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Old 05-25-2017, 08:25 AM   #1
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154BH Baja Rim & Tire Size

Greetings,

We bought a 2012 154BH (non-Baja) to downsize and reduce fuel & brake consumption on our tow vehicle - previous trailer was 25' and too much for us.

The 154BH was fine when we lived in the flat Midwest. We had one minor contact between a rear skid & road when pulling out of a campground west of St Louis, MO, and that's it.

In 2014 we began a move to. East TN, with me moving first and living out of the camper for about 7 months. We had a trip to Orlando scheduled in the middle of this. East TN is not as flat as the Midwest, so I installed the Dexter axle flip kit and a Jack-E-Up to remove the tongue jack. There was 6800 miles on the camper when I did the axle flip in mid 2015.

Eight hundred miles later at the end of 2015, I noticed considerable wear on the inside of the tread (overloading symptom). It probably was overloaded or at least at the max, so I downsized everything we took on trips. Replaced the stock 13" load range C Kendalls with load range D Kendalls, but otherwise same size rim & tire.

Since then, we've done about 8000 miles on the 13" load range D tires. I am starting to see the same wear pattern, although not near as bad, on the inside of the tread. I'm still keeping the loading down to reasonable levels, and wonder if this may be in part to the weight being farther up off the axle.

I'm considering going with the approach used by the Baja edition and using a larger rim with a small truck tire - can anyone call out the Baja rim & tire size, to include the bolt circle? I'm going from ST175/80R13 on a 5 bolt 4-1/2" bolt circle. I'd like to go bigger and still fit the hub and wheel opening. Jayco mentions 15" but doesn't go into tire size.

Anybody do this before?
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Old 05-25-2017, 10:41 PM   #2
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I think the 15" tire size for all the 7-foot wide Baja models is the same - LT235/75R15 - Load Range C. Ours came with Milestar Patagonia's.
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Old 09-21-2017, 08:18 AM   #3
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I have the same 2012 154BH. I have the same inside tire wear. This summer I pulled it for 7000 miles and at the half-way mark paid a tire shop to switch the rubber around and wear out the other side for a while. In the past 5 years I've gone through 5 of various 13" tires and I don't think it's the tires.

I checked my camber the other day. Fully loaded for our family of five, the axles sit at a -0.5 camber. (in the air it starts out with a +0.5). I pulled it over the scales to see that my axle was carrying 3100#. That's when I looked more closely at the axle specs. Turns out it's only for 3000 lbs which is confirmed when I see the GAWR sticker on the outside of the trailer 2720 lbs. (which happens to be close to the empty weight of the trailer).

I went to a trailer shop where an older guy had been hanging around Dexter axles for more than 25 years. He adamantly insisted that Dexter did not make a 3000lb axle and definitely never did they use a 3 inch drop. That's when I had to show him the sticker. When he finally called around and stopped calling me a liar, he started to recommend that I upgrade to a standard 3500# axle. It would have to be a 3500 # one with a standard 4 inch drop to clear the frame.

I don't know if this helps you much since I have not done the axle flip like you did. (I merely lengthened my shackles to get a little more clearance). I was just thinking I'd share what I just learned. By the way, I'm using a weight distribution hitch (Andersen). Are you using WDH? That tends to lift the rear axle of the tow vehicle and with some going to the front and some to the trailer.
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:41 AM   #4
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What I Did...

So I haven't done as much testing as I would like, since one of the hurricanes dropped a tree limb on the tow vehicle and now I have to get the windshield, cowl, and FIREWALL replaced.

Anyway, I knew the axle, springs, brakes, rims, etc, was rated for just barely over the dry weight of the trailer, so I replaced it all.

Started with a Dexter 3500# 58/73" straight axle, a pair of 3500# springs, #3500 Dexter brake assemblies, and 14" rims with load range D tires.

