Torsion Axle on Clamshell Trailers

[Caveman]

I was reading a different post recently about severe tread wear on the inside third of trailer tires and the comments about alignment, weight and air pressure as possible fixes. Having the same tire problem on my 7 year old clam shell had me take a closer look. I'm glad I did. I knew the tires were beat but the axle was the major problem. These torsion axles take a snow and salt bath 12" or so off the ground and mine was severely corroded with a crack in the shaft behind one of the wheels where the bracket is welded on.

It was a close call. Breaking an axle at 70 mph with a heavy 2-up sled plus an Apex inside wouldn't be pretty. I went online and sure enough, there's horror stories about tow trucks, broken axles and the tire and wheels coming up through the trailer floor. I called my neighbor, same problem, same trailer, different brand but his is 6 years old and the axle is totally rotted. Nuera Transport had a replacement Dexter axle, with hubs for $225...picked it up, no freight. With a set of new wheels/tires and anti-corrosion paint job on the new axle, I'm back on the road for under $400.00....but it made me think of all those clam shell trailers headed for the good snow and the danger lurking below.

 

[dmaxx]

I had the same problem last year. I inspect the axles, tires, bearings every season. No sign of problems before. The last ride of the season, loaded sleds up in a staging area and headed out. Drove a 1/4 mile down the road the usual way back to the interstate. For some reason, decided to turn around and take back roads at about 40 mph. Several miles later as I pulled on to a paved road, I could hear and feel the problem. Looked underneath and bam there it is! The tires were rubbing on the floor and the axle mounts were twisted. We were able to get my father in law to bring a single trailer and loaded one sled and I drove the other sled 12 miles to his place Still don't know what made me turn around but at 70 mph, there would have been a mess on the highway and who knows what else. You can never check these thing out enough.

 

[Metallicat]

Ours broke 2 years ago. Lucky to have caught it before the wheels were smoked. Have a new trailer now and will keep an eye on it. Definitely something to consider when trailering through the Rust Belts.

 

[Blue Dave]

Good advice! I posted in the other thread about the uneven tire tread wear and that I had swapped my tires around on the rims last year to wear the opposite side of the tires for another couple of seasons. My torsion axle is pretty rusty so perhaps I will think about replacing it as you did as a proactive preventitive maintenance item.

 

[davessrx]

I miss the old leaf spring trailers, really these torsions are terrible with all the road salt!

 

[smokingcrater]

I miss the old leaf spring trailers, really these torsions are terrible with all the road salt!

Leaf springs weren't any better! I've seen more leaf spring trailers at the side of the road than torsions... They have far more metal surface area that will rust, and some fairly critical (and small) single points of failure. (U bolts in particular)

I have plans of doing a complete trailer refurb this summer... Stripping the deck down, new axle, painting the clamshell. Might be crawling under sooner to look at the axle with the OP's post!

 

[Geezer 2]

Clamshell

Coming home from last trip we saw a trailer with the whole axle wheels and all 100 yds or so behind it. Trailer on the ground. Bummer

 

[Rich Kay]

Replaced mine on my 97 triton elite 2 place with bearcat topper....original axle was looking very rusty and tires where wearing bad on the inside 1/3. I rarely trailer anymore but still replaced it. I bought a new upgraded axle (load rating by 350lbs) from Dexter. then I ordered it with no paint from factory then preped and painted it with POR undercarriage coating four years ago ...still looks like the day I put it on. The torsion part of the axle wears out causing the tires to wear like they you have bad camber.

 

[maim]

I had torflex on my last trailer. I have springs on my new one. the spring trailer rides smoother than the torflex ever did and it is a much larger trailer. as I do springs on trucks and trailers for a living, I am not scared of them but in my paranoia, I pack a set of u-bolts, spring and new eye bolts for it. I also undercoat my new trailer every year so that should help.

 

[tomanytoyz]

Yes liquid salt will do lots of damages..letting the trailer sit over the off season with the moisture under will eat at it also!

Especially over dirt!

 

[blueironranger]

I'll never own another torsion axle trailer, especially double axle ones that are very picky about being exactly level. Every Torsion I've owned needs a new axle after about 5 years due to odd tire wear from the rubber cracking/wearing out. I've never had an issue with double axle equalized spring setups.