I am new member to the forum. Can the front axle weight capacity be upgraded or be increased by replacing the axle. Noticed that alot class 8 trucks have a 12,000 pound rating. Thank you.
Good question. I'll be interested to see the answers too. My rig has a 12k front axle. I scaled mine and got 11k on the front wheels. That was with almost full fuel tanks and my fat but sitting at the helm. I thought maybe only having 1k to spare might be bad. But, there really isn't any need because there isn't any way to add more weight up there. There's only one passenger seat up there and my wife is very slender. And I wouldn't think I'd put much in the front storage bins underneath because the rear bins are much bigger. I've seen some huge rigs with monster front tires on them. I think they use some sort of cement mixer front axle or something. I wonder it that would bolt onto where a 12k axle comes off? I bet it would cost a ton.
'03 Freightliner FL112, 295" wheel base, with '03 United Specialties 26' living quarters, single screw, Cat C12 430 h/p 1650 torque, Eaton 10speed , 3.42 rear axle ratio
Posts: 475 | Location: St. Paul, MN | Registered: February 16, 2009
I had mine scaled with totally full fuel and propane. I had no water in the rear-fresh-tank and no load in the garage, both of which would reduce the front-end-load. I scaled at 12,200lbs on the front axle.
I asked the guy that did my alignment and ride height adjustments (a local specialty truck frame shop) and he said that was insignificant. And he agreed that it would not be that way when I added 100gal of fresh water and bike or 2 in the garage hanging out over the rear axles.
He said to make sure your tires are up to the load, then your wheels, then your springs. But within a 5% margin - it really isn’t much to worry about in an RV application.
That’s the conversation that I had for what its worth?
Rad
T2000 Complete (but never finished)
Posts: 75 | Location: MO | Registered: July 31, 2007
....I'M WITH YOU GUYS ON THIS ONE....I CAN NOT SEE WHERE EVEN 50% MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE FRONT END-ONE SEES THAT JUST GOING AROUND A CORNER AT SPEED FROM THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF A TURN AND THE WEIGHT SHIFTING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.....WITH OUT SET UPS I'D THINK IT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE....IF ANYTHING IT MIGHT HAVE SOME SAG IN THE FRONT END-BUT TIME DOES THAT ANYWAY.....geofkaye
Question on Front Axle, is springs or Air the better way to go? And, should I look for a greater capacity axle as part of my search for the perfect, well OK, satisfactory rig?
....AIR IS THE LATEST THING FOR SOME MANUFACTURES TO DO TO MAKE THE RIDE AND HANDLING BETTER....THE DOWN SIDE IS THAT IT IS JUST ANOTHER PART TO FAIL IN THE SYSTEM... I suggest you stay with a springer front end unless the ride issue is paramount to your comfort....having driven an air axle tractor and owning a springer i REALLY CAN NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE... my truck seems to feel the bumps just like the air bags do....maybe if I was more than 23,000# tractor- with a 12,000# trailer[COMBINED TOTAL WEIGHT-35,000# with all the stuff I {could} carry if I wanted to].....but as it is....well ,unless I carry a bunch of fat girlz to a show....[which isn't going to happen] I can not see a big advantage to airbags...others might not agree-but as an extra it is something I can do without....geof kaye and the Rivercity Group[of skinny girls[-['cept me that is!]
It's not just changing out a 12,000lb axle for a larger one-that's the easy part. The complicated part is will the frame take the extra stress-especially with some of the conversions with long wheelbases. Check with your truck manufacturer before you just change the front axle. TomC
