Trailer Axle Identification

[rockcrawler]

I’m trying to identify the axles on my car hauler. The trailer tag says it has 3500 lb axles, but I think my father (deceased) had said something about having them upgraded at some time. I don’t think these are 3500 lb axles. Maybe 5K?

Dual axles
Axle diameter is 3”
6 lugs

Axle label

 

[JeepYJ]

Here you go, D60 axles

Home | Dexter Axle Co

Light duty trailer leaf spring axles from 2,000 lbs. to 8,000 lbs., double eye and slipper spring Leaf Spring and underslung and overslung configurations.

www.dexteraxle.com

 

[cannuck]

If it was just the wheel bolts I would say it could go either way. BUT: since Dexter makes by far most of all axles used in recreational level trailers, and if you look at the label you are supposed to have D60 springs, you probably have 5k or 6k axles ( https://www.dexteraxle.com/Products/Sprung-Axles/Light-Duty ) have a look around the link. there should be another tag, though. It is the manufacturer's tag for the trailer itself, containing serial number and trailer gross weight (including original axles). Unless that has been replaced, your trailer is technically still limited by frame design as recognized on that first ID plate. Not that anyone is going to look at it unless you get into a hassle at a scale...or worse yet insurance claim from crash.

 

[cvairwerks]

Dexter D60's run between 4100 and 7000# capacity. You would have to have Dexter run the s/n to be sure what the rating was.

 

[KEH]

I have 3500 pound axles under a trailer I recently built. It has 5 lug axle hubs, not 6. Same 5 lug hub on 3500 pound axle on another trailer built years ago.

KEH

 

[Spareparts]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

 

[The Cobbler]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

Hmmm... not sure I agree with that as a solid rule

 

[PoorUB]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

Hmmm... not sure I agree with that as a solid rule

Well, having 6 lug is no guarantee of having a heavier axle. Pretty sure he means you can't judge an axle capacityby how many lugs it has.

 

[KEH]

Northern stores used to carry trailer axles and other parts, I bought the axle I used in the oldest trailer I mentioned above from them. They have stopped selling a lot of trailer parts including axles. For the last trailer I built I went to a local trailer builder and bought a complete axle, springs, fenders and other parts at reasonable prices from them. They were well informed and were a big help for advice. I did not ask about heavier than 3500 pound axles but am sure they have heavier axles. They had heavier gooseneck trailers under construction every time I have been there.

In other posts in the past I have advised finding a similar business nearby and having a quality trailer built to order If someone wants a good trailer but does not weld. There are better trailers than big box store trailers available if that is what someone wants. I also advise getting a single axle trailer with 3500 pound axles instead of lighter ones since my theory is that sooner or later someone will overload a trailer with lighter axles.

KEH

 

[rockcrawler]

Here is the original trailer VIN label.

 

[rockcrawler]

Dexter D60's run between 4100 and 7000# capacity. You would have to have Dexter run the s/n to be sure what the rating was.

I guess I’ll have to give them a call. I couldn’t find any other labels anywhere.

 

[Old CWO]

Next time you clean and repack the wheel bearings, take note of the bearing numbers both inner and outer. With that information you can determine the spindle size and therefore the corresponding axle rating. There is such a thing as a 6-5.5 hub sized for 3.5K axles; I have some on a trailer I built. Given that yours are Dexter D60 axles, I presume they have either 5.2K or 6K spindles. I want to say those two share an outer bearing and the 6K inner is larger, but I might be misremembering.

 

[cannuck]

Your Dexter label is about as good as you can expect and that will definitely decode into the actual axle rating. As I mentioned, it won't give the trailer any more capacity, just a far stiffer ride and a good safety margin for wheels, tires and bearings.

 

[rockcrawler]

Your Dexter label is about as good as you can expect and that will definitely decode into the actual axle rating. As I mentioned, it won't give the trailer any more capacity, just a far stiffer ride and a good safety margin for wheels, tires and bearings.

