3500 lb Torsion Axles

cat1956 · 03-08-2014, 04:27 PM

I have a 2014 Flagstaff 27RLWS with a unloaded weight of 6300lbs and can have up to 1438 lbs of cargo for a total of around 7738 lbs. My Axles are 3500lb. Axles for a total of 7000 lbs. My question is are the Axles large enough for this camper.

Mtelkman · 03-08-2014, 04:39 PM

Dry hitch weight is 550 pounds. More when you add cargo. So you need to subtract that from your weight figures. The 3500lb axles are fine as long as you don't overload.

cat1956 · 03-08-2014, 05:48 PM

Thanks

cadman99 · 03-09-2014, 11:01 AM

Same weight numbers game I have problems with. If the Trailer weighs 6300 dry (I would weight it to make sure) and you have 7000lb axles you have 700lbs of capacity plus whatever the tongue weight is. If the tongue weight is 500 lbs then you have a maximum of 1200lbs capacity.

So every pound over 700 you put in the trailer has to be on the tongue. In my case that is virtually impossible. (8265wss 5th with 7000lb axles - 9300 max capacity). I will almost bet yours weighs more than 6300 dry. I will also bet the water tanks are near the axles so if you add any water you decrease your 700lb capacity.

Mtelkman · 03-09-2014, 11:38 AM

I am not seeing the problem. It is a Flagstaff Super Lite TT. It is specifically manufactured to be light weight and have limited carrying capacity. If a person wanted a TT with more capacity why would they even look at something designated Super Lite? The axles are rated to give the best ride quality while still holding to the Super Lite design of lighter weight construction and materials. It is simply not manufactured or designed to haul heavier loads.

chicagoslick · 03-09-2014, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadman99

Same weight numbers game I have problems with. If the Trailer weighs 6300 dry (I would weight it to make sure) and you have 7000lb axles you have 700lbs of capacity plus whatever the tongue weight is. If the tongue weight is 500 lbs then you have a maximum of 1200lbs capacity.

So every pound over 700 you put in the trailer has to be on the tongue. In my case that is virtually impossible. (8265wss 5th with 7000lb axles - 9300 max capacity). I will almost bet yours weighs more than 6300 dry. I will also bet the water tanks are near the axles so if you add any water you decrease your 700lb capacity.

I plan to follow this thread to see what everyones thoughts are as I too have a 27RLWS. My TT has been weighed and I will post numbers later, but if I recall correctly my TT dry weight is 6328lbs, tongue weight of 657lbs and gross weight with my tow vehicle 12,380lbs. I will post my weights later so everyone can view. My guess is that "cat1956" will be close to what I have +/- 100lbs.

Witch Doctor · 03-09-2014, 12:39 PM

Remember when they get the weight of the trailer at the factory, it is minus battery and propane tanks. Thats your dry weight. It's the last thing they do before it leaves the factory. I'm sure you know that. They do not give you much wiggle room. I think they should have put 4000 lb axles myself.

HookupAndGo · 03-09-2014, 01:34 PM

When we had our TT that was the same question I had as well... The math is just so close that it made me uncomfortable.

Now, go take a look at your tires -- those are probably load range C which are (if I remember correctly) about 1600lbs each. So, you are right on the limits of those as well.

I really hated how "close" to the limits everything was...

Witch Doctor · 03-09-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookupAndGo

When we had our TT that was the same question I had as well... The math is just so close that it made me uncomfortable.

Now, go take a look at your tires -- those are probably load range C which are (if I remember correctly) about 1600lbs each. So, you are right on the limits of those as well.

I really hated how "close" to the limits everything was...

You couldn't have made a truer statement.....

