The Silver Streak E-mail ListArchive Files[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] Re: [SilverStreak] axle
Well, Thank God, axles are on, and with new wheels, I hear it looks better than ever, But because of Winter Ice storm, He still can't come home. Tomorrow, He should be able to get home. I will take pictures and show off my new wheels. -------------- Original message from "Eddie" <EddieHuffstetter@hotmail.com>: -------------- > 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: > To: > Cc: > 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 >
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