Have your trailer axles not been in the best shape and are desperately needing a replacement? We’ve been there before, and while the whole process is not as complex as it might seem, there’s one thing that gets overlooked but can make a world of difference when it comes to just how smooth the process goes – and that’s measuring the trailer axles.
However, there’s one more reason why doing so accurately is important – an incorrectly measured axle can affect your and others’ safety and negatively impact your trailer’s performance.
So, how to measure trailer axle for replacement? That’s what we’ll be going over in this article.
Key Takeaways
- Finding the right size of the trailer axle is important for several reasons, including the safety and performance of your trailer.
- There are several measurements you can take to ensure the trailer axle you’re considering is of the right size. While it’s not necessary to take them all, doing so can prevent you from making a mistake.
Measuring Trailer Axle
When it comes to measuring a trailer axle, there isn’t only one specific way of measuring a trailer axle – there are actually a few different measurements you can take that will help you decide on the best trailer axle size for your trailer – hub face measurement, spring center axle measurement, end-to-end spindle measurement, and axle tube diameter.
Let’s go through each of them individually.
Hub Face Measurement
The hub face is the place where the wheel and the tire connect. When getting this particular measurement, you need to measure the distance between one hub’s face to the other hub’s face.
But what if you don’t have hub faces?
Well, there’s another way to get this measurement, although it is not as accurate as measuring the hub face – the solution is to measure the brake-flange-to-brake-flange distance by taking a measurement from the outside face of one brake flange to the outside face of the other brake flange. Then, add the standard flange-to-hub dimension to your measurement.
Spring Center Measurement
This is probably the most important of the four trailer axle measurements you need to take, as it will ensure your new axle’s springs sit in the right spot without obstructing the wheels, tires, or other components.
To get the distance between springs, you need to hold your measuring tape in the center of one spring and measure to the center of the other spring.
💡 Good to know
The easiest way to get this measurement is by having another person hold the measuring tape for you - however, if that’s not an option, hook it to the outside edge of one spring and measure until you reach the inside of the other spring - the measurements will be the same as if measuring center to center.
End-to-End Spindle Measurement
When taking this measurement, you should remove both wheels. Once you do it, grab your measuring tape, hook it on the end of one spindle, and run it all the way to the end of the opposite one. While it might not be as accurate as the other two methods we already presented, using it can be very helpful in confirming that the axle you’re considering getting is of the right size.
Axle Tube Diameter
If you know your old axle’s tube diameter, you can simply get an axle with the same measurement – it should fit perfectly. Keep in mind that axle capacities are closely related to the tube diameters, and while you can measure the diameter manually, you can also check for the capacity. There should be a sticker or a stamp on your axle with the capacity written down.
Do I Have to Take All These Measurements?
You might be wondering – is doing all this really necessary? Well, if you want to get the most accurate results, then yes, you should take all of the measurements we mentioned – and especially the spring center measurement, as it ensures nothing is blocking any of your trailer’s parts, thus preventing you from using it comfortably.
Is There Any Other Way to Measure Trailer Axle?
We’ve already mentioned quite a few, but there’s one more thing you can do to find the right trailer axle size – take a look at the wheel bolt pattern, as specific bolt patterns are typically unique to a specific axle size.
What If My Axle Is Broken?
Now you might want to ask – but what if the reason behind measuring my trailer axle is the fact that it’s broken? Can I still get the measurements? That depends on where exactly it broke. For instance, if it’s outside the springs, then yes, you can still get the measurements you need by using the spring center measurement we talked about above.
If your trailer is a double axle trailer, then it’s actually even easier, as even if one axle breaks, you still have the other one that you can use for measurement.
The Bottom Line on How to Measure a Trailer Axle
Properly measuring the trailer axle has more importance than one would think – if the axle is not correctly chosen, not only will it affect the performance of your trailer, but it can also create a safety hazard, both for yourself and others.
There are many ways to measure to axle, so we weould definitely recommend using multiple ones to make sure your measurements are correct. It won’t take you more than five minutes but can help you avoid a situation where you’ll have to purchase another axle because the one you bought doesn’t fit as well as you expected.
Looking to replace your trailer completely rather than just the broken part? Considering an upgrade from your current one? At Millenium Trailers, we’ve got you covered. Browse through our inventory selection and find the right one for yourself, or design your very own trailer from scratch with our survey.
