building an axle?

[mucduc]

hey yall

i have a 16' aluminum sea nymph with a 50hp evinrude, not sure of the total weight of the boat.

im building a new boat trailer out of 2x2 square tube. i have pretty much everything welded up and im about to put an axle on. (i actually took pictures of my project so i will post my build when im done.) my old trailer and axle is rusted pretty bad.

my question is about making an axle. i have a couple options to choose from.

1st: i have plenty of 2x2 square with 1/8in wall thickness. the 2x2 axle tube at northern tool is 3/16ths. would the steel i have be strong enough?

2nd: i was given an axle that has a bend in the middle of it and it is a few inches to short. so i was going to cut out the bend and then sleeve and lengthen the axle to fit. but i dont have the pipe to build and lengthen so i would have to buy it.

3rd: buy a whole new axle kit from northern tool which includes axle, spindles, hubs, leafs, ubolts, and shackles. but i have ubolts, leafs, hubs and spindles off the old axle or axle that was given to me.

4th: buy just the axle tubing from northern tool.


everytime i come across free steel i grab it up, so i have built the whole trailer for pretty much free and i would like to keep it that way. i dont have a problem spending $200 for a new axle kit, but since it has all been free, i feel slightly challenged to keep it all free. so to finally get to my real question (sorry i took so long to ask, just want to give yall all the info) i want to go with option 1, but not sure what the strength differences is between 1/8in 2x2 vs 3/16in 2x2 tubing. what do yall think?

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: building an axle?

well, thats a 30% decrease in wall thickness.... so unscientifically its 30% weaker

i like the free concept, but it is an axle and if something goes haywire it could be bad, you should be able to but just an axle with hubs no springs and such for like $125 i thought i saw

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: building an axle?

If it was me, I would just go ahead and purchase a complete kit with all parts required.

Reason being normally an axle has a crown in the middle to help disperse the weight correctly as well as your assured the backing plates, spindles and such are correctly aligned, unless you build a jig to hold everything in the proper place it can be difficult to make sure everything is lined up correctly. To build the proper jig, will cost money.

That's My opinion, I am sure others will vary.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

that was a fast reply. yeah i didnt think about the percent of weakness. yeah that sounds about right for the price. i may run down to northern tool today and see what they got in store. i dont have a problem buying an axle for $125 since it will be pretty much for a new trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: building an axle?

What's wrong with this picture? You are building a trailer for a boat that you have no idea how much it weighs and you also want to build an axle for this trailer. Seems you have the cart before the horse. Unless this an extremely light boat I would be a little concerned about the choice of materials. But since you have already done the frame, and now need an axle, you can buy just the spindles to match the hubs you already have. No need for an entire axle. You can also buy just the axle with or without spring perches or hubs (in other words just the axle with spindles). I do agree that an axle takes a serious pounding and decreasing wall thickness by roughly 30% is not a wise choice. Axle specifications are all over the internet. Do your research.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

yeah i have read about the arched axles, but the axle i have on my trailer is flat, and the axle i was given used to be flat. and the axle at northern tool is also flat so i wasnt worried about getting one with an arch

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

What's wrong with this picture? You are building a trailer for a boat that you have no idea how much it weighs and you also want to build an axle for this trailer. Seems you have the cart before the horse. Unless this an extremely light boat I would be a little concerned about the choice of materials. But since you have already done the frame, and now need an axle, you can buy just the spindles to match the hubs you already have. No need for an entire axle. You can also buy just the axle with or without spring perches or hubs (in other words just the axle with spindles). I do agree that an axle takes a serious pounding and decreasing wall thickness by roughly 30% is not a wise choice. Axle specifications are all over the internet. Do your research.

it is a fairly light boat. me and 2 buddies were able to move the completely beached boat 20 feet to the water. the original trailer is made of 3inx1.5 inch channel. the 2x2 square tubing i used to make the trailer is the same wall thickness and square tubing is stronger than C-channel. and i made the trailer to the same specs as the original trailer. so i figured that the new trailer is even stronger than the old. thats why i didnt think to much about the actual weight of the boat.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

and im welding the trailer completly tight so that no water gets in. im not even drilling into the frame for lights. so im figuring rust not being a problem for the square.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: building an axle?

hey yall

not sure what the strength differences is between 1/8in 2x2 vs 3/16in 2x2 tubing. what do yall think?

There is no way I would build an axle out of 1/8" tube. Not on any day, nowhere no how.
I am in the process of building up a new axle for a 2500# utility trailer, and went with 1750# spindles ( 3500# gross) and hubs , and 1/4" wall 2x2 tubing . Reason???? Because even though the previous Dexter axle was barely properly( 2,500# gross) rated, it bent right near the spindle upon the tires' impact on the ground after a blowout.

I would rather err on the side of ruggedness than have to replace it again.

