Ok, besides 800#, what difference?

I was looking at a trailer in an ad and have limited info about it. It has 6 lug wheels and 12" brakes. So I tried to do a little research to see if I could determine the rating of the axles. By looking at Champion Trailers, Redneck Trailers and etrailerparts, this is what I've found:


5200# 12"x2" brakes, 6 lug hubs, 3" x 3/16" wall axle tube
6000# 12"x2" brakes, 6 lug hubs, 3" x 3/16" wall axle tube

I found both 5200# and 6000# axles available in a heavy duty version that ups the axle tubes to 3" x 1/4" wall tubing. 6000# was also available with optional 8 lug hubs.

I also looked at 7000# axles... 12"x2" brakes, 8 lug hubs, 3" x 1/4" wall tubes.

So, if 5200# and 6000# axles are constructed the same out of the same materials, what's the difference between them? Is it hubs/bearings used? or is it just the rating that the mfg. rates them at?

So, if 5200# and 6000# axles are constructed the same out of the same materials, what's the difference between them? Is it hubs/bearings used? or is it just the rating that the mfg. rates them at?


If the search worked, I'd tell you to do that. We talked about this a little bit ago.

Differences between the 52 and the 6 are the 52 has a 3/16" wall thickness, and the 6 has 1/4" wall thickness. The 6 also has bigger lug studs.

If the search worked, I'd tell you to do that. We talked about this a little bit ago.

Differences between the 52 and the 6 are the 52 has a 3/16" wall thickness, and the 6 has 1/4" wall thickness. The 6 also has bigger lug studs.
Thanks... if the search worked, I would have.... :flipoff2:

Like mentioned in my above post, I found 52's and 6' with same wall thickness( 3/16" ) but that last part of statement kind of confirms my theory. It's all in the hubs used. Both could be 6 lug an and same pattern, but the 6's would have a larger diameter wheel stud.

What size wheel stud does the 52 use? what size for the 6's?

EDIT: Ok, I went back to the Redneck catalogs and dug through the replacement hubs section. They have several different hubs available in the 6 on 5.5" bolt pattern. Some were rated at 1750 lbs, some at 2600 lbs, some at 3000 lbs and some at 3500 lbs. All of them use a 1/2 diameter stud, but they thing that is different between them is the bearings. Most of the hubs listed above are for the same spindle, but there were a couple models available for a different spindle. Based on this info, I would have to conclude that difference lies in the radial load rating of the bearings used in the hubs.

It's all in the hubs used. Both could be 6 lug an and same pattern, but the 6's would have a larger diameter wheel stud.

What size wheel stud does the 52 use? what size for the 6's?



A 6k axle with 3/16" wall thickness is a light duty 6k axle, AKA, a 52.
A 6k axle with 1/4" wall thickness is a regular duty 6k axle, AKA, well, a 6.

Lugs are the same size on both axles. They are bigger in the knurled section that presses into the hub. I should have been more clear. I'm sorry. Lug size is 1/2". 9/16" available on the 8 lug six, I think. I could be smokin crack. I haven't looked at a Redneck book since I started my new job last week.

If you want to talk to someone that can tell you the definite differences between the two, call Chris at Redneck's Idaho store: 1-208-459-7956

He just gonna tell you pretty much what I just did, but he's the one that deals with axles day in, and day out.ything

Thanks.... I will call him and ask. Also, I ammended my post above. See the EDIT.

Confirmed.... I talked to Chris at the number you listed above and he confirmed that the only difference between the 5200# and 6000# axles is the bearing combination used in the hubs. The heavy duty 5200# and heavy duty 6000# both use the thicker 1/4" wall tubes, but the difference in capacity is still the bearing combo's used in the hubs.

great info guys, does this Redneck place sell brake parts, have a website?. My trailer has 6 lug axles with 12x2 brakes, but the backing plate and parts are like no other electric brakes I have found on the net. I need all the parts for one axle so i can hook all four brakes up, not just two. thanks for any info. I would like to cross reference my bearings to see if they are 5200 or 6k axles too.

Redneck Trailer (http://www.redneck-trailer.com)

Their catalog shows all Dexter axle stuff. If you're brakes are not Dexter (or compatible) stuff, it's likely that they won't be able to help you. Doesn't hurt to ask though.......

Side note: I just went back to the Redneck site to look up the info on the 5200# axle assembly and it's nowhere to be found. It would appear that since yesterday, they updated their site and dropped the 5200# axles from the catalog. At least I saved the old catalog .pdf before the change.

thanks for the link man!

Redneck is a wholesaler. They can get you in touch with the closest distributor though.


I haven't been to the updated site yet, but I can guess that they show a regular duty, and a heavy duty 6K axle now? Instead of the 52 and the 6?

Redneck is a wholesaler. They can get you in touch with the closest distributor though.


I haven't been to the updated site yet, but I can guess that they show a regular duty, and a heavy duty 6K axle now? Instead of the 52 and the 6?
Yes and no.... :flipoff2: :p

The old catalog showed:
a regular duty 5200 that had 3" x 3/16 wall axle tube
a HD 5200 that had 3" x 1/4" wall axle tube
a regular duty 6000 with 3" x 3/16 wall axle tube
a HD 6000 with 3" x 1/4" wall axle tube.

The new catalog shows:
a regular duty 6000 with 3" x 3/16" wall axle tube
a HD 6000 with 3" x 1/4" wall axle tube.

Chris cofirmed to me that the only difference in the weight rating between either the regular duty or HD 5200's and 6000's is the bearing combo used in the hubs. So, technically, you could put the 6000 hubs on the 5200 axle and up it's capacity to 6000. However, the tag on the axle the MAN may look at would still read 5200.

So, if the tag is missing, the only way to tell the 5200 from the 6000 would be to pull hub (actually, just the castle nut and the outer bearing) and see which bearings you have.

Typically where are these "tags" that are used to identify axles? I have yet to crawl under my trailer but plan to in a few weeks. I think I have two 7K axles, or so I was told.

Typically where are these "tags" that are used to identify axles? I have yet to crawl under my trailer but plan to in a few weeks. I think I have two 7K axles, or so I was told.
On my utility trailer there is an aluminum band wrapped around the axle tube that has "Hayes..blah blah blah... 3500#" stamped on it.