Adding axle to a single axle Ramlin

[GeoffW]

I have a single axle Ramlin under a SV211. I've had reservations since the day I purchased the boat and trailer wishing I had a tandem. Last week, I had a tang washer break, axle nut back off and bearing go on vacation. Lucky the spindle didn't suffer any damage.

This has me thinking about adding a second axle. Used trailers are hard to come by up here and new are in the 8-10k range. Two local trailer shops have quoted me around 2,500 to reset the existing axle and mount a new, identical axle, add fenders and a matching wheel package. I don't think this is terrible.

Has anyone added another axle? Experience?

Thanks

[shag]

Hmmm.. I would have to trust that shop pretty heavily to be up top the task of getting everything square. If it is even off a tiny bit you will have problems down the road (no pun intended). I think it would better if you want to beef up something, just have them put a higher rated axle in with new hubs. The 211 isn't a super heavy boat.. Just my .02

[GeoffW]

Hmmm.. I would have to trust that shop pretty heavily to be up top the task of getting everything square. If it is even off a tiny bit you will have problems down the road (no pun intended). I think it would better if you want to beef up something, just have them put a higher rated axle in with new hubs. The 211 isn't a super heavy boat.. Just my .02

I've done some work with this shop and am pretty confident in them. They rebuild trailers of all sizes and have a laser alignment system for axle alignment. So the risk of misalignment is reduced atleast.

Adding a heavier axle wouldn't give me anymore peace of mind and would require almost as much rework to fit by the looks of it.

[SilentSeven]

For me, it would be all about the shop. Personally never heard of this being done but I don't see why any good fab shop couldn't do this. If you think they are honest, the $2500 price seems very reasonable... What do you have to finish for that price? Paint? Do you get brakes on that axle?