I don’t ever plan on hauling anything really heavy, so I’m not really concerned about whether they are 3500 or 5000. I just want to know what they actually are. My father was using it to haul his Rock Crawler (Jeep) around, and that’s pretty much all I’ll use it for as well. Most likely nothing any heavier than that.

 

[JeepYJ]

 

[rockcrawler]

Thanks. Hopefully they didn’t put those axle labels over the serial numbers. The labels are in the middle of the axles.

 

[Earp69]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

Not even close to true

 

[JeepYJ]

Not even close to true

Lighter axles can be optioned with 6 lug hubs, but heavier axles can’t be optioned as 5 lug.

 

[Earp69]

Lighter axles can be optioned with 6 lug hubs, but heavier axles can’t be optioned as 5 lug.

Yep, which means 5 or 6 lug DOES matter.

 

[firebirdparts]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

I don't see that in the field, honestly. I guess it's possible that somebody ordered some 6 lug 3500 pound axles, but I would never believe that without them telling me. It's his own father.

 

[cannuck]

I don't see that in the field, honestly. I guess it's possible that somebody ordered some 6 lug 3500 pound axles, but I would never believe that without them telling me. It's his own father.

In my experience 5 lugs normal at 3,500 and 6 lugs around 5k. Always 1/2 UNF so one definitely has more clamping and shear strength than the other. I actually have one set of the latter from the '50s!!!

 

[Sumboodie]

5 or 6 lug is just a choice, makes no difference in weight rating.

5 lug is usually 3500lb, 6 lug is 5-6k though not an absolute.

 

[mike93lx]

Lug count may not be perfect, but it's a pretty damn reliable way to gauge weight rating.

 

[cannuck]

Lug count may not be perfect, but it's a pretty damn reliable way to gauge weight rating.

Lug count and stud size. For instance 8 on 6.5 normal as dirt from 7k to 12k, but 7k usually 1./2, 8k 9/16 and 10-12k 5/8

 

[whateg01]

I also have a pair of 3500# axles with 6x5.5 drums. Back when all GM half ton 4x4 were 6x5.5 I knew a few guys who specified that built pattern so the spare could be used on either. I also have 3500# axles in 4.5 and 4.75 bolt circles. And I have 6000# axles with 4 lugs. (Those use the old Dexter wheels)

 

[JeepYJ]

Yep, which means 5 or 6 lug DOES matter.

It does if you’re looking at a 5 lug hub. Then you know it’s 3500 or less. If it’s 6 lug it could be just about any weight rating up to 7000 pounds or so.

 

[dnjr]

Home | Dexter Axle Co

Have a question? Reach out. | Dexter Axle Co

www.dexteraxle.com

try this

 

[rockinacummins]

Can’t help the OP with his question, but I will say that I don’t think lug count is a definitive indicator. I bought this trailer a few years ago assuming that 8 lug hubs naturally meant 7k axles.



After getting it home and looking at the sticker, it showed to have 6,090 pound axles.



It worked fine for what I needed at the time so it wasn’t a problem. I’ve since sold the trailer and bought a bigger one (10k axles) to haul my skid steer.

 

[cannuck]

Can’t help the OP with his question, but I will say that I don’t think lug count is a definitive indicator. I bought this trailer a few years ago assuming that 8 lug hubs naturally meant 7k axles.



After getting it home and looking at the sticker, it showed to have 6,090 pound axles.

It worked fine for what I needed at the time so it wasn’t a problem. I’ve since sold the trailer and bought a bigger one (10k axles) to haul my skid steer.

they are 7k axles, but when you spec load rangew E (10ply) tires you are limited by 120 load index to 3,045 lbs. each.

 

[rockinacummins]

they are 7k axles, but when you spec load rangew E (10ply) tires you are limited by 120 load index to 3,045 lbs. each.

Interesting, that makes sense

 

[rockcrawler]

Ok, so I called Dexter today and it took them a little bit to decipher the decal numbers. I was not expecting their findings. They said I have two 6K lb axles. They were supposed to email me all the specs from the axle builds, but I have not received it yet. I will still find the serial numbers and see if the information is accurate. They provided the exact location for the serial numbers, so they should be easy to find. The 6K lb axle actually kind of makes sense, because the trailer, when loaded with the Jeep, seems to have a pretty stiff ride.

