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I'm reasonable sure that sometime down the road I'll swap over to hydraulic disk brakes but I'm debating on if I should also upgrade my 7K axles for 8K ones. Peace of mind says yes but I also believe the design engineers know better than I as to what is REALLY needed.
Also, if I went with 8K axles would I need new wheels - and subsequently new rubber as well?
Towing a Heartland Bighorn, 16K loaded. I believe I should also ask this question in the Heartland Owner forum.
Have you put the trailer on a cat scale? I can promise you that the disc brakes are worth doing now not some time down the road. Performance Trailer Braking
... I also believe the design engineers know better than I as to what is REALLY needed.
Many do, but they aren't the only folks influencing how a trailer is built. It is very clear that in more than a few cases, keeping costs low, and other considerations, trumps what an engineer may deem a preferred approach.
I put disc brakes on my 7k axles - fantastic upgrade. I scale at 15,500 for the trailer, with roughly a 3k pin and 12,500 on the axles. If you are about the same, I see no reason to use 8k axles. I have a 1500# margin as it is.
BTW, I also upgraded my cheap OEM tires with Sailun tires, which have about a 3800# margin for the set.
You are probably OK with your 7K axles, however if in the future you have an axle problem I would then upgrade to the 8K's. Disc brakes are the single best upgrade I have made to my 5'r.. My '03 Carriage rated the axles at 6K which put me right on the edge for capacity, but when I contacted Dexter for parts they informed me that my axles actually spec'd as 8K axles and Carriage for some unknown reason was rating them as 6K. I found this out because the 6K wheel bearing didn't fit my supposed 6K axles, the 8K bearings did.
It seems to me that if you're going to upgrade the entire axle then maybe the springs need to be upgraded also? If you don't upgrade the springs then that's still a weak point. I'm not stating that from a position of authority. I'm throwing that out more as a question.
It seems to me that if you're going to upgrade the entire axle then maybe the springs need to be upgraded also? If you don't upgrade the springs then that's still a weak point. I'm not stating that from a position of authority. I'm throwing that out more as a question.
I didn't even consider that one might upgrade the axle and not the springs. I've heard of (and seen) spring failures on campers, but never an axle failure. I wouldn't toss good 7k axles that carry less than 7k, and I most certainly wouldn't do it and leave the old springs.
My disc brakes came in Tuesday and I'm waiting on the 8k axles to be delivered so I can start the conversion. I bought mine from Performance Trailer Braking. Most people don't realize that the 7k/8k disc kits have the same size bearings and the only difference in the kits is the caliper brackets. The brackets for the 7k kit have 5 holes in them and the 8k brackets have 4 with larger diameter holes. Now, IF you wanted to order just the discs now and then decide to upgrade the axles later, all you would need to do is to order the 8k brackets which are around $40 each. So around $200 with shipping you can then upgrade the axles at a later time. This is what I had planned on doing but since I have a Dexter plant about 30 miles or so from me, the shipping was cheaper than I anticipated and the deal for all of it was better than I had anticipated. So, for around $3300 I got the axles and discs. really anxious to get started but I have to have the axles and better weather first. The 8k axles have one more spring in the pack and each spring is thicker than the 7k pack leafs.
As has been true for a long time nothing here has unequivocally been demonstrated (to me) that anything beyond a disk brake upgrade is 'very' worthwhile.
I'm still of the opinion that while I may eventually upgrade the suspension - I'm still quite unsure of needing a heavier axle.
It isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, but a friend bent the axle on my ATV trailer when he hit a small ditch straight on. When I replaced the axle, I upgraded it from 2,000 lbs to 3,000 lbs. I also took the opportunity to use an axle with brakes. I feel a lot more confident that the new axle can handle the load on the trailer a lot better. The brakes were a bonus.
My disc brakes came in Tuesday and I'm waiting on the 8k axles to be delivered so I can start the conversion. I bought mine from Performance Trailer Braking. Most people don't realize that the 7k/8k disc kits have the same size bearings and the only difference in the kits is the caliper brackets. The brackets for the 7k kit have 5 holes in them and the 8k brackets have 4 with larger diameter holes. Now, IF you wanted to order just the discs now and then decide to upgrade the axles later, all you would need to do is to order the 8k brackets which are around $40 each. So around $200 with shipping you can then upgrade the axles at a later time. This is what I had planned on doing but since I have a Dexter plant about 30 miles or so from me, the shipping was cheaper than I anticipated and the deal for all of it was better than I had anticipated. So, for around $3300 I got the axles and discs. really anxious to get started but I have to have the axles and better weather first. The 8k axles have one more spring in the pack and each spring is thicker than the 7k pack leafs.
Glad you decided to pull the trigger on this one Monty. You wont be disappointed. Put the heavy duty shackles/wet bolts on at the same time. Is Roy coming East to assist???? Report back as you work the project.
As has been true for a long time nothing here has unequivocally been demonstrated (to me) that anything beyond a disk brake upgrade is 'very' worthwhile.
I'm still of the opinion that while I may eventually upgrade the suspension - I'm still quite unsure of needing a heavier axle.
I'm with you on this. While the additional capacity might be peace of mind, the 5th wheel might actually ride rougher with the stiffer suspension and cause other isssues.
Glad you decided to pull the trigger on this one Monty. You wont be disappointed. Put the heavy duty shackles/wet bolts on at the same time. Is Roy coming East to assist???? Report back as you work the project.
So am I...My rig already has the heavy duty shackle package on it as it came with the LRE4100 suspension. I do have one wet bolt that will not take any grease. When I take it apart I will see if it had turned and had pressure on it or if the zerk is bad. Found out yesterday that the axles are on a two week delay from Dexter and won't be shipped until around the 29th...dang it!!! But not that far away. Can't wait to get started.
