Is my Dexter Axle still adequate or is it something else?

[coralcruze]

owner of 2005 Trailmanor 2720

There are alot of threads I have been reading here about people having issues with Trailmanor and blow outs. As many of you owners out there have realized that the original ST215/75R14 load C tires are hardly adequate for this trailer. So like you I switched to load D which if memory serves me right are just lightly wider tires. However the diameter of the tires are the same at 27.1" or so. what changes is the load rating is increased to 1870 and far less blow out issues.

However, years after we made this change we are seeing another issue. The tire on drivers side is coming into contact with the top of the fender well. As you can see in the pictures attached below the tire put a big hole in the belly of the fender well and also came in contact at the bottom of the fender well where it meets the floor of the trailer. Which leady to my question... is there any issue with the Dexter axle? Or is there a design flaw by Trailmanor in use of this axle? (more on that below). Or is there an issue with the tire itself that caused this?

is there any issue with the Dexter axle?
So started by calling Dexter who looked at the pictures below comparing the left and right sides of the axle. According to Dexter there seems to be nothing which indicates any issues with the axle itself. the position of the spindle (breaks removed - so unloaded condition - Trailmanor up on scissor jacks) which indicates no issue. if there was an issue on the spindles would be in a different position as compared to the other side. that isn't the case (see pics). Also the space above the tires is about 1.5" to the underside of the fender well and that is pretty much the same on both sides.

is there a design flaw by Trailmanor in use of this axle?
Information I gathered, back in 2007 Trailmanor discontinued the use of the 22.5 degree down angle torsion axle (which is about horizontal or about 5 degrees down from horizontal) and went to 45 degree down angle torsion axle (which is about 25-30 degree down from horizontal). Obviously they realized that the tires are coming too close to the under side of the fender wells. More clearance was necessary. hence the use of greater down angle. Dexter also mentioned to me that there must be 3" of clearance between the top of the tire treads and the underside of the fender well. for me in my 2005 TM it was never even close to being 3" clear (loaded). its always been around 1.5" loaded. I got my towing vehicle and trailmanor weighed and I can confirm that I am not overloaded. not even close. weight on each tire on the trailer is about 1770lbs loaded so that puts me at #3540 lbs. if I remember correctly. lastly Dexter sent me a template to align with my Torflex arm of the 3500# Dexter Axle. As you can see from the pictures below the positions of both spindles on left and right sides of the TM is roughly the same on both sides. which again indicates to Dexter that the axle is still viable and not showing any issue. So what could be causing this?

is there an issue with the tire itself that caused this?
I don't think there was. At least not befor the tires came in contact with the fender well. the contact obviously cased alot of heat and friction melting the fender well and swelling the treads of the tire. Thankfully it didn't cause a blow out.

So I tend to think that this Issue comes down to a design flaw of the proper axle being used on the TM pre 2007. the use of the 45 degree down angle from what I am reading did provide the 3" clearance needed between the tires and the fender wells. What do you all think? perhaps its something else causing this issue that I overlooked? Rough patch of road? I don't go off road perhaps some rough campgrounds which we coast very slowly anyway. so I just don't see anything else it could be.

I would love to get a consensus from the experts on this. At this point I am leaning towards having to install a lift kit which ironically Trailmanor supplies to get extra clearance rather than change out the axle to the 45 degree down axle by dexter to gain clearance.