[Mark Ruset]

In my opionion based on first hand experience, I lost a wheel bearing on a 3500 lb. axle. The bare minimum axle size should be 5000 lb. I f you decide to go with the smaller axles just realize you will need to replace your wheel bearings one a year just as a precaution. My current trailer has 5000 lb axles and in the past 6 years I have had no axle or wheel bearing problems, however I'm on my third set of tires.