We’re all aware it is among the most crucial parts of any trailer, however, what exactly is it beyond an axle shaft that connects both the axle and the frame.
The components of your trailer, also known as running gear, such as suspension, brakes, and axles are an essential part of your travel experience. They require regular checks and maintenance and it is essential to be comfortable with these components.
Let’s climb under your trailer right now and look over the axle.
The fundamental axle is a square or round shaft (it’s probably round on lighter caravans and trailers). It’s typically fixed to the surrounding area with wheels turning around it.
A brake beam axle comes in different styles. Straight beams are the most simple and common beam, mostly used for boat and domestic trailers.
The beam axle called an overlay On the other hand it has stub axles that are placed on top of the structural beam. This results in lowering the height of the trailer which allows for greater stability and less wind resistance.
Brakes
Trailers with a weight greater than a specified amount are legally required to be equipped with brakes. If the axle you are using is braked and you are able to observe the brakes on the inside of the hub face, which is usually connected with an flange for brakes.
Suspension
Basic axles don’t have suspension options, but the likelihood is that your caravan or trailer will come with either rubber or leaf spring torsion suspension.
Leaf springs, such as ones like the Rocker Roller spring leaf suspension system are attached using U bolts to the axle near the hub of wheels. The location is crucial – not close enough to the hub of the wheel that they touch the tyre, but not too far away that they cause an issue of leverage, making the axle bend.
Some axles are equipped with suspension functions, for instance an Independent Rubber Suspension axle which is an axle tube with hexagonal rubber components held within by the outer tube. The suspension movement that occurs between bumps and rebound forces rubber components, which helps in the dampening the road’s shocks.
It’s clear that “axles” aren’t really axles”. They all fulfill the role connecting their wheels with the tow vehicle, a lot also have the neural pathways to brake and suspension which can make all the difference in your experience when towing.
Do you think it is time to replace the brakes of your truck? Electric brakes could be the solution.