Spindles and hubs from Northern were about 55 bucks each, tubing was 28 bucks. Close enough to free for me.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

Spindles and hubs from Northern were about 55 bucks each, tubing was 28 bucks. Close enough to free for me.

ha yeah that is pretty close. but now i think i found another option. last night when i was looking thru my scrap steel pile i couldnt find any pipe. but today i went searching again and came across an 8foot long piece of 1/4in pipe that is the same size as the axle that was given to me. so i am going to use those spindles and hubs off that axle then make my axle out of that. so far still looking like a free boat trailer.

 

[djvan]

Re: building an axle?

Since you used ya'll in one of your posts I assume you are from the south so this may not pertain to your situation. I usually avoid welding things watertight for one reason. If for some reason water does get in (on a top weld) then fills the cavity and can't drain back out. This causes rust and worse (in a climate that includes a freezing season) the water will freeze and distort the metal sometimes even splitting it. I have witnessed the latter a lot of times in Northern MI.

DougV>

 

[jeeperman]

Re: building an axle?

ha yeah that is pretty close. but now i think i found another option. last night when i was looking thru my scrap steel pile i couldnt find any pipe. but today i went searching again and came across an 8foot long piece of 1/4in pipe that is the same size as the axle that was given to me. so i am going to use those spindles and hubs off that axle then make my axle out of that. so far still looking like a free boat trailer.

I hope your calling steel tubing "pipe" ???
Do not use black iron PIPE to build any part of your trailer.
Generally you can tell the difference via the outer diameters and the smoothness of the exterior.
Tubing is sized by the O.D.
Pipe is sized by the I.D.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

Since you used ya'll in one of your posts I assume you are from the south so this may not pertain to your situation. I usually avoid welding things watertight for one reason. If for some reason water does get in (on a top weld) then fills the cavity and can't drain back out. This causes rust and worse (in a climate that includes a freezing season) the water will freeze and distort the metal sometimes even splitting it. I have witnessed the latter a lot of times in Northern MI.

DougV>

i am from southeast georgia. how do you suggest keeping it from rusting on the inside? maybe drill a couple holes along the side so i can flush with fresh water and then blow it dry with compressed air?

not sure if pipe or tubing. i cant find any seams on it to suggest that its pipe. its 1/4inch thick so im sure its strong enough if it is pipe. i have made a couple bumpers out of 4in 1/4in thick on some woods trucks and have purposing hit a tree and it didnt do anything to the bumper. i know there are always what ifs thou. but comparing it to my old axle, im sure its a lot stronger. thanks for looking out thou

 

[jeeperman]

Re: building an axle?

i am from southeast georgia. how do you suggest keeping it from rusting on the inside? maybe drill a couple holes along the side so i can flush with fresh water and then blow it dry with compressed air?

not sure if pipe or tubing. i cant find any seams on it to suggest that its pipe. its 1/4inch thick so im sure its strong enough if it is pipe. i have made a couple bumpers out of 4in 1/4in thick on some woods trucks and have purposing hit a tree and it didnt do anything to the bumper. i know there are always what ifs thou. but comparing it to my old axle, im sure its a lot stronger. thanks for looking out thou

Go here and compare what you got to what pipe sizes are.
http://www.ryerson.com/stocklist/l-843.html
But you would have to be looking at 4 or 5 inch sched 40 pipe in order to get 1/4" thick.

I knew a guy that built a trailer and welded it up with no openings.
Except for a pipe plug up near the tongue.
He also drilled a 1/4" hole in the wall of the tubing before he welded another tube to that spot.

Thats where he disposed of his used motor oil until the entire frame was full.

 

[mucduc]

Re: building an axle?

i will have to measure the pipe when i get back to the shop. it may be less than 1/4in. that oil idea is not to bad of an idea. may get messy if a weld cracks ha. will have to think about doing that.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: building an axle?

At least if a crack developes there will be evidence of such before catastrophic failure, hopefully.

 

[NYBo]

Re: building an axle?

Fill the tubes with expanding foam insulation.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: building an axle?

Fill the tubes with expanding foam insulation.

If you are speaking of the stuff from a can, "Great Stuff" for example, that would be a poor choice. It is open cell, and will hold water for years if it gets wet.

The holes drilled in the frame to flush out / drain the tubes is the best way.

 

[NYBo]

Re: building an axle?

Actually, Great Stuff is supposed to be closed cell.

But I was not being completely serious with that suggestion. I agree with you, drain holes make the most sense.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: building an axle?

try southwest wheels out of texas for axles.
I just bought a pair of 3500 lb axles for $150 each, $103 plus shipping came to $150. These axles came with idler hubs, bearings.
You weld the axle rest on to fit and order the length axle you need.
I live in Oregon.
So far I plan to order kodiak disc brakes and such from the same place, I got good service. The only thing was fedex lost a dust cap and damage the other one.