Re: [SilverStreak] axle

[<pilkington@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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 
>