torsion axles good or bad?

[limitout]

I am getting a new trailer for my flatboat and I am concerned about it having torsion axles as standard equipt., the only trailers in my area are magic tilt and they all have the torsion axles on them now.

I have always had leaf springs and straight axles and while the springs need replacing after several years its relatively cheap and easy to do so.

I have serious concerns about torsion axles in that there seams to be nothing holding them on (that I can see) from sliding out of the axle tubes except the spring tension so I see a possible failure point there and since I have no way to inspect or judge the condition of the torsion spring assembly and determine if and when replacement might be needed (if it can even be done) before risking a failure on the road.

what really bothers me is if a spring fails it isn't hard to "rig" it to be able to make it home but if the torsion axle fails I will need a flatbed wrecker at huge cost just to get home.

how indestructible are torsion axles and am I worried about nothing?

also if something goes wrong with it I assume it means you have to change the whole axle as a unit correct?

im an old school guy and if it aint broke and its easy to fix if it does break, then don't change the design. so would I be crazy to take a brand new trailer with torsion axle and convert it back to the leaf spring axle? im guestimating it could do it for around $200

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

Your axles will be fine...... as long as they are rated for the load. Go for it and do not worry about it. Just do your normal maintenance and keep the wheel bearings in good shape and greased

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

torsion axles have some negatives in multi axle setups but for a single axle they are fine... the spindle won't fall out from a "spring" failure

http://www.ucfamerica.com/FlexirideTechnicalLiterature/TRAILER BREAKTHROUGH.pdf

The Torsion vs. Spring Axle Debate Demystified ? Complete Trailers, LLC

 

[Rapio]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

We have owned and towed a 2 horse, horse trailer, double torsion axel for about 12 years. No problems. Wouldn't even know the difference if I didn't see under when servicing bearings and brakes. If it is a reputable manufacturer and correct for the load, go with it

 

[kahuna123]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

Redneck tip from Florida. Cover the springs, axle. bolts with all the grease you can before first time in salt. . Then rinse off after loading. Steel springs will last as long as the trailer,

 

[limitout]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

Redneck tip from Florida. Cover the springs, axle. bolts with all the grease you can before first time in salt. . Then rinse off after loading. Steel springs will last as long as the trailer,

umm, yes I do that with my regular leaf springs and axles but torsion axles don't have springs or axle bolts or brackets, they look like one of those kids noise maker toys that spin. that's why I am afraid of what I cant see because everything is hidden inside a welded spring enclosure deal.

torsion axles have some negatives in multi axle setups but for a single axle they are fine... the spindle won't fall out from a "spring" failure

http://www.ucfamerica.com/FlexirideTechnicalLiterature/TRAILER BREAKTHROUGH.pdf

The Torsion vs. Spring Axle Debate Demystified ? Complete Trailers, LLC

thanks for the links, there were a good read. I was actually thinking there might be some sort of spring inside the link assembly but seeing how there are really no moving parts to it I feel way less concerned. although now that i know its hollow inside im wondering why the trailing arm is made of a shell instead of a solid bar because it cant be that much of a weight savings to have a welded shell other then a solid hunk of flat metal for the trailing arm.

it looks like I have the torflex design on my trailer but the axle tube is bent like a deep vee trailer might be so im sure the bar doesn't go all the way through and there is no bolt on or clamp on design to it so I have to "assume" (theres that word again lol) that its a purely pressed in fit to assemble it and that is where I have concerns knowing you can never say never with safety. I just cant get over just being pressed in is enough security and it will never come loose.

I crawled all upside down and sideways and see no point anywhere that the torsion bar is secured in place except by friction and I know it cant be a single continued tube throughout because based on the shape of the axle tube that would be impossible. maybe there is a snap clip or something that locks it into the axle tube but I see no signs of anything that holds it in place.

the clean maint. free design looks nice and uncluttered under there but I also cant lower the stance by flipping the axle since its pretty much fixed as a one way one set height install. this causes me to have to work on a solution since the new trailer has bigger 13" tires with vertical bunks so the boat rides a good 4" higher on this trailer then my old one and where I launch its often shallow so I need to get it lowered more if I can figure a way.

I definitely like the adjustable axles and I also absolutely hate the adjustable axles because the easy to slide brackets might be easy to move to set up the trailer but because of the clamp on design its just as easy to maybe move on you if hitting a large pot hole as we have a lot of them here. I can see where the sliding track could be fairly easy to get uneven if you adjust it and I am very good at finding a way of messing things like that up even with a tape measure.

I liked and was used to the old design so all this is very new to me and takes some getting used to.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

many of the torsions have a welded collar on the inside to keep em from coming apart... they are in a cartrige that is slid into the axle beam and then welded on the end

I suggest that if the trailer isn't built to your liking (too tall) that you keep shopping... you can get any brand of trailer you want shipped to you.

 

[limitout]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

many of the torsions have a welded collar on the inside to keep em from coming apart... they are in a cartrige that is slid into the axle beam and then welded on the end

I suggest that if the trailer isn't built to your liking (too tall) that you keep shopping... you can get any brand of trailer you want shipped to you.

ok great, I don't know why but I feel better knowing there is "something" holding onto it if the rubber cords should ever dry rot and fail.

the trailer height is ok its the boat height above the trailer that is higher but I just miss how comfortable my old trailer was with the height, setup, and all that. im crying over spilled milk I guess. I can swap out the vertical bunks for horizontal ones and drop it 3" if I had to, just hate to start all over recustomizing another trailer and wished I didn't need to do that lol.

