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Ok........no fat wife jokes please!

Seriously, is a complete rear (front or back), with differential, brakes and hubs installed a 2-man lift? How about 2 old guys?

thanks,
bob

I can lift a stripped axle housing into the back of a 4x4 pickup truck box without too much trouble. But a fully assembled axle, especially a front with the knuckles and tracta joints, is at least a two person job. Two old guys (like me) might be able to lift one end. Or better yet, use a hoist, engine cherry picker, front end loader, or forklift.

I made up a simple wooden axle caddy with some casters to roll an axle housing around my shop while I disassemble, repair, or assemble it. The center beam is offset so that the axle can be loaded from or onto jackstands. It has a post to hold the differential at about the same angle as when the axle is bolted to the springs, but also allows it to be rotated to work on the axle. This is about the best photo I have at the moment.

Hi Elwood,

Love the caddy so much I'm going to make one too! If you do find any more pics please post!!

thanks,
bob

I'll take some more photos next time I'm over at my workshop. I can get you some measurements if those would be helpful. As I remember, there was one distance between the uprights that would allow the caddy to be used for both front and rear axles.

Elwood.......thanks! Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

bob

The third member alone is 75 lbs or better, and the axle shafts are another 40 lbs. brake drum with hub is easily 30 lbs per side. Then you have brake shoes, bearings, and of course the axle housing itself. 2 guys might lift one end, but it won't be fun

Bob,
The 3rd member in a fitted box is 129# on a Fed Ex scale . What a pain lugging that thing around!

I don't like to think what the axle assembly weighs. I'd find at least 3 people because if you drop that sucker it's going to leave a mark.

Andy

I knew there was a reason that I let my big friend carry the 3rd member while I held the door for him!

Yup....you guys were right......I picked up a complete front and rear axle assembly (lug nut to lug nut) and they were HEAVY! We used a cherry picker to load them in my truck and I used my tractor/loader to get 'em out. You would NOT want to drop one on your foot........that's for sure. I got the parts from a guy on here who doesn't spend a lot of time here anymore. But Andy....if you see this.........thanks for the parts!

regards,
bob

w30bob wrote:Elwood.......thanks! Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

bob

Bob, sorry to take so long to get back to you - winter has finally broken enough to get outside again.

Here's some photos of the axle caddy I made from some scrap wood lying around the shop. Some 2x6s, four casters, screws, and some Titebond waterproof wood glue. It's pretty simple, but it allows me to move the fully assembled axle around, and to disassemble and reassemble it.







The dimensions are:

- Distance between inside faces of uprights = 36"
- Width of end cross pieces = 14" (I'd make these a bit wider for more stability, but when I built this one, I wanted something that required a minimum of floor space)
- Floor to top of uprights = 21" (this distance was as short as possible to keep the center of gravity low, but still allow the axle to be above my 10-ton jackstands if I needed to transfer the axle between the caddy and the stands)
- The differential support leg is 16" from the floor to the top, which is beveled 1/4" to match the underside of the third member (this is needed to keep the axle from rotating in the caddy when the third member is installed)

The long 2x6 center piece is offset from under the center axis of the axle to allow for jackstands to be placed under the axle when transferring to and from the caddy.

The spacing of the uprights allows for the caddy to be used on either the front or rear axle.

The top ends of the uprights have a half circle cut out of the wood with a thin blade sabre saw (sorry, it's hard to see the cut outs with those red shop rags in the way). I found a can lying around with the same diameter as the axle tube to make a pattern line on the wood.

The caddy will handle a fully assembled front axle (although I haven't tested it with the rims and tires installed). I might replace the casters with some heavier capacity ones, and ones with softer rubber tires.

Elwood,

Thanks much..........that's a great dolly. I'm going to build myself one (or 2) this weekend, if I get the time.

regards,
bob

Thanks, Bob.

When I change out the casters, I'll probably go with swivel casters on all four corners. It will be harder to drag it in a straight line, but much easier to push it into a corner. With a stripped axle housing like in the photos, it's easy enough to lift the end with the fixed casters, but with an assembled axle, there's no lifting it.

I didn't have time when I built this one, but I'd also want to paint it, especially the half moon cutouts. Axles tend to be greasy.