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Old 03-22-2021, 10:44 AM   #1
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Bent Dexter Axle-Sad Story

2020 Flagstaff Microlite 25 bds.
Left Illinois on Feb 20 bound for Cottonwood, AZ where we had a two week reservation at Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. We wanted to stop in Tucson first so we took a southern Route. Sub freezing temps lead us to stay in motels followed by our first camping nite in Tucumcari, NM at Blazing Saddles RV Park. Great place run by great people. On the way to Deming, NM for night two we hit a big pothole on Rt 54 somewhere near White Sands. Didn't think much of it other than "ouch" until setting up in Deming at Little Vinyard RV Park, also a great place. I was checking my tires when I noticed that the lead, right tire was worn to the steel belts on the inside. Yikes! Fortunately, there was a Big O tire shop just two blocks away so in the morning, we went there. By then the tire was nearly flat so we counted our blessings that we hadn't had a failure out in the boonies. A new tire was no problem but the technician said the axel was bent. The only RV repair shop in Deming was about a mile away so we went there where I got the bad news and then the worse news. The bad news was that the axel spindle was indeed bent and the new tire wouldn't last 100 miles. Not repairable. The fix is a new axel. This trailer has Dexter, torsion axels which I had been told are far superior to the old, leaf spring axels. That may be so but...
I said, okay, put on a new axel. Well, I was told, this axel is specific to this trailer and has to be ordered. Now for the worse news. "It will take up to THREE MONTHS to get one. I called the Gander Outdoors dealership in Illinois where the service manager confirmed that was true. He said minimally two months. Parts are hard to get right now as the manufacturers are sucking them all up because demand for new RVs is high. Vacation over. I cancelled our reservation at Deadhorse, which was very hard to get, put my trailer in storage in Deming because the small repair shop doesn't have room. Now, we wait and then go back to retrieve it. Can't reserve camping anywhere because we don't know when it will be finished.
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Old 03-22-2021, 11:09 AM   #2
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So sorry for your luck...

I would try some other avenues like trailer junk yards, etrailer dot com, etc. Hopefully others may have an idea also.

I think you can blame it on the COVID shutdowns... seems like everywhere there are shortages...
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Old 03-22-2021, 11:31 AM   #3
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Sorry to hear about your misfortunes...When you say specific to this trailer are you meaning it's a certain size Dexter axle ? Is it a 3.5K axle ? Do you know specifically what size/part # you need ?

I would search online and also check Amazon and Ebay
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Old 03-22-2021, 12:34 PM   #4
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In the past I've found that many small metal fabrication shops can work wonders with "bent" parts.

The Torflex axle does present some challenges but it may be possible to do some bending on the support structure to return the wheel to alignment. The axle's swing-arm and spindle is stout and it's usually the steel of the frame where it joins the torsion tube that bends.

Perhaps a path you might want to explore.
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Old 03-22-2021, 12:40 PM   #5
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Bad luck for sure.

Pot holes can do severe damage and unfortunately pothole damage doesn't care about COVID or parts shortages.

Could you put a heavier axle (not axel) under there?
Possibly a different load rating might be in stock?
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Old 03-22-2021, 02:50 PM   #6
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Try a trailer repair shop. They may be able to fix you up by cutting off the spindle or just replacing one side.

Guy in my area will do it. They don't warranty it but in many cases the fix is successful and would allow you to complete your trip.

The dealer is just going to want to replace the entire axle (which is probably best) but I wouldn't want to wait neither.
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Old 03-22-2021, 03:29 PM   #7
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You have my sympathy; we went through something similar at the end of last year - irregular tire wear, and a long delay to await the delivery of parts until the repair could be made under the extended warranty. So far, no irregular tire wear with the new Dexter axle - fingers crossed.

I hope all goes well for you.
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Old 03-22-2021, 03:34 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by 007matman View Post
Try a trailer repair shop. They may be able to fix you up by cutting off the spindle or just replacing one side.

Guy in my area will do it. They don't warranty it but in many cases the fix is successful and would allow you to complete your trip.

