Trailer house axles - convert to light truck hubs and wheels

[slowzuki]

I now have 2 trailers that have mobile home style axles but were factory built trailers. One is a long float, the other is a telephone pole trailer. The axles have bolted backing plates and full size bearings. Can be converted with new brake drums.

They are certainly legal for Canada if they are proper axles not the single use type. Have to be proper DOT tires too, not the MH rated ones.

Can't use them in Canada, probably for the reasons listed above.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I also have a factory built trailer... 2005 model year, 20' deck-over, bumper pull, 10k lb rated. Has mobile home type open center wheels, brakes at all 4 wheels. Tires have DOT stamp, 'trailer tire'. Just bought a replacement yesterday, 14 ply 8-14.5 size for $69.94 with tax.

I would like axles with an 8 lug type hub but if it ain't broke... I'll keep usin them since my wallet IS broke.

I have a few tires on rims I keep around to toss in the truck for spairs stamped 'mobile home use only'... dont tell the DOT one is one the trailer now, hence the purchase of the new one yesterday.

 

[TnAndy]

Diesel:

Where did you get that tire for that price ? I need 4 new ones for my 1998 factory made Hurst trailer that uses open center rims as well. Best price I've found here is about 100/tire.

Thanks !

 

[pmsmechanic]

This certainly won't be legal for highway use but for a trailer that just get's used around a yard or an acreage this works really well. I take a 15" rim and cut the center out. In 5 places I weld a 4" or so piece of 5/8th's rod bent to fit the curve of the rim. Next I take an angle grinder and grind the center of each rod off an equal amount until it fits over the spokes of the center hub. Install a good 15" tire and away you go. Sure beats looking for those 14.5" tires.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Local tire/body shop... bought some repair panels for a truck I'm fixing at work, asked about the tire while I had them on the phone. Imported but so are the ones on the trailer.

 

[Mark Raymond]

The theory that mobile home axles are a one time use axle is a total farse. If that was true every mobile home that gets moved more than once would be unable to be moved from dealer to customer. You would have a one time use just going from factory to dealer. Then if your one time use theory is true the dealer would have to replace that axle before selling the mobilehome and having it transported to a customer. These axles are designed to handle weights up to 5000 plus pounds per axle. They dont have a different classification for mobile homes and regular trailer axles. Thered be a million lawsuits everytime a mobile home hit the road to be transported. Ill keep on using them anytime i get them

 

[triptester]

The theory that mobile home axles are a one time use axle is a total farse. If that was true every mobile home that gets moved more than once would be unable to be moved from dealer to customer. You would have a one time use just going from factory to dealer. Then if your one time use theory is true the dealer would have to replace that axle before selling the mobilehome and having it transported to a customer. These axles are designed to handle weights up to 5000 plus pounds per axle. They dont have a different classification for mobile homes and regular trailer axles. Thered be a million lawsuits everytime a mobile home hit the road to be transported. Ill keep on using them anytime i get them

This info is quoted directly from the axle manufacturer.
AXLES - Can mobile home axles be reused?
The Dexter MH (mobile home) type axle is designed for limited usage in the delivery of manufactured homes and has a one-time limit use. The axle has steel forged spindles that are not precision ground. The brake assembly is welded onto the beam and not intended to be field replaced. Additionally, the bearing package is smaller than the more expensive service type axle. Most MH axles are also equipped with a single leaf spring suspension for very heavy loads. We do not have components that would convert MH axles to serviceable assemblies

 

[Diamondpilot]

The theory that mobile home axles are a one time use axle is a total farse. If that was true every mobile home that gets moved more than once would be unable to be moved from dealer to customer. You would have a one time use just going from factory to dealer. Then if your one time use theory is true the dealer would have to replace that axle before selling the mobilehome and having it transported to a customer. These axles are designed to handle weights up to 5000 plus pounds per axle. They dont have a different classification for mobile homes and regular trailer axles. Thered be a million lawsuits everytime a mobile home hit the road to be transported. Ill keep on using them anytime i get them

When Dexter or the manufactur states One Time Use they mean one trailer. The axles are not to be transferred to another. Go to Dexter ' s Web site and read up on them. They clearly state why they are inferior axles.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

If they are the single use axles they aren't up to long term use. If they are the normal style but just dayton hubs and rims reuse to your hearts content.

The theory that mobile home axles are a one time use axle is a total farse. If that was true every mobile home that gets moved more than once would be unable to be moved from dealer to customer. You would have a one time use just going from factory to dealer. Then if your one time use theory is true the dealer would have to replace that axle before selling the mobilehome and having it transported to a customer. These axles are designed to handle weights up to 5000 plus pounds per axle. They dont have a different classification for mobile homes and regular trailer axles. Thered be a million lawsuits everytime a mobile home hit the road to be transported. Ill keep on using them anytime i get them

 

[nc redneck]

I have a major MH axel refurbisher close to me. They collect MH axles and send them back to MH manufacturers. At least 500 per week. Never have been there and not seen a 18 wheeler load pulling out. So if they are one time use how does this guy employ 15 people or so collecting them and sending them back to be used again. He has new MH tires with new rims G load with DOT highway use stamped on them for 50.00 bucks per tire. One time used are 45.00. I have used them for 20 plus years and never had a problem. I believe the whole thing is set up to keep trailer builders aweigh from MH axles.
Scott