What is the Average Life Expectancy of a Trailer Axle?
We recommend 3-5 years for replacing your axle. When building or purchasing your trailer, it’s normal to wonder about the life expectancy of each part. This is especially true of trailer axles, which can range greatly in price based on what you need. While there isn’t an easy way to determine how long your trailer axle will last, there are several questions you should consider to get the most life out of this critical component.
How will the Weather Impact the Life Expectancy of My Trailer Axle?
Most haulers agree that the Rustbelt, or the Midwest, encourages more wear and tear on your trailer than other regions. Thanks to months of bitter cold and snow, rust and corrosion can greatly limit the number of years you get out of your trailer axle if it’s not properly stored. Roads in this climate tend to take a beating from the extreme temperature variations, making them unfriendly to the trailers hauling heavy loads across them.
While the heat in the Southwestern and Western regions of the country seems ideal for extending the life of your trailer parts, the extreme heat these areas face come with its own challenges. In especially dry heat, spring trailer axles can develop cracks and even dry out the flexible rubber seal if not properly greased and maintained.
At the same time, you must also prevent moisture buildup on your axles, which may be difficult in the humid climate of the Southeast. The effectiveness of lubricating axles can be negated if too much moisture starts to accumulate, causing other dirt and debris to cake on them as well.
Do Axles Wear Differently Based on Trailer Type?
The life expectancy of your axles can also vary based on the type of trailer you use. For example, open trailers tend to have a shorter life span than enclosed trailers, so your axles are likely to wear faster if your trailer is open.
Naturally, your trailer’s haul capacity plays a large role in how much wear you will put on your axles. This is also why you need to be careful in selecting the correct spring axles to support the capacity your trailer can hold. Larger hauls will place more wear on your axles over time.
As for the axles themselves, you’ll find that torsion axles can wear better than spring axles because they require less maintenance. However, when torsion axles fail, they can be costly to replace. Spring trailer axles have more parts to maintain, but they have durable wear and less expensive components to repair.
How Does Trailer Use Impact the Life of My Trailer Axle?
Hauling across dirt roads, through sand, or on cracked and broken pavement puts more wear on your trailer axles than driving on smooth roads. If your work will take you across aggressive terrain, it’s wise to factor this into your budget for repairs and axle replacements.
We mentioned that larger capacity trailers wear faster than smaller ones, but that wear can be accelerated by how frequently you’re hauling. Daily use will lead to faster wear while hauling sporadically can help you get more bang for your buck when it comes to your axles.
Other Frequently Asked Questions about Life Expectancy of Trailer Axles
How Does Distance Impact the Life of My Trailer?
As with frequent hauls, taking your trailer across long distances will impact how much life you get out of it. Traveling hundreds of miles on a regular basis can shed years off your trailer’s life and call for more frequent axle replacements during that time.
Is it Pre-Owned?
When planning to purchase a used trailer, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Unless you’re certain that replacements or repairs have been made, plan to replace your axles within the first year of your purchase. Doing so will potentially prevent you from losing revenue during unexpected downtime.
The Verdict? BlueSwift Axles Has You Covered
While there are no guarantees when it comes to the life expectancy of any part, we recommend changing your trailer axles every 3-5 years based on your usage. You should also have your axles inspected annually to ensure they’re wearing properly and to get the most life out of them.
Keep in mind that the life expectancy of your axles all starts with the quality of the brand you purchase. If you want superior spring or torsion trailer axles designed with the American hauler in mind, BlueSwift Axels has the selection and customer service you need to get on the road.