First issue, the original axle is an oddball. It does appear to be a Dexter, but the spring center is 59.5". I had planned on over slinging (axle flip) the setup anyway, so a friend was able to weld new seats on the other side of the axle 3/4" in on each side and cut most of the original spring seat out to allow the U bolts around the axle.

Second issue, the original axle is 75.5 hub face to hub face, and the 73" looked like it might put the tires close to rubbing the frame. Turns out, the 10" brakes you buy from e-trailer are about an inch or so wider, and make up for the difference.

Third issue, after assembly, I pretty much need another step to get in now. We towed it 250 miles north for a weekend, and while packing I slipped and my wedding band nearly skinned my ring finger. The ride from this set of tires is a bit rougher at times, I may need to have them balanced. I've not done that on the 13's.

Other notes: I am using a WDH now. I had towed with a 2007 2WD F150, and later a 4WD 2006 F150. Neither really needed a WDH with this trailer. Previously we towed a 25' camper with a fairly heavy Blue Ox hitch. I had a lot of dragging issues after we moved to east TN. In the spring I bought a Tacoma and WDH, the dragging issues went away. After the axle replacement, I have enough clearance to back the trailer up our hilly driveway.

I measured tread depth with a micrometer (sloppy, but it works somewhat) and got something like .3" on the spare (new tread) all across. Tires after 500 miles on the new axle were .3" on the inside, .275" on the outside, meaning they were now wearing on the outside more. The original set of tires lasted over 7600 miles, but I did the axle flip at 6800 and there was minimal wear on them, a thousand miles later and after the flip, I could see cords on the inside. This suggests to me that an axle flip may contribute to camber issues, especially on a drop axle to begin with. I replaced with 13" load range D's, which went for 15000 miles, but as soon as we parked it, one lost all air immediately. They were also worn thru cords on the inside. I think the axle is fine for what it was meant to be, a pop-up axle.

Static 3000# on an axle is one thing, but you're going around corners and whatever is on that axle will want to roll a bit. If it is a pop up, the roll center is low and 3000# feels like 3000# on that axle. If you have 3000# and some of it is twice as far from the axle when you go around corners, it puts 4 times as much load on the springs and axle.

Can someone with a Baja let us know if the Baja has a straight or drop axle?
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:43 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by ttavasc View Post
I think the 15" tire size for all the 7-foot wide Baja models is the same - LT235/75R15 - Load Range C. Ours came with Milestar Patagonia's.
My 22BHM Baja also came with 235/75/15 tires on 15x6 rims. Ours has Trail Guide AP tires.
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:44 AM   #6
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Even when it says 3000 lbs. axle it still can be the 3500 lbs. axle tubing. The brake assembly with bearing spindle and bearing will determine the capacity.
Axle tubing is bend slightly upward. So when doing a flip you also have to move the spring brackets on the tubing. Otherwise you can say hello to your tires........
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:52 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by charles.headlee View Post

Can someone with a Baja let us know if the Baja has a straight or drop axle?
I have a picture of the data tag from the axles on my 22BHM if that will help. Pm me your email and I'll send it to you. I'd post it here but I can't get pictures to post at this time.
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:02 AM   #8
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Here is the axle tag from my 195RB Baja:
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IMG_20170211_142725.jpg  
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:22 AM   #9
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Straight vs Drop Axle

I don't know if the tag is indicating drop axle or not. It could be in that mine says "HF=75.5 SC = 59.5 D30". This might mean a 3" drop. Yours pictured says D35, which could mean a 3.5" drop. One way to confirm is to look at the axle and see if the tube goes straight into the backing plate of the brake, or if it makes a 90 degree angle up for 3 or so inches.
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:28 AM   #10
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Let's see if this shot helps - looks like the axle tube goes straight into the backing plate:
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:59 AM   #11
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Interesting...

So the Baja is straight+flipped.

Old drop / new straight axle / ride height pics attached.

I still need to get a bump stop in there.
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IMG_20170921_125141.jpg   IMG_20170921_125022.jpg   IMG_20170921_124952.jpg  
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