horse trailer tires

Wingnut · Jan 1, 2003

Happy New Year folks!

Earlier in December, I hauled my old Cherokee 2 horse (dual axle) trailer out of the back in anticipation of a trip to Wisconsin to pick up some minis ... but, after cleaning it up and putting new rubber on it ... the wife procrastinated so long that the mares were sold. So ... I'm about to move it back to the barn to let it go back to sleep for awhile (until next summer when I plan to do some sheet metal work on it).
I put new Carlyle 6 plys on her and have 2 questions for our trailer experts before I move her back out back.

1) how easy/hard is it to replace (i.e. weld on) new stub axles? The previous owner solved brake problems by pulling one drum off and cutting the wire to the other. Personally, I think that running without brakes is dumb so I want to put her back into "normal" shape. Is it easy enough to do myself or is this a job better done by a trailer shop?

2) after putting new skins on her, I'd hate to see them rot as quickly as the previous 4 tires. What's the best way to stop rot? (I just parked it on the dirt). Will putting planks under the tires help? How about wrapping the tires in a tarp (with air to "breathe")?

pete

Bird · Jan 1, 2003

Pete, I wouldn't try to wrap the tires, but would either put the trailer where the sun never hits the tires, or screen them some way from the sun. I guess ideally, you jack it up to take the weight off the tires, then let all or most of the air out, but I've never bothered to do that personally. And yes, if I were just going to leave it sitting, I'd put some boards under the tires.

ebeacham · Jan 1, 2003

I build blocks for my trailers that will keep the wheels off the ground when fully pressurized, so when I park my trailers for a while all I do is use a floor jack and set the blocks underneath. I agree about the sunlight, do what you can to keep those tires out of the sun.

Inspector507 · Jan 1, 2003

Most RV dealers will have a tire cover to keep them out of the sun's damaging rays.

Jerry

Anonymous Poster · Jan 1, 2003

Question 1, stub axels, why do you need to replace them? There should be mounting flanges where the brake backer plate bolts up. These are not part of a stub axel.
Are your backer plates completely gone?
If you've never built an axel, you'll probably be far better served buying a complete axel than you will be trying to rebuild one.

Bird · Jan 1, 2003

I kind of deliberately avoided the question about welding on the axles 'cause I don't know enough about it, but do know if you start cutting and welding, you better get things lined up straight and be a pretty good welder. And knowing a little bit about what axles cost, I'd definitely go with your suggestion to buy complete axles if it were me.

Egon · Jan 2, 2003

I definetly concur with Bird and Franz on the trailer axles.
If a failure did occur think of the liablities involved.

Egon

Wingnut · Jan 2, 2003

Thanks guys .... parked on boards and I'll take a look and see whether I can set up the axle stands underneath to take the weight off the tires .... and also wrap the tires or put on covers.

Franz ... per your message, the brakes are meant to be "repairable"? One side still has the drum, the other side has had the drum (and guts) removed ... so I guess what's left is the "backer plate"? I guess I assumed that one would just replace the axles .... but if they're repairable ... it would certainly remove the worry of getting them aligned properly.
Is there a good site of the web wherein one can learn about the fundamentals of electric brakes?

Egon · Jan 2, 2003

Dexter is a very common axle brake system.

Egon

Bird · Jan 2, 2003

Your might try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.dexteraxle.com>http://www.dexteraxle.com</A> and enter "electric brakes" in the search box. The first item on the list then has some pretty good reading. I used to have an RV repair manual (believe I got it from Camping World) that had a good chapter on repairing and servicing electric brakes. Actually if you have a multi-meter and know what the readings are supposed to be, I think the electric brakes are simpler to work on than the hydraulic ones.