I got a new boat and new trailer exactly like my old one just a tad bigger yet everything about them is changed from the trailer design to the rib patterns in the boat so I just need to start fresh and forget about how things used to be and just rerig, refit, and redesign how everything fits with everything else all over again.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

The only issue with tandem torsion axles is that they must be towed perfectly level. Since they do not have equalizers like a spring Tandem,it is possible to overload the rear axle if towing tongue high or the front axle if towing tongue low. Not a problem unless the trailer is loaded at or near its max. His is also an issue entering or leaving steep driveways.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

they can also be a problem on uneven ground... I used to pull a 48' triaxle with torsions... you had to be really careful going in and out of driveways when fully loaded as you could easily get 90% of the load on just 2 or 3 tires.... it never did hurt the torsions but it was hell on tires.... If you had to pull over a curb you went a slow as you possibly could so you had time to pray that your tires would survive

 

[limitout]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

I would also imagine torsions wear out tires "a little" quicker as they are by design be "a little" off and not going to keep a flat even tire profile to the road as far as caster and camber angles simply by the nature of the smashed rubber cord mounting design so I expect tires would never wear as evenly or have true alignment

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

actually you'd be surprised... old school beam axles flex under load... they are bowed such that camber is correct under the expected load

torsions are no different

 

[H20Rat]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

I would also imagine torsions wear out tires "a little" quicker as they are by design be "a little" off and not going to keep a flat even tire profile to the road as far as caster and camber angles simply by the nature of the smashed rubber cord mounting design so I expect tires would never wear as evenly or have true alignment

Its the opposite actually... Torsions tend to bend LESS than a comparable axle, and tire wear is better. (the axle tube is usually larger/thicker than a similarly sized spring axle.)

I've owned various torsion axles for the last 15 years. Have not had a single issue with ANY of them, whereas in that same timeframe I've had to replace leaf springs. I know torsion axles can eventually wear out, but it takes much longer than you would expect. The rubber pieces are protected, and even if they deteriorate some, they are still in the tube. The only failure would be once it turns to dust and departs the tube.

Nobody mentioned it yet, but torsion axles ride far, far better than a spring axle!

 

[limitout]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

actually you'd be surprised... old school beam axles flex under load... they are bowed such that camber is correct under the expected load

torsions are no different

well we have mostly straight axles on smaller trailers so anything under 2500 lbs and it wont have a bowed axle but I get your point

Its the opposite actually... Torsions tend to bend LESS than a comparable axle, and tire wear is better. (the axle tube is usually larger/thicker than a similarly sized spring axle.)

I've owned various torsion axles for the last 15 years. Have not had a single issue with ANY of them, whereas in that same timeframe I've had to replace leaf springs. I know torsion axles can eventually wear out, but it takes much longer than you would expect. The rubber pieces are protected, and even if they deteriorate some, they are still in the tube. The only failure would be once it turns to dust and departs the tube.

Nobody mentioned it yet, but torsion axles ride far, far better than a spring axle!

wow, thanks guys, I feel better and better learning all this so I guess in this instance "new and improved" is just that. so often when things are "new and improved" they are made cheaper and don't work as well lol.


just by the design it seams hard to imagine how they can get the alignment true but that's a relief that there are no issues with it.

and ya about every 5 years or so I needed new springs because im strictly salt water use round here and I never found any galvanized springs so I guess they don't make those.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

I think that if you measure most "straight axles" you will see that they generally do have some camber designed in.... I'm sure there are some lower grade axles without it but they would be the exception, not the norm.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

Overload any trailer (torsion or not) and you can bend things. There is nothing wrong with a torsion axle provided you understand the issues with the lack of equalization. I've seen many of these trailers with either the front or back wheels off the ground while making a turn on a paved road that has even a minor elevation difference between the cross street or into or out of a curb cut for a driveway or business. That is due to lack of wheel travel coupled with the lack of an equalizer. When a wheel is lightly loaded or off the ground the other three (or two) pick up the load. As I said, if the trailer is lightly loaded this is not a problem. On the other hand if the trailer is at or very near the maximum load damage in the form of bent things or tire damage can and does occur. They do tend to ride a little softer than a leaf sprung trailer. You just need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

[limitout]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

thanks guys

 

[fen-isl]

Re: torsion axles good or bad?

I'm on my 2nd trailer with a torsion axel. Bought a different boat and it came with a dual axel drum brake leaf spring set up. I wanted to get rid of the dual axel set up. Went with a single axel disc brake set up instead. I hope to never have to go back to a leaf spring type boat trailer. I also use it in salt water and it has cut my trailer maintenance down significantly. It rides so much better and is quiet no more rattles or squeaks from the leaf springs. I haven't seen any one break one yet, not saying it cant happen. I believe you will like it if you get one, thats just my opinion. I purchased a 2013 Load Rite elite series, came galvanized with disc brakes ,non marking rollers, LED lighting, swivel wheel jack ,and strap type winch, all standard equip plus 2 year coupler to tail light warranty. My previous boat I had bought a load rite trailer with torsion axel in 2005 and never had any type of failures from any part of the trailer.

Good Luck