Im actually thinking of going “spring under” with my ranger trailer, Ive looked for a idler axle but haven found one the exact length, and wow!- $200+ for a trailer axle, #2000 with just hubs, no brakes or wheels. A guy at work has a 94 shortbed 2wd with bad axle seals, he broke that pin that retains the spiders you have to remove to get the C clips out & remove axles. So were going to swap axles since my trailer axle (which was originally under my ‘94) is also a 3.45 like his. I will just face the pinion yoke backwards so the vent & fill holes will be on the up side and use 303 hydraulic oil instead of 80/90 to hopefully offer less resistance when pulling. If I could get it apart Id pull the pinion completely, Id think most of the resistance is the ring/pinion mesh along with the gear oil. Still need the ring gear to sling oil around & get lube to the axle bearings. It doesnt see much road time, right now the aluminum cap is on it and its storage for chicken supplies.