Dude269

After our trip from the Fourchon on the last turn to get into my neighborhood one of my wheel exploded off of the Axle. The entire wheel and hub came off. The trailer is a majic tilt tandem with 7000# GVWR. I researched the axles and found that the 3500# and the 5200# axles are the same 2x3 inch tube material, my question is, would it be possible to remove the 3500# spindles and replace with 5200# spindles. If not I'm going to go 5200# torsion axles. Any recommendations.
Thanks
Dude

Kevin Desselle

Yes you could wash out the old spindle with a torch, buy 5200# spindles with raw brake flanges welded to them already and hope to get it set right without a jig when welding them back in the old housing. Very likely a tire wear nightmare with brake flanges that will rot away. The Tie Down torsion axle has forged brake flanges made into the arm. The arm is hot dipped galvanized so there is no raw welded brake flange to rust, not to mention no springs to rust either.
When you change to 5200# axles, you will need to change to 6 lug hubs and wheels also.
What boat do you have?

This is what you have now.






This is a Tie Down Engineering torsion axle.

Dude269

I wish my axles looked like that, the brake flange on the rear axle is about rotted away. I have a Sailfish 266. My calculations say that I would be grossly overloaded with any amount of fuel onboard. The trailer rating is good to 7000 GVWR, trailer weighs about 900#. Boat approx 3800, 900 engines, t-top and 4 batteries, gear, ice. My fuel capacity is 185 gallons. Well, you get the picture. I recently changed the tires from 14" 6 ply to 15" 8 ply maxxis. I thought that would give me a little bit more safety factor. I trailer the boat with minimal fuel. I looked at parts for Majic tilt and they sell 2x3 tube in 11 gauge and 1/4 inch thickness so the 3500# may be differnet from the 5200#
Thanks
Dude

Kevin Desselle

Two 3500# axles are not enough for a 26 Sailfish. If you saw 2x3x11 ga tube for sale, it wasn’t ment for axle tube. There axles are 2x2 & 2x3x¼”. Your 3500# axles have 1-1/16” x 1-3/8” spindles. To make a 5200# axle you can use the same 2x3x¼” tube but the spindles will be 1-¼ x 1/¾ “. Hubs will be 6 lug so you will have to buy rims also. Be sure to up grade the springs because that will be the next problem. You will need 5 leaf 25-¼ “ double eye springs with a rating of 2900# ea.

Kevin

Dude269

Thanks for the info, are you a trailer parts seller type? I saw the Spindles that I need but they didn't post a price.
Dude

fishinmaniac

Axles aren't that expensive are they? Chances are if the brake flange is almost rotted away that the inside of the axle doesn't look much better.

Dude269

Majic Tilt wants something like 650.00 for the bare axle with spindle.