The dealer is just going to want to replace the entire axle (which is probably best) but I wouldn't want to wait neither.
This axle is pretty much a one piece item. No cutting off a spindle as it's usually part of the swing arm on the TORSION axle. It's not repairable unless bent parts are bent back into the correct posiion.
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Old 03-22-2021, 03:50 PM   #9
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Have you tried calling Dexter yourself? Ask for a compassionate priority.
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Old 03-22-2021, 04:13 PM   #10
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I guess this is a question first and part of a solution - maybe. How do you like that for ambivalence. As has already been said, sorry for your troubles. One of those potholes presented itself to us with our 2502KS, fortunately I got on the brakes fast enough to save the undercarriage BUT the whole condiment cupboard emptied itself on the floor, a full Folgers coffee, the sugar, the salt and pepper, jams and jellies, coffee mugs, glasses and more all in a broken heap on the floor when we arrived and opened the door.

Question: Before buying a Torflex axle my research showed that the new ones have an interchangeable spindle. They are indexed and a single bolt allows it to be removed. Are the factory still using the old, less expensive, non-removable type. Here is a link on the changeable one: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...tail&FORM=VIRE

From there repairing the mounting plates might do it. Just trying to shed a little sunshine on your day.

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Old 03-22-2021, 04:25 PM   #11
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This axle is pretty much a one piece item. No cutting off a spindle as it's usually part of the swing arm on the TORSION axle. It's not repairable unless bent parts are bent back into the correct posiion.
Sounded like it was the spindle that was bent.. maybe it's my bad in not understanding.

I have heard of shops replacing just a spindle on a torsion axle. The shop where I took my old camper offered to do it for me if the fix they did didn't work out (the bearings failed and fused the spindle nut) and it tore up the threads.
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Old 03-22-2021, 04:29 PM   #12
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007matman, check the video link above. I don't know how old your axle was or if the factory are using the new removeable spindle setup. That would be nice.

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Old 03-22-2021, 04:36 PM   #13
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007matman, check the video link above. I don't know how old your axle was or if the factory are using the new removeable spindle setup. That would be nice.

Paul
Yeah, I don't think mine was that way but it's possible that the OP's is.

That's an awesome feature.

I was just saying I'd heard of people doing it with the older design (my old camper was a 2008).
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Old 03-22-2021, 04:47 PM   #14
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007matman, I know my 2017 MiniLite didn't have them. I did a visual check. I have not checked to see if the 2020 2511S has them. When the snow is gone I will have a look.

Paul
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Old 03-22-2021, 06:15 PM   #15
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I bent a Torflex axle the same way in 2109 on a pothole on I-95 in the Smoky Mountains. I didn't know it until the tire wore down to the steel belts and started leaking, rapidly. I replaced the tire, and we made it on into Washington DC. I replaced the new tire again in eastern Arkansas when the tread on the inside was gone, then made it home to central Texas on the 3rd tire. I checked the tire for wear every stop, and was able to figure out that I'd get about 1000 mile before the tire was dangerous. I drove more slowly than normal... but we finished the vacation.
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Old 03-22-2021, 06:45 PM   #16
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I had a similar situation. Called Flagstaff warranty service and they went to bat for me with Dexter. Got the new axle in a week. Try calling 574-642-8942 Deb Rimsa.
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Old 03-23-2021, 05:22 AM   #17
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Maybe ease ur pain

If you added your camper to your automobile insurance it will most likely be a covered repair.

Wouldn't it be nice to pay just the deductible rather than a new axle and tire? It may even pay the cost of storage while waiting for the axle to arrive.
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Old 03-23-2021, 05:47 AM   #18
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Welcome to NM. Fixing potholes doesn't seem to be a priority here. Very sorry for your troubles.
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Old 03-23-2021, 09:02 AM   #19
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If you added your camper to your automobile insurance it will most likely be a covered repair.

Wouldn't it be nice to pay just the deductible rather than a new axle and tire? It may even pay the cost of storage while waiting for the axle to arrive.
My insurance did pay for the axle and tire.
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Old 03-23-2021, 02:04 PM   #20
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My insurance did pay for the axle and tire.
Not a bad outcome even though it was a PITA!
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