No Welding! Flip Your Utility Trailer Axle Right

Flip your utility trailer axle right without welding! There are a ton of videos out there showing a no-weld utility axle flip, but they all do it the wrong way by reusing the existing spring seats and having the axle bowed down instead of up, leading to negative camber, tire wear and possibly handling problems on the road. What we need is an over-under conversion kit but nobody makes them for a 1-3/4" standard axle 2000 lb axle found on most utility trailers purchased at Lowes, Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply Company. For larger axles, Dexter and others sell over-under conversion flip kits. In this video, we make our own over under axle flip kit for a 1-3/4" axle by getting an axle seat (perch), u-bolts and a tie plate.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

99% of viewers of this video aren't subscribed, if you're reading comments, please hit like and subscribe! This video goes over how to make your own over under kit for a 1-3/4" axle like the ones Dexter sells for the 2-3/8" axle (part K71-384-00). Before leaving a comment saying you must weld on the perches, note two things: 1. I say that welding is best right in the video, so I mostly agree 2. No weld conversion kits are made by reputable manufacturers but not for this axle size, which is why I made this video

[@kitgore2508]

The use of the wrench at the 3:02 mark is epic. 😂

[@sixpath]

Literally a meme at this point

[@mikerossman9863]

And using a finishing hammer too.

[@13ChroniclesOfDagger]

I straightened my bent axle with a 2 1/4 ton floor jack. Had the trailer loaded with 275 gallons in a tote. Jacked up the middle 3 inches above horizontal. Worked like a charm. 🎉

[@ConcertCultureAudio]

I’ve actually been thinking about doing that.. 🤔 How’s it holding up for ya?

[@13ChroniclesOfDagger]

@@ConcertCultureAudio perfecto 👍 👌 I'm very happy 😊

[@drugfacts2874]

I kept looking for a 1-3/4” over under kit but couldn’t find one. Thanks for showing me how to assemble one myself. I’ll try it out and let you know how it works.

[@MartySmithVideos]

Great video and very helpful. Nice tip on the spring seats to flip the camber on the axle too! Appreciate the help! I've order new tires and can't wait to get them installed and running!

[@robertsheridan9295]

Thanks! Really well explained. Other videos say to just flip it without knowing or caring about the bend in the axle. I flipped mine using your video and it worked great!

[@stevericci3308]

modern cars all have negative camber. This will help keep you trailer tracking center. I would nto worry about it. Cars I work on at a dealer have as much as 3rd degree or more especially in the rear.

[@gotpride01]

Thanks for the video on this! Needed to figure out the same thing ! It was a great help!

[@elcomandante9299]

Have this exact same model trailer. Gonna do the axle flip. Wish me luck. Great video by the way. 👍

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Good luck and let me know how it goes! Mine is now over 1,000 miles. Thinking about putting on bigger wheels.

[@drbirdleaf2574]

I did the same thing to the same trailer 10 years ago. I still have the trailer. The biggest issues I had was the ramp gate being a bit short with the trailer being higher and the fact that I overloaded it many times causing the tongue to crack as well as the small cross beams where it’s attached so I still had to do a little welding to keep the trailer usable. But by overloaded, I grossly overloaded it several times and it never let me down other than a flat tire once in ten years of abuse.

[@philipbrake5263]

Been doing this same way for years. Yes, welding preferred. The only thing you failed to mention is now you have the extra clearance doesn't mean you can overload the springs. It will be tried bye someone!

[@87espinoza87]

Great video. I’m going to flip my Axel this way.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Awesome, let me know how it goes.

[@phennig2003]

Nice video very helpful. I happen to have a link to all the stuff you used to flip that acts would really appreciate it thank you.

[@JESUSPEREZ-cf5re]

I'm subscribe because you everything good thanks I'm gonna do the same thing with my trailer I got one 5x8 but in mine I wanna put a least 13 o 14 size tires on it because the one's is on it's to small

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Yeah, I need to put bigger tires on. Waiting for a good deal on parts.

[@XLR8RRICK]

The washer under the Nut is a bad mistake.

[@alanshaw4655]

i agree, he should have left the washer out so the plate would sit flush to the axle saddle.

[@TheSateef]

i think all you need is the perch thing and just use the rounded U bolts, don't really need that extra square metal plate.

[@mutuallycodopendent]

This is what I was thinking... I may even do that and then JBWeld it in place.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Doug’s right. Also, remember that welding long term will be better if you can.

[@mr.redneck2715]

What did you save?

