how to determine if axle is a keeper?

[cphines]

How do I go about figuring out if the axle on my utility trailer is a better axle than a regular 3500lb idler axle? It is a very large diameter MH idler axle. Currently it has the MH wheels and tires. I would quite possibly be interested in rebuilding the axle with new hubs and 5 lug wheels if it's worth keeping, but I don't really want to spend more than $125ish on rebuilding the axle prior to new wheels and tires. I have been told it's probably a 7000lb axle, but that was through a phone call to a local merchant.

[SmokeyWren]

Mobile home axles are not worth rebuilding. They are built to last only a few hundred miles. You would have to replace everything on both ends of the axle, and they may be a diameter that only mobile home axle components would fit.

Better to buy new axles. A 3,500 pound straight trailer axle with idler hubs is only $104.95 per axle, plus freight.

Installing new axles without brakes is not a good idea, when the ones with electric brakes are not that expensive. A 3,500 pound straight trailer axle with electric brakes: $256.95 per axle, plus freight.

Determine the width of the axle you need (measure mounting face to mounting face) and order new ones at the prices noted above from SouthWestWheel's trailer supply store at:
Trailer Axles for utility and boat trailers

And while you're deaming, consider upgrading the axle(s) (and wheels and tires) to handle 5,000 pounds instead of only 3,500. Everything you need is available at trailerpart.com

[fordsforever73]

I don't understand why you would want a 3500 lb axle without brakes (idler), when it's mandatory to have brakes on a trailer with anything over 2000 lb's. At least, that's the law here.

[cphines]

The trailer is a 5x10 fairly heavy duty custom trailer that was in the back yard of an elderly couple's newly aquired home. They had no need for the trailer due to it being too stiff and heavy for their needs. Honestly, I don't need a 3500lb axle, or anything that heavy duty, but why would I not make it stronger than needed? It is mostly used for transporting round bales of hay and family toys (atvs, go carts, bikes). But you never know what may be put on there for a haul. I am in the process of replacing the flooring with 2x10x10 pressure treated lumber and galvanized hardware at the same time I'm going to sand the trailer and respray it, changing the lights to leds, adding tie down spots, putting a hand crank winch on, and putting a lockable tool box on the front tongue of the trailer (or just thought of, maybe welding in a custom lock box to set flush in the tongue area...hmmm) and getting rid of the MH wheels for normal wheels. It has a removable square tube top that fits into the main rails of the trailer that I hope to customize with some sort of quick disconnect system to where one person can take the top off without danger of injury. It's a project that was very inexpensive to tinker with. Hope that answers all your questions.