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Can someone tell me the specifications on the stock 26X steal trailer 3500lb single axle?
I am looking for the:
1. Spring center to center
2. Hub face to hub face
3. Drop

chrisz wrote:Can someone tell me the specifications on the stock 26X steal trailer 3500lb single axle?
I am looking for the:
1. Spring center to center 68 in
2. Hub face to hub face 86 in
3. Drop 3 in

I did not include spring height, hanger length, etc. If you're replacing the axle, you should look into the spring stack, too. It's not a 'normal' stack, as it has really thick leaves, and (from memory) the arch height is not common. That's easy enough to compensate for with a choice of axle drop and hanger length, though. And if your axle is shot, consider replacing the springs at the same time. They fatigue from flex, and sooner or later leaves will start cracking.

Mine has a second axle added, which includes an equalizer rocker, so I have no idea what the OEM single-axle geometry was. Right now, both axles are about 8-1/4 in from their centers to the TOP of the frame member, though the new one is a straight axle, and the OEM is a 3x2 in with offset spindle, centered on the top of the tube. Different spring stacks, of course.

So when you're spec'ing a new axle, be sure the frame ends up in the same place (referenced to the ground it rolls on).

Thanks for the input. I was looking at this one from Northern Tool as possible replacement and it does come with new springs. There will be some cutting and welding involved no doubt.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200648990

chrisz wrote:Can someone tell me the specifications on the stock 26X steal trailer 3500lb single axle?
I am looking for the:
1. Spring center to center
2. Hub face to hub face
3. Drop

are you certain it is 3500 lbs? I thought it was more than that? I thought it was like a 5K lb axle, but only doing that from memory and I am on my second Tom Collins...

Signaleer wrote:

chrisz wrote:Can someone tell me the specifications on the stock 26X steal trailer 3500lb single axle?
I am looking for the:
1. Spring center to center
2. Hub face to hub face
3. Drop

are you certain it is 3500 lbs? I thought it was more than that? I thought it was like a 5K lb axle, but only doing that from memory and I am on my second Tom Collins...

No, it's a 3500 lb axle, based on the bearings at least. And the wheel stud size and pattern.

The trailer has a GVWR of 3500 lb (per the capacity plate), in fact, so at 10% hitch weight, and minus the weight of the axle, wheels, and tires themselves, the bearings would see around 3100 lb (static). But I don't know of a 26X that weighs less than 4k lb with trailer, configured for actual sailing and motoring with minimal supplies below decks.

I believe the 26M trailer has a heavier axle, though. Like 4400 lb.

This is the Frankentrailer that holds my boat. The new axle is a Dexter, 3500 lb, straight with brake flanges (I added the disk brakes). The other is the OEM axle. Notice the different arch height of the springs. The old springs have a very deep arch, so the axle has a large off-set at 3".

In the normal orientation, the equalizer is level, suggesting that you could use the straight axle and 'normal' 3500 lb springs. A straight axle of 2-3/8" OD has a drop of 1-3/16" (or a little more, due to the saddle), even though they don't call it that. But functionally, that's what it is. So the difference between the original and the new is 1-11/16" drop, which is made up by the shallower arch of the springs, so both axle centers are the same distance from the frame (as they would have to be, with the same tires on each), and the equalizer neutral.



I would look into a straight Dexter, which is less than $100 from Eastern Marine. http://www.easternmarine.com/dexter-86- ... lb-4766659 Use common springs from any source.

You do have to weld the spring saddles to the axle, as they can be located at any gauge from 68" to 76" spring centers, but you said you could weld. And that would be the only welding, assuming the hangers are in the right place already.

The axle from North Tool has much wider spring centers, and would require much more work. The total drop may also be too far off, as the springs are bound to have a much shallower arch. The original springs used on Mac trailer are oddballs, with very thick leaves, and a deep arch.

Our laws dont allow for removal of wheel weight and tow ball weight when calculating axles.

The bare boat weighs in at 1045Kg (2299lb) plus the trailer 360Kg (792lb) plus motor 90kg Avg ( 198lb) add that together and you get GMV of 1495kg (3289lb)
so with the 3500lb limit you have a huge 211lb left and you dont even have sails aboard or safety equipment or batteries.

I would think 4400lb axles and assembly would be minimum needed to have some lee way

Of course you could use tandem axles but that reduces the weight you can carry by increasing the weight of the trailer as GMV works on the combined weight of the load AND the trailer.

SO to put on tandem setup rated at 1200kg per axle (2640lb) our laws state that tandem axles MUST be over rated by 25% you may add 100Kg (220lb) to your trailer weight

So you come out come out with a couple of hundred lbs extra for a lot of messing about.

Simple answer is get a single axle rubber independent suspension on 4 x 4 rims and bearings which are rated at 2000kg (4400lb) and weigh about the same as the present suspension all up. From my research this gives you the maximum increase in capacity