Advice on axle for JK Moabs

[Lacy Hershey]

Ok. I have a homemade trailer that I am trying to turn into an offroad trailer. My tow rig is a '12 JKUR and I am wanting to run the Moabs on the trailer as well. Trailer will be used for light offroading but more highway use. I am planning 5 roadtrips and this is what is going to carry the gear.



The trailer currently has a 4" drop axle. (I believe it is from a 40s model Ford truck.) Also believe this is a 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.



My question is about the axle. I was planning on replacing it with a 3500lb Dexter with the same bolt pattern so I could use the same wheels. I have read that in order to do this spacers will be needed so I was going to buy some Spidertrax spacers.

Is this the best route to go?????

 

[Mel.Specs]

I am running a Dexter 3500# axle with Moabs using 2 1/4" wheel spacers from Adventure Trailers. 2 1/4" is the minimum spacing for the Dexter and Moab wheel combo. I'm not sure Spidertrax makes a 2 1/4" spacer. Talk to Mario or Martyn at Adventure Trailers. They have been very helpful in my trailer build.

 

[Bennyhana]

I ordered a dexter axle with the JK lug pattern but the spacers I ordered did not fit over the dexter hubs. My trailer axle hub diameter is 2 5/8 so I had a machine shop open them up. 2" would be the minimum thickness to run.

Or you can keep your axle and order some adapters to go from 5x4.5 to 5 x 5.

 

[Lacy Hershey]

Thanks for the responses. The size of the spacer is definitely something I needed to know. Thank you very much!

Do either of you have pictures of your trailer with the moabs on it?

 

[Weeds]

I ordered a dexter axle with the JK lug pattern but the spacers I ordered did not fit over the dexter hubs. My trailer axle hub diameter is 2 5/8 so I had a machine shop open them up. 2" would be the minimum thickness to run.

Or you can keep your axle and order some adapters to go from 5x4.5 to 5 x 5.

Can you order an axel the correct width so you do not need spacers for the Moab wheels? I am planning on a new axel because I cannot find seals for my old one.

 

[taz223]

As has already been mentioned, on our trailer axle using Moabs we had to open up the SpiderTrax spacers to make them fit over the bearing/hub on the trailer axle. We did it in-house on the drill press, its not too complicated to do if you have the tools or take it to a machine shop and they can do it.

 

[Bennyhana]

Can you order an axel the correct width so you do not need spacers for the Moab wheels? I am planning on a new axel because I cannot find seals for my old one.

You can order the axle to the correct width but.....The dexter hubs are too big to fit through the hole in the JK MOAB rims. One could have the rims bored out but then that would defeat the purpose of having the Jeep spare work on the trailer unless you bore out all your rims.

 

[Mark Harley]

A straight axle on there would lift it nice behind the jeep.

 

[Lacy Hershey]

is there another option besides Dexter ?

 

[Mark Harley]

Ebay has several sellers that sell make to size and pattern axles.