle on an Ameritrail recently.  $325 + tax + shipping. $421.57

Came with Vortex hubs

Even had new SS bolts, nuts and washers.

Guess I will find out if they are as good as advertised.

surfman

JWT said:

the only drawback i notice with mine is the tires don't wear evenly. the inside of the tread wears out before the center/outside.  i have been told it is just a fact of life with them & also been told the camber wasn't set right............ either way,13 years without any other issues so i would definitely sign up again.

That sounds like a bent or misaligned axle, that should not happen.

kmagnuss

Usually an excessive negative toe will cause inside tire wear... surprisingly a negative camber doesn't really cause it unless it's some crazy stretch and poke VW flat bill hat kid car.