FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Need help w/ broken trailer

Hi everyone,

I have a broken trailer in my garage that needs some work done on it & am reaching out to see if anyone can help or can suggest who can. I bought it with high hopes of using it for several of the trips with the FJ group & my family, but after only 1 trip, the axle broke & put it out of commission. Not happy. I was hoping to get things started this week, but let me know what you think.

The first link below is to the trailer's build on the Blue Room. As you can see, the guy who sold it to me did a lot of work on it; changing it from what's shown on pages 1-4 to the final product on pages 5-7.

The axle sheered off on the driver's side, so I'll need a new axle, of course. I think longer leaf springs & maybe changing the angle of the shocks to something a little less funky than what you'll see on page 5 of the link. I took the rear box off, too, & it's sitting separately in my garage & would need to be put back on.

The second link below is to an axle site I found that seems to have fair pricing for the 3500lb. kit. They also mention that they'll cut it to the correct size. I'd also like to add some wheel wells & I think this place also sells those.

I was going to take it to an off-road company in Alameda, but they told me to bring it to them to look at. In it's current condition, I don't really have the luxury of moving it around a bunch. Instead, I'll have to send pictures or have someone come to look at it here, then deliver it when it's time to get the work started.

Reply here or PM me if you're interested in helping.

John

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/trailers-towing-tech/109330-c...

http://abctrailerparts.com/axles.html

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yose FJ (David) on May 7, 2013 at 9:39pm

Sadly, I remember that happening and took those last photos. It was a terrible way to start the High Sierra trip.

Hope it all works out well.

(The only thing I can related it to is, our Rotary Club has a big old monster BBQ trailer that had an old Model T or Model A straight axle on it (its a very....very old trailer). A couple years ago, it was time to replace it. We found an old Ford Ranger rear end at a dismantler to put underneath it. It has worked well. Of course it doesn't go off road, but the roads around the park can be pretty tough, and the folks it is loaned to beat the snot out it, and there hasn't been a problem with the axle since.)

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Permalink Reply by PRS TiFJ on May 8, 2013 at 4:37pm

John a brand new Dexter Trailer Axle Isnt horribly expensive. A 3500# axle with electric brakes will run you about $300. I would go that route for piece of mind. If you want to drag it out to roseville after you get a new axle under it, I could help you with the other things. I did just get a new Millermatic 211.

http://www.theoempartsstore.com/home.php?cat=790

Duhh.. .looks like you already have a link to new axles. doesnt seem to give exact specs though. the link i provided had more options. I dont think you need brakes for that small of a trailer, but I would go with a 3500# axle for your purposes.

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Permalink Reply by Yose FJ (David) on May 8, 2013 at 10:33pm

Nice selection.

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Permalink Reply by Back in Black (FJ4 Tahoe) on May 13, 2013 at 9:48pm

Hey Seth,

Thanks for the info...I already have an axle on order. The guys at Trailin Toys in Tracy are putting it on, fixing the broken leaf spring and putting wheel wells on it. Oh on a side note...We are moving to Lincoln at the end of June.