Mtelkman · 03-09-2014, 02:23 PM

I totally agree on the tires! They are rated just on the edge of safety. NOT enough of a safety margin in my opinion. Axles are another story. An axle rating is set to allow for the best ride support without too much bounce for a loaded condition. If you put too heavy of torsion axle on a trailer, you end up with a significant bounce and jarring situation that could can lead to damage of other components in the trailer (especially on lightweight built trailers). If you are over loaded on an axle, it does not blow out like a tire and potentially cause catastrophic results. It would simply sag the trailer suspension and possibly bottom out the suspension. I assume that when Forest River designs the RV, they figure out how much everything will weigh and order the appropriate torsion axle for that specific weight range. I would respectfully suggest that having the axle weights right at what they are rated for is actually a positive situation. They would provide suspension stiffness in the exact "sweet spot" that would be best for the trailer. If you need a RV that can support heavier amounts of cargo, I would think it would be best to buy a trailer designed to carry it. On such a RV everything else from the frame to the other building materials is usually heavier built in order to carry heavier loads as well as not shake apart when empty and bouncy. Think of it this way..., you wouldn't put leaf springs from a full size 1 ton pickup on a Toyota mini pickup. The little truck would be way too bouncy on the road and they are simply not built to carry the payload a 1 ton does.

chicagoslick · 03-09-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookupAndGo

When we had our TT that was the same question I had as well... The math is just so close that it made me uncomfortable.

Now, go take a look at your tires -- those are probably load range C which are (if I remember correctly) about 1600lbs each. So, you are right on the limits of those as well.

I really hated how "close" to the limits everything was...

cat1956 should have the same tires I do, which are Westlake ST205/75R14 rated at 1764lbs at 50 psi. The 50lbs is the max rating for that tire and they are "C" rated tires. That gives you 7056 lbs combined for tire loading and 3500 per axle or 7000 total for axle loading. So the tires and axles seem to match up pretty well.

If we use my trailer as an example it weighed in at 6328lbs and max for the axles and tires appear to be ~7000lbs that leaves 672lbs (7000-6328) available plus the tongue weight of 657lbs (672+657) for a total of 1329lbs. Seems like a lot of usable weight however, once you add up any TT cargo, water, truck cargo, and passengers beyond the rear axle you run out of capability real quick. In my situation I will be nearing max loading (14,000lbs) for my full rig.

Witch Doctor · 03-09-2014, 03:45 PM

You would never notice the difference in the ride as suggested by adding a 500lb more capacity. It just pure safer. If I was to believe what was posted how does the manufacturer know if you are running with nothing in it. If that is the case then why would all of us when we up grade our tires go to d rated? Give me a break about the load on the axle. It not going to ride any different. You would not notice it at all. These are torsion axles not spring. But you wouldn't be on the line.

cadman99 · 03-09-2014, 04:11 PM

You are being fooled by marketing "hype". I am sure these lite-weight trailers are aimed at those folks with 1/2 ton trucks. Easy to tow good gas mileage. I also don't think hours of engineering went to their choices. Not enough axle and not enough tire. What's the cheapest we can build and be reasonably safe.

I have a 30' Rockwood 5th wheel. Gross weight (on the tag) is about 9300lbs. I have two 3500lb axles and "c" rated tires. So 7000lb for the axles and about 7200lbs for the tires. Ready to go (no water) it weighs just over 8800lbs with about 1800lbs on the hitch. So about 7000lbs on the axles but about 500lbs under gross weight. Now where do I put the additional 500lbs that it is rated for? Not possible - so much for engineering.

The factory weighs to get the lightest weight and the highest gross weight. Mine's an ultra-lite - wanna tow it with a 1/2 ton?

Mtelkman · 03-09-2014, 05:06 PM

According to the Torflex axle chart, the torsion axle sizes available are:
900lb
2000lb
3500lb
6000lb
7000lb
8000lb
10000lb
OP's axles are 3500. If he went to the next size up Torflex axle he would get 6000 pound axles. Does Dexter even manufacture a torsion axle that is 500 pounds higher than OP's? They do not list them on their website.
Axles are not tires and comparing the 2 is comparing apples to oranges.

cadman99 · 03-09-2014, 06:37 PM

Alco has a 4000lb axle.

Witch Doctor · 03-09-2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadman99

Alco has a 4000lb axle.

That's what I have on mine 4000 ALCO RUBBER FLEX.

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