Re: [SilverStreak] axle

["Eddie" <EddieHuffstetter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,
I sent Ann four photo's of  one with the axles still chained from the 
Florida trip, since I have not gotten around to replacing the axle and need 
it to be moveable. So, still chained after 1,700 miles, I took the picture 
and sent it to her after the message.

The basic problem is that unlike a open frame trailer such as a car trailer, 
the axle cannot be chained up to anything, since nothing is exposed on a 
typical travel trailer such as a Silver Streak or Streamline, etc. So how in 
the world can you keep the axle up, once you have it jacked up until it 
bottoms simultaneously forcing the adjacent axle down? The solution is in 
the center hanger which is called a multitude of names. I called it a 
walking beam because I don't know the proper name, but you know it is the 
hanger in the center to which one end of each of the springs of each axle 
hangs. The function is a simple process which tries to keep the trailer 
smooth on dissimilar surfaces so that the trailer does not jump up and down 
with every bump or hole. A level ride and an attempt at a more positive 
control keeping tires in constant contact with payment. So....

I found two ways to keep the axle with no wheel up, force the remaining 
down, still have full spring action, and avoid the obvious which would be to 
remove the axle instead of tying it up. Now I am always in a rush, lazy, 
usually it's hot, or raining, or on the side of the road, or just can't go 
another inch, so that's the reasons I don't want to pull the axle out, plus 
YOU NEED THAT AXLE IN PLACE in order to pull a trailer on one axle only. 
Why? Well you have got to force the remaining axle in a down position, to 
keep the trailer at the same height as if there were two axles. I digressed 
so...

When you jack up the axle, the center hanger is forced up and will bottom, 
the opposite end being forced down, will leave a very wide open space 
between the heavy iron, and the shacked frame. A 2X4 piece of wood angle cut 
with a saw, axe, your hammer and chisel, or whatever you have so that it has 
a point sort of like a thick tent peg can be wedge hammered into the now 
open space. I hammer it so hard, that it really forms a tight fit, but not 
hard enough to splinter it up. Then you get your good old duct tape and go 
round and round the whole thing a jillion times. It will keep that chunk of 
wood in place like you wouldn't believe. Or just go to a hardware store, 
find a poly bag for about $8 with two chains in it for replacement trailer 
safety chains, get a couple of grade 8 bolts of 3/8" size 2-1/2 to 3" long, 
eight 3/8" flat washers (your gonna double up) and four grade 8 nuts so you 
can jam nut. You'll need a 9/16" box-end/open-end wrench to tighten. The 
long bolts are so you can bare angle catch the link and be able to just 
tighten the dickens out of the chain to get all that inevitable slack a 
chain always seems to have.

Let me find the pictures of this last one still chained. I will send them to 
you. Please send me your email address.

Now every one reading this might think.....crazy, why do I care?....I got 
new tires, I got remote pressure sensors, I just never would care about this 
or think of any need or doing this. Well, I assure you there are too many 
scenarios where you could find yourself on three, or even two wheels and 
cannot stand a 5, 6, 7, 8 hundred dollar towing bill. I like you can name 
you several places where if you leave your trailer to come back, it may be 
vandalized, stripped, or even gone. I will not leave my trailer. It always 
goes with me, no matter what.

I am sorry, as usual I am too long with this.
-Eddie-
Houston, TX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <MSC06USNret@aol.com>
To: <sslist@tompatterson.com>
Cc: <MSC06USNret@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: [SilverStreak] axle


> Eddie, as usual i'm grateful for the information that you possess and 
> share
> with all of us other RVers.  I've made a copy of this email and will keep 
> in
> the trailer should i ever get into a circumstance like described.  I do 
> have
> one question:  You mention "..., wedge block the walking beam and  chain 
> up
> the no-wheel axle...".  I can follow all your instructions except  i don't 
> know
> what you mean - wedge block the walking beam - ?  Can you  please explain
> exactly what this means?  And thanks again for sharing your  wealth of 
> knowledge.
> regards, jim