[@ninja63639]

I just bought a straight 3500 lb. DK axle for my trailer that's set up for spring under. I need it to be spring over. Since it has no bend in it I'm good to just flip it right?

[@mtwseneca]

Yeah, if it is dead straight- you are good to go. Mike

[@adamsebetich9290]

Going to try this exact thing but in reverse. My camper trailer is SO HIGH and the leaf spring is on top of the axle, I want it to instead be UNDER the axle, so going to see if i can flip what you did to basically your starting point.

[@Nickfv12]

How did this go? Did you have to do what's described in this video? If it's in reverse, is this really necessary?

[@adamsebetich9290]

@@Nickfv12 after more research, I ended up not doing it and instead getting a literal 9 inch hitch that lifts up that high to meet the parallel of the trailer

[@Nickfv12]

@@adamsebetich9290 what was your reasoning for not doing it? I was debating on doing the 10" hitch as well. The cheaper option is flip the axel but the easier option is the hitch

[@adamsebetich9290]

@@Nickfv12 trailer shops near me were going to charge 400$ to do it (200 a side), and a 9”inch hitch was $120, outside of some added weight cuz that hitch is heavy, it works perfectly

[@adamsebetich9290]

@@Nickfv12 Cost 400+ or just 112 with the hitch, decided to go cheaper. Also, i have a bit of a lip to get onto my house driveway, and the height actually helps so the metal doesnt scrap against the ground since i tow with an SUV thats not lifted like a truck

[@foxmulder7616]

Anyone have any opinions on Axle vs timbren axle-less for off-road? Military trailers use axles?

[@jasontheron7655]

man, I been researching those for a few days straight and I just can't make the cost make sense in my head. I want to go with a mid weight Timbren model but they're well over a grand. I just can't justify spending that on my cheap Lowe's Carry on Trailer. maybe on something a bit more beefy.

[@ssingh1234]

What rack are you using? I have a truck rack on mine but I need a rack with straight posts similar to yours. Lmk please and thanks for the great video.

[@rozd618]

Where do you get the new perches?

[@elcomandante9299]

Tractor Supply,Northern Tool,online.

[@codyschwoch5451]

Yeah, and if you just flip the axle, it won’t do just damage on the tire you can actually snap your axle in half that bow in the axle goes up. You’re never supposed to let that bow go down because it’s also have to do with the weight that can be put on the trailer if you put it the way he’s got it in the starting of the video you actually will be able to pull less weight than that trailer is waited because if you pull the same amount as that trailer is waited for the way he had it in the first part it would snap and you’d be stuck in the side of the road because you did it wrong

[@codyschwoch5451]

So the moral of the story is make sure your bow on the is facing the bed of the trailer not the Ground

[@ianzajac1584]

Where did you get them custom bent U-Bolts. I cannot find them anywhere?

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

I got them from a local shop. Searching google I see several places offering to bend u bolts for you to your measurements. For example: www.sdtrucksprings.com/u-bolt-by-measurement-for-leaf-springs. I’m not sponsored by them and have not used so don’t know if they deliver.

[@ianzajac1584]

@@dr.coelacanth6142 I did find U-Bolts that are 9/16 size that are 5 inches so I am going to go that route and redrill holes in the plates to allow the fit. Have you had any issues with the trailer since you did it? I see all the comments of everyone saying it must be welded, but curious if you had an issues since you went that route. I use mine about 5-6 times a year just hauling a 4 wheeler to the woods about 300miles one way for hunting. I had to replace the axle and hubs since all bearings were shot and the spindles got tore up so I decided to go larger tires now too since I was in the process. Those small tires that it came with from Lowes were just too small for as far as I go.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Welding is the best solution. I have had no issues personally with my trailer yet. Longest trip was 800 miles round trip. I’m just about to tune up the trailer for kayak season.

[@lennyh4392]

if you dont weld the new perch it will rotate until it hits the original perch, and if shifts unevenly on both sides you will track down the road wrong possible cause the wobble that can flip ya, leave nothing to chance.

[@warrenmichael918]

If that new perch spins around and touches the original one, he would have had to twist all the U bolts off to allow it to rotate.

[@jasontheron7655]

that's what those short bolts are for. can't rotate through those nuts.

[@joshbrown5938]

Some of you guys be better off letting someone that knows what they are doing work on these trailers

[@walkerfamilyoverlandingpho4826]

So in your knowledge..what amount of camber causes wear??? Weird cause I know of many models that have up to 1. 2 degrees of negative camber. To absolutely no wear effect. And actually better handling on turns...

