If you’ve ever seen a truck or RV with the side of the trailer off, you may have wondered what they were doing. A quick search online can reveal that this is known as axle flipping. It is common to see axle flipping in trailers, and this begs the question, how much does it cost to flip trailer axles?
The number of axles dramatically affects how much you can flip your trailer’s axle. The average cost of flipping a single-axle trailer is $100. A double-axle trailer would cost around $150 to $295 to flip. Again, flipping a triple-axle trailer would be more expensive; the price is between $300 to $495.
While the number of axles is a significant factor in the price of flipping a trailer, the spring type and hardware are things you should also consider.
Axle flipping, also known as axle rotation, is the process of removing a trailer’s axle from the wheel and reinstalling it 180 degrees to be appropriate for wheel alignment.
This procedure uses a hydraulic jack to raise the trailer while it is on its wheels, then loosens the lug nuts holding the tire and wheel. The lug nuts are removed and rethreaded onto the opposite end of each axle so that they face opposite directions, correcting any misalignment issues with your trailer’s wheels.
Tools and Materials Needed For Trailer Axle Flipping
The simplest way to do this is with a truck-mounted crane that flips your trailer by itself. But you’ll need some tools and supplies if you don’t have access to one of those (or the cash to pay for one). You will need a wheel wrench, an axle wrench (sometimes called an eye spline), a socket set, jack stands, and safety glasses.
On top of that, consider getting wheel chocks, so your trailer doesn’t roll while it’s on its side; they’re also good for keeping it from swinging around as you work on it. A jack stand can work well instead of chocks if you don’t want to buy both things separately.
Once everything is ready for flipping the axles, place them in the correct position on your support beams and slowly lower them down until they’re lying flat on their sides.
Since axle flipping axle has some complexities, you might need instructions and mechanical support to complete the procedure.
How To Flip A Trailer Axle
Removing The Wheels, Disks, and Tires
To remove the wheels from your trailer, you’ll need to use a jack or jacks (if your trailer has multiple axles) to raise it off its axle stands.
After lifting enough that you can access the lug nuts by hand, use a lug wrench to remove them one at a time until they all come loose. If your trailer features four tires and disks on each side of the vehicle, remove all four tires by hand. After removing all four tires/disks from the trailer, lower it back onto its axle stands.
Removing the Axle from the Trailer
When you’re ready to remove the axle from the trailer, it’s vital to know how to remove it from each component. First, you’ll want to disconnect all of the axle’s connections with the trailer. This step will allow you access to the hub and inner workings of your axle housing without worrying about damaging anything else.
Once disconnected, look at how many bolts hold down each part of your axle assembly. You can either use a socket set or wrench as needed for this step.
There are two options when it comes time to remove your new axles: Either jack up one side at a time while keeping pressure on both wheels or jack up both sides simultaneously while keeping pressure off both tires (ideally not flat). If you choose option 2, be sure not to stand too close—an unbalanced load could cause serious injury if dropped accidentally.
Flip the Axle
To flip the axle, you will need a floor jack, dollies, and ramps or blocks of wood. Jack the trailer up by placing the floor jack under one of the tires and squaring it with the other tire. Raise your trailer until you can safely place a jack stand under each axle to support it while you work on it.
Remove axle from chassis by pulling it out and flipping over, so that new face faces up. Replace all bolts into corresponding holes in the opposite order of removal, so they do not become loose while driving down the road afterward.
Installing the Axle on the Trailer
The next step is to install the axle on your trailer. The axle is a set of wheels that act as the hub which holds up your trailer and carries its load. You’ll need to have it installed by an expert, but you need to locate where the axle will go in your trailer before you can do that.
Once you’ve determined the new position of the axle, drill holes through each side of where they’ll be going. They use these holes to attach a plate with four bolts onto each side of this point. It will serve as an anchor point for mounting and securing their bolts when connecting another part later.
While not necessary for all axles, this extra step helps keep everything aligned during installation, so everything fits perfectly into place without needing additional adjustments down the line!
Balancing the Alignment of Your Trailer’s Wheels
When you flip your trailer axles and install new tires, it’s essential to have your wheels balanced. This step will help reduce vibration and make for a smoother ride.
Before flipping your axle, balance the wheels on the side where you want to install them.
After flipping the axle, balance all four wheels evenly weighted and aligned.
Suppose you don’t do this in advance before installing them on your trailer. In that case, one wheel could end up being heavier than another.
Why Flip Your Trailer Axles?
Flipping axles is a simple way to align your trailer wheels. By flipping the axle, you can easily adjust the angle of your trailer’s wheels and restore them to their original position. Many different types of trailers use axles that can be flipped, including car hauling trailers, boat trailers, and utility trailers.
Trailer owners who understand how to flip their axles will find it quick and easy to do so when they need to make a minor adjustment.
Wrapping Up
Flipping your trailer axle will help balance the vehicle’s alignment and ensure it runs smoothly. It’s also great to save money over time by letting you avoid expensive repairs. With this guide, you should know how much it costs to flip trailer axles at home or anywhere else.
