Wanderlust
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 3-13-2007
Location: Todos Santos
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New Dexter RV Axle in Baja?
We're down in Todos Santos, halfway between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. On a little washboard road the wheel fell off our tiny Casita travel trailer,
leaving us stranded at a gorgeous beach with a bar and an internet connection.
We're making the best of this hard  time, but I'm going to need to get the
thing fixed pretty soon. Does anyone here know of a good source for such a thing as a Dexter Torflex axle, either used or new? Either La Paz or Cabo
will work fine. I have the number of a place or two in Cabo, courtesy of the Internet. What I'm looking for is someone with personal experience who
can steer me to the "right" people to get me back on the road again.
Thanks in advance,
Clem
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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First, ask at least two good welders in town if they can fix it.
Second, try to find something in a junk-yard that will fit to get you home.
Third, ask a friend to join you in your misery and bring one down from the US.
We lost an axle a few years ago and were lucky enough to stop near one of the most creative welder/mechanics I ever met. Two hours and $40.
Good luck !
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Diver is correct, what actually is wrong with the axle, is the spindle, hub, axle, I'm sure it can be welded, or a new spindle welded on.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Keri
Super Nomad
Posts: 1393
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
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Mood: muy contento
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We lost an axel on a boat trailer
near Gro Negro. They welded it and had us on the road the next morning.Would have been sooner but the electricity went off at 10 pm until 6 am so he
couldn't finish the job til then. Don'tcha just love it,k
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
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Mood: Adventurous
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If you can't get it welded, and if you don't have someone in the states to be your personal delivery person, you can always try to order the part on
the internet, have it shipped to someone in the San Diego, have them go to the bus depot in TJ and put it on the bus to you. Not the cleanest or
fastest way, but it works.
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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Salsa
Nomad
Posts: 174
Registered: 2-4-2003
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A Dexter Torflex axle is not your ordinary trailer axle. It has a stub that goes into a rubber filled tube that acts as a spring. Welding the stub to
the tube renders it a rigid axle (an option, but not too good).
You probably will have to get one shipped to make it work properly.
"leaving us stranded at a gorgeous beach with a bar and an internet connection."
So why are you trying to get it fixed????????????
Don
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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After looking at the spec's on the Dexter system, It looks as if the torsion arm could be welded, or a new spindle welded on but the torsion bar(axle)
if broken inside you would have to have a new one. But Mexicans can make anything work, they might be able to pull the torsion bar out and weld it.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Wanderlust
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 3-13-2007
Location: Todos Santos
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Thanks! It looks like the best option is to have another axle sent down and have a local guy weld it on.
The local master welder (distinct from all the other rod-burners in town) came out this morning and wasn't satisfied that his fix would be strong
enough. The actual spindle is broken, and the weld would a) ruin the temper of the metal and b) need machining afterward for the bearing to fit.
I'm working to find the exact part number of the axle that I need, then I'll have it sent down.
In the meantime, the beer is cold and the sun is warm! Who knows, this could take many months to fix... 
Again, thanks for the advice.
Clem
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Hey Clem...Coming into Todos Santos from south turn right at Baraja Tacos to Mid block on right is a great welder. Just walk into welding yard and
yell Manuel...sure to fix you right up.
AND let me know if you need someone to come and suffer on the beach at Cerrietos Bar. Could be there in 30 minutes...boy am I thirsty
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Wanderlust
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 3-13-2007
Location: Todos Santos
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Thanks for the clue!
I've arranged for a new replacement axle to be sent down. It's a better-than-original one, and should be ready to stick on the trailer. The trend
now is to bolt the axle onto the frame, so I might not even need any welding. We'll see when it gets here.
Al, if you're around the Cerritos Bar that's where we are stuck. Drop in and say hola. We're the ones with the camper jacked up on rocks and sticks
out in front.
We might be off doing a bit of sight-seeing over the next couple of days, though. I hear there are some whales around here that want some attention.
Cheers,
Clem
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