Trailer Axle Flip Pros and Cons (Is Flipping an Axle Safe?)
There is a debate on this topic. Some experts say that the axle will flatten out and decrease its capacity. others say that this is a good idea because they avoid damage to the undercarriage. You may have to be the judge on who wins this debate.
Is flipping an axle safe? The positive side of this debate is that you get more ground clearance. The negative side of the coin is that there is some risk to doing this maneuver. The risk comes in when the person attaching the axle back to the springs does a very bad job of it.
To learn more about this topic and if it is safe or dangerous, just continue to read our article. It explores the issue so you have the right information. Making an informed decision is always the best way to go. It cuts down the risks.
What Does An Axle Flip Do?
There are several reasons why pop-up owners do the axle flip technique. All the reasons have one common theme. They get more clearance between the bottom of their rig and the ground.
Some of those reasons are: #1. more room for tanks and plumbing. These items underneath your pop-up are always at risk when bumps and potholes show up. Flipping the axle protects them from damage.
2. This technique protects the stabilizers as well. Even a small 4-inch high pile of dirt can damage something under your trailer when you have low clearance.
3. When backing up curbs are always a danger to things hidden under your trailer. Flipping the axle helps lift either of those units up and protects you when you are backing up over curbs, bumps, and so on.
4. When you want to get away from it all and go deep into nature, flipping the axle gives you 4 to 5 more inches of lift. That lift helps you navigate rougher roads safely
These are very legitimate reasons to flip your axle. The key will be in making sure the mechanic or welder who does this work does it right. A badly done job can spell disaster for you and your RV.
Is Flipping a Trailer Axle Safe?
There is some risk to flipping your axle. One is that you might have the wrong axle, to begin with, and you will ruin it if you try to flip it. This technique only works if you have double-eye leaf springs.
Then if the spring pads are not welded correctly, your trailer can dog track, or in extreme cases, you could pull the trailer right off the axle. That is if the weld did not hold and the axle came loose.
This technique all boils down to who did the welding and how good a job they did. You would not want to trust this task to anyone you did not know or felt was not qualified to handle the work.
This technique is very labor-intensive and requires special tools and skills to get the job done right. It is not something you would want to do yourself unless you were a very well-trained welder with lots of experience.
Make sure to weigh the pros and cons coming up in the next section to make sure you want to take this risk.
Trailer Axle Flip Pros And Cons
In this case, the cons may outnumber the pros. When that happens, you should think through this decision carefully. Not every axle flip ends up as a success story and you do not want to be on the failure side of the issue.
Pros:
- 1. You get plenty of cleanrance- we have mentioned those positives earlier. This a very legitimate reason to consider using this technique
- 2. Increase tire height- what this does is enhance your load weight capacity. You can upgrade your tire to a larger size and carry more weight.
- 3. Protects your undercarriage- that and all the other devices the manufacture has placed underneath the floor of you trailer. Fixing those items can be expensive as well as ruin a perfect vacation.
Cons:
- 1. You lose visibility- a higher pop-up means it blocks your rear vision in some vehicles
- 2. Lose fuel economy- a higher profile adds wind resistance making your car or tow vehicle work harder. When it does, you lose mpg.
- 3. Stabilizers have a longer reach- this may not be a good thing if you max them out. Think about this one for a bit
- 4. Tongue jack has longer reach- what this means is that you have to crank more to get the tongue jack to reach the ground. Not awalys a good situation.
- 5. Steps are higher- if you are short or disabled, this is not a good thing. You have to pick your legs up more making it harder to climb inside.
- 6. Crosswind issues- flipping the axle changes your weight distribution making your trailer more vulnerable to high winds.
How Do You Flip An Axle On a Cargo Trailer?
The process goes like this. First, you have to cut the spring pads off the bottom of the axle. Second, you need to re-position those spring pads and place them on top of the axle. Third, you weld the spring pads in their new position on the axle.
This takes a lot of labor to hold up the springs, move them into place then bring the welder into the right position. It is not a very safe process to do and you have to be extremely careful when you work.
While this technique gives you lots of lift, you have to make sure those spring pads are welded on straight. If not, then you are opening yourself up to those risks we mentioned earlier.