 

[whateg01]

Ok, so I called Dexter today and it took them a little bit to decipher the decal numbers. I was not expecting their findings. They said I have two 6K lb axles. They were supposed to email me all the specs from the axle builds, but I have not received it yet. I will still find the serial numbers and see if the information is accurate. They provided the exact location for the serial numbers, so they should be easy to find. The 6K lb axle actually kind of makes sense, because the trailer, when loaded with the Jeep, seems to have a pretty stiff ride.

The springs, tire pressure, and tire construction determine the ride quality

 

[rockcrawler]

The springs, tire pressure, and tire construction determine the ride quality

I guess I’m assuming that if the axles were upgraded from 3500 lb to 6000 lb, the leaf springs would have been upgraded as well. Thus, a stiffer ride. I could be wrong though.

 

[whateg01]

I guess I’m assuming that if the axles were upgraded from 3500 lb to 6000 lb, the leaf springs would have been upgraded as well. Thus, a stiffer ride. I could be wrong though.

I've put heavier axles on lighter springs for the peace of mind knowing I have heavier spindles. I have also seen a lot of trailers with bent axles from overloading but the springs didn't break. If I was going to overbuild somewhere, it would be the axle itself even if I stayed with lighter suspension for ride quality.

 

[Monza Harry]

As stated above not a definite but 4000# replacing 3500# axles was pretty common amongst so users (some racers traveling long distances in circuit clubs) to make up for sometimes unevenly load trailers, 5200# rarely because as noted the trailer tag for gross doesn't change just allowable individual axle weight a 6000# just adds weight that is subtracted from the payload. 4000# is a small penalty for lower chance of wheel bearing failure at midnight in the middle of nowhere on your way home. Those 6000#'s require some more steel and a referee recertification for maximum advantage. The rule of thumb was 5 lug >3500 6 lug 4>6500 8 lug 7000# + but special order for matching spare/fleet reasons were/are very common. Harry

 

[cannuck]

Interesting, that makes sense

Interesting, that makes sense

Since we are on that topic: When I am forced to work with 16" wheels I generally use load range G tires (14 ply). There was a time when there were only a couple of choices but today I exclusively use Sailun ST in 235 80 or 85 (both available from them). The Chinese have now good enough tire plants and equipment (I happen to know the engineer in charge of making that happen). Scares the **** out of me when a developing nation can run circles around us on quality.

 

[cannuck]

sorry, double post

 

[rockinacummins]

Since we are on that topic: When I am forced to work with 16" wheels I generally use load range G tires (14 ply). There was a time when there were only a couple of choices but today I exclusively use Sailun ST in 235 80 or 85 (both available from them). The Chinese have now good enough tire plants and equipment (I happen to know the engineer in charge of making that happen). Scares the **** out of me when a developing nation can run circles around us on quality.

Same here. I don’t have a preferred brand but if I buy 16 inch trailer tires I buy foreign made 14 plys. When I hauled equipment weekly it was heavy stuff. Frequently 18k on the trailer, occasionally as much as 21k. No more than I haul now (a few times a month and generally not more than 14k) I could probably get by with 10 plys but the cost isn’t much more for foreign made 14 plys. Honestly, most of my trailer tires will dry rot way before they get worn out.

 

[rockcrawler]

Got all of my answers. The folks at Dexter asked me to give them some specific specs of the springs and I also found the model number of the axles. I had to clean the axles a bit and use a white chalk pen to fill in the stamping, then wipe off the excess. Worked great. And while I was doing that, I found stamping that shows that they are 6K lb axles.

6K lb axles
3K lb leaf springs on each side.

So, looks like the axles and the springs were upgraded from 3500 lb to 6000 lb. I understand that it does not give me more payload, but I guess it offers a little me protection with beefier parts.