1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

[rick13]

OK, the contact person in the Dexter Axle Engineering Division is awesome. The 3" lift kit is EXACTLY what he described - seriously, it was spot on. Being that I just spent $85 (w/tax and shipping) for a prefab lift kit that was bolt-on, I'm pretty stoked right now. I'd also like to pre-apologize if this is totally a redone thread (someone has already done this), but I'm excited and wanted to post up.

So, the lift kit came by UPS yesterday evening...and I installed it tonight. Seriously, I just couldn't wait.

I've owned this trailer for less than 21 days and it has a lift already - gees what have I turned in to?!?!

Here we go...

Sprayed the axle bracket mounting bolts 3 times over the past 4 days awaiting the lift kit and then one more time just before starting. Getting ready to go:

Took me about 30 minutes just to jack it up and put it on jack stands (you have to go easy and back/forth between sides).

Good Lord there is one bolt behind the axle arm that was a 20 minute doozy, but finally dropped and ready for spacer install:

Shockingly, I had no patience for the other side and took my BFH, laid all my weight on the axle arm, and 2 medium whacks and it was out.

Started to work on the other side:

And after 2.5 hours viola:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Fender height went from 21" to 24". I have plenty of space to go from a 12x4 rim to a 13x4.5 rim and from a 21" tire (with a 5" tread width) to a 23" tire (with a 6.5" width). Should be good to go for next spring when we get all that stuff.

 

[rick13]

Well, she goes on her maiden journey off the beaten path this coming weekend. It's not really "off-roading", but it's an unpaved small mountain pass to a camp spot. It should give me an idea of how my setup should work and help narrow tire type/size for next spring.

I'm excited...

 

[rick13]

Seriously not sure if anyone on here cares , but I'm posting regardless

Got her all hooked up which I'm assuming is a bit more difficult for me than most - my lifted Pathfinder backing up my driveway to hitch up is proving difficult without a taller wheel jack. I have to use a floor jack under the frame to get the tongue high enough for the ball to clear. It scared me at our camp spot when I had less than 1/4 inch to spare on fairly level ground with the wheel jack maxed out (and no floor jack available). I'll have to think about this (or use the "Search" function for other folks solutions). For now I'm just going to chock the wheels and then drop the wheel on a 4x4 piece of wood.

And if you're asking why I keep it in my garage, it's because it fits perfectly popped up to work on. I can even open/shut the garage door just like this!

Here she is ready to go:

So, on the 80 mile drive, my axle/new lift stayed on and provided some nice clearance for unavoidable debris on the trail (which in Colorado this road is actually considered a highway - I kid you not):

Weather didn't cooperate for more photos (its monsoon season right now in the Rockies).

Next trail she goes on will be post new rims/tires and I'll be sure to post up how that goes.

Thanks for anyone still reading this and not just yet.

 

[daveman]

Nice job! Well done

 

[phalynx]

Nice pathy.

 

[rick13]

Nice pathy.

Ha! Thanks. I like your list of vehicles. I run with a group of 3rd Gen 4Runners (moderately modified) and my next rig will be a 4th Gen T4R (V8 most likely to aid in towing).

 

[IndianaOrange]

Excellent posts. It would definitely be nice to get bigger tires on my camper. Then I could do 85 down the highway

 

[DaveWo]

Very nice!

 

[phalynx]

Ha! Thanks. I like your list of vehicles. I run with a group of 3rd Gen 4Runners (moderately modified) and my next rig will be a 4th Gen T4R (V8 most likely to aid in towing).

Ironically, I used to run with a bunch of nissans, also moderately modified, when I was living in CA. Mostly xterras, but also one white pathfinder built similarly to yours. Same generation too.

 

[inthedirt]

Can you provide contact info for where you ordered your kit? My Starcraft also has the torsion lift and I was wanting to order the parts instead of fab them. As it stands now, I have to use an 8in drop hitch on my 4dr Dodge. I had hoped to use my 4dr Geo Tracker to pull the Pup into the back country, but it just doesn't quite have enough mustard for the job............yet.

 

[BigBaron]

Re: 1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

I get notified of new threads and your thread just showed up today. We care. We just didn't see it!
Excellent work! Dexter is awesome, aren't they? (Lippert is just as good, too)
Had to think for a few seconds what a BFH was! I had two when I worked on Porsches. They were actually the first tools I bought from the Snap-On truck!

 

[rick13]

Can you provide contact info for where you ordered your kit? My Starcraft also has the torsion lift and I was wanting to order the parts instead of fab them. As it stands now, I have to use an 8in drop hitch on my 4dr Dodge. I had hoped to use my 4dr Geo Tracker to pull the Pup into the back country, but it just doesn't quite have enough mustard for the job............yet.

No problem, here you go:

Torflex Lift Kit

I was way too concerned with ordering the wrong kit, so I measured my existing bolt/hole locations where the axle mounts to the frame and then called Dexter Axle. I was forwarded multiple times to very nice folks trying to find the right person to talk to, and finally landed in the "Engineering Division" at one of there manufacturing plants I think. This is when a great guy (think his name was Jim) confirmed all measurements for me with kit #9 (the one I thought I needed based on previous research/comparison).

Hope this helps.

 

[BigBaron]

Re: 1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

I opened up eBay and this lift kit was one of my suggestions. Weird. I've never searched for it before!

 

[rick13]

Re: 1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

I opened up eBay and this lift kit was one of my suggestions. Weird. I've never searched for it before!

I used to think it was kind of funny when that happened, but now it happens all the time...and it scares me. "They" know to much...

 

[BigBaron]

Re: 1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

Agreed. One of the evil side effects of having an android phone...

 

[rick13]

I was very worried about the custom order rims/tires I ordered from Rapid City Tire (Iowa) - they looked huge just sitting in my garage. I went from a 12" rim and 21" tire to a 13" rim and a 24" tire. I'm happy to say that they fit perfectly and there is NO WAY I could go bigger without more modifications. I put the axle arms through some paces and I don't think there is a way that the tire could ever contact the wheel well (again, thank goodness).

Here are the pics:

We have only 3 trips planned this summer (plus a transition to a new TV), but I just can't wait to get it out!!!!

 

[tcanthonyii]

Re: 1994 Jayco 1006 - 3" Dexter Axle (Torflex) Lift

Only 3 trips? I've been out 4 times and wish it was more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ZSK]

This thread by itself was enough for me to join the forum. I have a 1991 Jayco 1006 and was searching to do the exact same thing.

Thank you!

 

[rick13]

Ha! That's awesome.

One thing I really should have thought of before going down this road is what to do with the spare tire. I think I was so focused on the wheel well clearance calculations that I totally forgot to look at the spare location.

So, just be aware that my new rim/tire combo made it so I couldn't slide out the rear bed without unmounting the spare. All I did was relocate the spare mounting bracket to a lower position and now have about 1" of clearance and it's working great.

 

[GuardMedic]

Geez. Another project to add to my wishlist. Thanks a lot..... Kidding. Looks awesome and definitely on my winter to do list. Thanks.