Hello all, It's my first post on Yotatech!

I just purchased a trailer made from the back half of a 1986 2WD truck. I would like to convert/swap the axle to accept rims with a 6 lug on 5.5 spacing. This would allow the truck & trailer wheels to swap out.

So far it seems that I need to either swap with a 4wd axle, or use a lug adapter. All the searching I've found states that the 2wd axle and parts are completely different from their 4wd variants.

I might be able to find a 4wd axle in the local yards - but I'm worried that it would provide more lift than I want. 1 to 2" would be great, but I've seen posts that the spring over config adds more like 4", versus the 2wd under slung springs. If I do find a 4wd axle, would I also need to grab the 4wd springs?

On the adapters, I'm concerned about their use in towing. I don't plan on taking the trailer off road, but I also don't want a wheel coming off on the road.

Thanks all.

 

I know what I would do .

Get rid of that axle get a trailer axle that has hubs that use the 6 on 5.5 " bolt pattern

Since it is the backing plates that hold the axle the bearing carries the load .

If you don`t want to get another axle I would do what was needed to adapt that housing to the six lug axle shaft

Not having a 2wd rear housing near by I can`t see just what it would take

Looking at Napa Prolink it seems in 87 the 5 lug and 6 lug vehicles used the same wheel bearing .

Which tells me the housing are the same size so you should be able to just swap the axles.

You only need a few inches past the bearing .

The differential has been removed ??

 

I don't think it is possible to use a single bearing type rear end for a trailer axle unless the whole axles are used and held in the differential carrier side gears.

It would be possible to remove the ring and pinion and seal the third member up, but the differential carrier would have to remain.

If the axles were cut off, there would nothing to keep the wheel oriented perpendicular to the axle housing. The single row outside bearing would just let the wheel cock.

Of course, if we were talking about a full floating rear end, it could be done, but thats not what the Toyota rear ends that are in question are.

A real trailer axle with 6 lug hubs is the way to go.

 

I agree the best way is a trailer axle. Some 2wd differentials were 8 inch, but I remember looking into it, and I believe the shafts were slightly different lengths. I will try to find the web site link and post it. Maybe the different lengths can still work, especially in a trailer? I have used a Marlin Crawler bearing kit originally purchased for a 4x4 in a 2wd rear axle, so the bearings are the same.

You can make a smaller shackle which will lower the trailer if you swap in a 4x4 axle, but I doubt you can lower it 4 inches. I am pretty sure the springs will bolt to a 4x4 axle, but I am not 100% on that. I know people put the rear springs up front for lift, so maybe you can put front springs from a straight axle truck in the rear to lower it.

 

Here is some good axle information:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...estion-230241/

It looks like the 4x4 axle is 2 inches wider, so the shaft is possibly only 1 inch? Maybe it could be cut down, especially just for a trailer?

 

I don't know what I'm talking about, but my first thought was that a 2wd 6 lug axle was what they used on 1ton Toy pickups and campers Is that wrong?

 

Not totally, a 2WD 6 lug axle was used on tacoma pre runners.

A dedicated 6x5.5 trailer axle is the best bet

 

The full floater dually axle on some 1 tons and campers are 6 lug, but it is not the same bolt pattern as the 4x4 6 lug. It is a very wide pattern, 6x7.25 or something like that.

 

Thanks for clarifying, guys.

Yes i recommend a good long Google search for used trailer axle.