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

I agree that 1 degree is fine and even desirable for some. Cut from the video was measuring almost 10 degrees of camber when trailer loaded and just using the already welded on seats. The axle bend plus trailer weight works against us in this situation.

[@luigiprovencher8888]

I don't get it. Why would you do this? Was the bow there originally from the manufacturer?

[@jasontheron7655]

it makes perfect sense really. When you add the weight of the trailer and its contents to a straight, low grade axle, it will immediately bow downward under that weight. To equal out the bowing and keep a straight axle while under stress, you should have the bow facing upward.

[@akeembrown3850]

The bow is for more tire contact to ground, and even tire wear. If you were to just turn your axle it would ruin your tires.

[@jamesperkins5468]

Would there be any danger of doing this with straight bolts rather than the custom U bolts?

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

I would worry about twisting. There are custom bolt dealers online where you can custom order easily.

[@williepelzer384]

This is a prime example , what not to do , flipping u- tube geniuses strike again.

[@kendallarnburg-yp5uu]

That fly buzzing around 4:30 made me trip balls won't lie, thought it was in my house buzzing like a mother fucker 😅

[@edrogers9530]

You could just spin axle 180 and rotate the axle 180. And you'd still have your camber

[@col.johnson9938]

eTrailer highly recommends NOT doing an axle drop, please don’t call it a flip, it’s wrong on many levels, on slipper springs. It’s considered very dangerous, so proceed at your own risk. On a side note from the video, nice rack design on the trailer.

[@ChrisEckeard]

Listen to the Col. evangelizing eTrailer as the gospel. And providing the "correct" terminology for us unknowing calling it as an axle flip.

[@user-ut7ke8im9d]

Should've just done a MIG welding video.

[@tylerchew6167]

Welding doesn't cost that much money? Shit dude I'm a mobile weld and the cheapest one where I live and people still complain about what i charge. I laugh when they say they are going to us someone else I charge to much and then they realize everyone else is outrageously priced lol.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Welding is cheaper than it breaking :)

[@LuckyTown77]

The mosquito at 4:19 to 4:29 ish is in the mic, not your ear.

[@williamlongyard5887]

BAD IDEA! You run the risk of the U bolts stretching thus allowing the unwelded perch to rotate, cause a swinging axle, and then precipitate an out-of-control suspension failure. WELDING is the ONLY safe way to flip an axle.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Welding should be the first option (and I say that in the video). The force on the U bolts are the same as any other method whether welding, or using an over under kit. The principle of an over under kit is the plate rests against the welded perch and provides the stability in the same way as an overslung axle. To a first approximation steel breaks with dynamic forces (bouncing suspension) and stretches with static loads. So long as you inspect your trailer occasionally, it should be ok. Do you have any experience with U bolts stretching? The usual issue is torquing the nuts leading to bending threads an imperceptible amount and causing cross threading when removing the nuts. That’s why you don’t reuse U bolts. I’ve never heard of a U bolt stretching enough you could detect it.

[@bill5552]

The "right" way is to weld the brackets in place.

[@dr.coelacanth6142]

Definitely! I say that in the video, too. If they sold over under kits for a 1-3/4” axle, that would also be better than a homemade kit.

[@sean8900]

I can see how this gives more clearance for the body of the trailer but it does nothing for the axel clearance to the ground. That is a boomer

[@elcomandante9299]

Add bigger tires for sum clearance.

[@447Film]

I will say a welder guy only charges me $20 to weld it

[@rodneysherwin4489]

DO IT RIGHT,, W E L D SPRING PERCH TO THE AXLE !! BE SAFE ,, IT,S NOT WORTH AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE R O A D ..

[@hokmed4787]

This is a bad idea when you’re u bolts fall your axle breaks off then it becomes a danger to everyone on the road

[@joshbrown5938]

You have it upside down

[@joshbrown5938]

That is not rt

[@albosarge7282]

The space the washer on your nub creates a little gap and over time it will allow movement which is a recipe for disaster. No one should ever do this unless the trailer will spend it ENTIRE LIFE off road.

[@terencemerritt]

Why not put axle on top of springs? That looks goofy as hell with that much space between tires and fenders lol

[@mutuallycodopendent]

ground clearance. also, this allows you to use larger tires.

[@MichiganSpinnaker]

I don't understand why someone would want "flip" their axle.

[@pauldietrich9199]

You have just created a road hazard..

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

This is a freaking stupid idea. Not safe and a waste of time.