There is also a possibility that raising the trailer height will cause some sway. This is true for heavier trailers like 5th wheels but it may not be much of an issue with a pop-up.
Before we forget, the new distance from the axle could cause the springs and the trailer to lose stability. The axle will move side to side more or create more bounce when you least expect it. These are possibilities you need to consider during your decision-making process.
Flipping Axles On a Toy Hauler
This will depend on the type of axle your toy hauler comes with. There are some axle designs that will not be compatible with this technique. That will be the first step in trying this procedure on your pop-up or other RV.
The axles your toy hauler must have would be the ones that are attached to leaf springs, shackles, and perches. If it has a Mor-ride or some other customized axle or fancy trailer suspension, most likely this technique will not work. Or it is just more complicated to complete.
Another aspect to consider, is that toy haulers are given low profiles to help the rear door. The rear door/ramp is designed to give you as little of an incline as possible without going too steep. Flipping the axle would change that dynamic making it tougher to use the ramp.
There is a kit from Dexter you can look into and see if that will help solve some of your problems. One owner had a dealer do this and his ride became one thousand times better. You can look into these kits to see how much they will cost and then check the pros and cons of them as well.
Travel Trailer Axle Flip
What becomes annoying after a while when you are towing a travel trailer, is the constant scraping on the back end. This usually happens when you go over bumps, exit, or enter parking lots, gas stations, and so on.
The reason this happens is that most travel trailers are given underslung axles. There are a few good reasons why RV manufacturers put this axle design on your travel trailer.
This axle design gives you a lower center of gravity, improves trailer stability on the road, and helps prevent trailer sway. Plus, you get less wind resistance and better miles to the gallon.
Flipping the axles on a travel trailer is done in the same manner as for pop-ups and other RVs. The key difference is that you will get better ground clearance, eliminate scraping and protect those items underneath the trailer.
The axle flipping allows you to go on those back roads you always wanted to investigate and explore. You get about 6 more inches of clearance which should help you as you enter and exit parking lots.
However, you may add more wear and tear to your tires causing them to wear out faster than they would have if you did not flip the axle. there are other issues needing consideration as well as you may need to buy new parts.
Camper Axle Flip Kit
There are different kits available to help you flip your axle. Dexter is one company that makes them and you can find them through e-trailer and other retailers. Inside these kits, you should receive new U-bolts, spring perches, and spring plates. You should also get regular 1/2 nuts and spacer nuts.
Amazon also has a wide variety of axle flip kits. The prices go from reasonable to very expensive and some may not fit your camper at all. Some options are made for your truck.
Then if you are flipping your axle, this would be a good time to replace your spring bushings and bolts, and replace the spring equalizer, shackle plates, and bolts. Since the trailer or RV is lifted up, you should take advantage of this opportunity and make sure your trailer or RV is well maintained.
As you search, you will find that many retailers will have basic flip kits available. Your search will boil down to which brand you like and the price those kits are offered at.
Take your time and get some good advice from an experienced mechanic before you buy as they may be the ones doing all the work for you.
Which Way Does The Bend In a Trailer Axle Go?
The bend is supposed to face down towards the ground. Then the weight of the trailer is supposed to flatten this bend out a little which gives you the correct camber. To preserve this bend, you need to use an over-under kit.
If you do not use the right kit, then all the axle flipping is doing besides adding clearance, is ruining your tires. If you are not sure what the word camber means or what it is, this component is vital to the performance, etc., of your trailer.
Camber is the vertical upward bend or kink in the axle center. When it is in the right position, the axle can flex with the weight of the trailer and keep your tires square and true to the road.
When you do not have the right camber or you remove it completely, then your tires will run unevenly and cause a lot of premature damage, poor trailer tracking, and possibly damage the running gear.
That is why you need to make sure a professional with lots of skill and the right tools does this technique. Damage to your tires can cause you a lot of trouble down the road and that is trouble you can avoid.
This technique is not for inexperienced people to handle.
Some Final Words
It may be a tough choice as there are good arguments on both sides of the issue. The benefits you gain by flipping your axle may not outweigh the negatives that can come. The decision is ultimately up to you to make so weigh the arguments, the explanations, and your camping destinations to see if this technique is the right move for you.
There is no harm in losing a little gas mileage when you are trying to protect more expensive parts placed underneath your trailer or RV.
