DIY Axle Lift PT 1

[RobDe]

Part 1 Axle Lift
In order to get away from the chy-nah bomb 13" tires, have to go minimum 14" to get a decent tire like Goodyear Endurance. Off we go on this project. Found a piece of 2" X 4" X 4' thick walled tubing. Cut to get two 18" pieces if memory serves me correct. Marked mounting hole locations on top and sides of tubing. Drilled out then used the mill to elongate holes to get a little wiggle room if needed.

Jacked up AF and secured with jack stands. Removed tires, then loosened all axle bolts first then cut brake wires. Removed the bolts and lowered the axle. Installed the tubing with new Grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers. I left the top bolts loose until I had the axle back in place. I gently maneuvered the axle back into place and then set the side bolts. Once both sides were installed, a quick measurement from back of the frame to axle showed I was right on the money. Everything got tightened down then.

[RobDe]

Part 2

Fixed the brake wiring, put old tires back on, set her down and amazed at the wheel well clearance I had. I could have gone with 15" tires, but the 14's were plenty. I had ordered the aluminum wheels online and had them the next day. Goodyear tires hadn't come in yet, so had to wait for them to come in and get mounted. A week later, new tires and wheels are on.

Note: You are not supposed to jack up the Dexter axle, you must jack up on the frame! After this lift, I wondered if the stabilizing jacks would reach.... not a problem! Still plenty of reach left and if needed, some pads to go underneath.

The single entry step got raised 4" as well. We didn't really like how high the step was before the lift got done. So, another upcoming completed project coming soon.

[OYO]

Thanks RobDe!

I'd love to raise our A213HW a bit for two reasons:

1) the rear stabilizers often take a beating on slopes

2) ours came with 14" rims, which is great. But the clearance between the tire and fenderwell is about a 1/2". It's difficult to even put tire covers on. It's always worried me that they could actually rub.

The mill work is a bit out of my capabilities. I had a fabrication shop add a receiver for a bike rack. Might show this to him.

Question: what if any drawbacks are there?

[RobDe]

Single step height is all I could see. I looked at the offroad version High Wall AF's and the only difference was a bigger frame rail plus a spacer added to axle mount. Comparing the two AF models, that was the only difference. Axle weight was the same I was told. Long time friends were the reason we got an AF. They had purchased a T21HW with twin beds. Backing it into their relatively flat driveway they damaged the rear stabilizers. Couple of more trips, they had to replace them.

Not worried about extra height going down the road, I put in a wireless backup camera wired into running lights. Just turn them on going down the road or backing up.

Dexter Axle makes a factory lift kit, but when you look at the pics, bent metal and bolts.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/docs/defa...rsn=25f1648_12


More pics
https://www.google.com/search?q=dext...w=1600&bih=757

I guess if you got your hole locations correct, you could just go one size larger on hole for mounting wiggle room. I was worried about keeping it all square and not torqueing axle mount when mounting back up. Rode like a dream.

Did I mention how do you put a 19' AF camper into a 17' garage? Well, that's another project.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by OYO

It's always worried me that they could actually rub.

A little trick I used to verify tire clearance. Yes, I have an issue. Hopefully fixed soon.

I put strips of masking tape where ever I suspected the possibility of Tire Rub.

Good Luck.

[RobDe]

My FIL has a Casita, he custom ordered a Dexter axle with preloads to get built in height so he could go with 16” wheels and get heavier load capacity.

Too much rubbing will wear into the plastic wheel wells quick.

[OYO]

Thanks RobDe.

I bought the kit (2-5/8"). I had no idea such a thing was available or i would have done it a long time ago.

Easy install except for the 130 lb torque spec. Being an old fart it was hard to get enough leverage on the wrench while lying under the camper. Fixed that with a short piece of pipe on the wrench handle.

Actually lifted 3".

Welcome to the forum and your contributions!

[Boomerweps]

Interesting. I hadn’t seen the lift kit for the Torsion axles. I used the Dexter “flip” kit to gain almost 5.5” on my spring suspension. Haven’t went to larger tires yet. Stabilizers weren’t a problem since I always take a lot of wood blocks but the steps on a downhill sloping site on the door side required me to make a first step out of those blocks.

[RobDe]

OYO, it does make a difference. When I saw the kit and how installed, but built my own lift kit. Bolts, nuts and washers sold by the pound at Tractor Supply. I could still go 15" tires and wheels if wanted to, but getting away from chy-nuh bombs was number one.

I lurked since 2018 before I finally decided to join up.

[OYO]

Originally Posted by RobDe

OYO, it does make a difference. When I saw the kit and how installed, but built my own lift kit. Bolts, nuts and washers sold by the pound at Tractor Supply. I could still go 15" tires and wheels if wanted to, but getting away from chy-nuh bombs was number one.

I lurked since 2018 before I finally decided to join up.

Yep. Clicking the "buy now" button on etrailer was just too easy.

Mine came with 14s and two steps. Went with the GY Endurance some time ago. New stabilizer jacks are on the way.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Personally, I would not have oversized the holes in the tube stock. With the amount of force that area will take, I would've gone for exact alignment and exact size of the holes. If there is room to play.....it will eventually play.

[OYO]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Personally, I would not have oversized the holes in the tube stock. With the amount of force that area will take, I would've gone for exact alignment and exact size of the holes. If there is room to play.....it will eventually play.

Perhaps. But the axlel mfg. dose the same (5th photo in "product photos): https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...71-707-01.html

That doesn't mean it's right.

[Boomerweps]

Just noticed. Wrong sub forum. A frames?