How hard to swap a rear axle?

[gavin]

I had to give myself 2 days, 'cause I was doing it alone, and that darn axle is heavy! My pregnant wife wasn't much help, but she's all I had. Really it was probably more like 2 half days.

yes... it is heavy. especially when you're trying to remove/replace without disconnecting the leafs! I did it myself too, but I was persistent, and got it done in an afternoon.

as for bleeding the brakes... as rizzjc said works, but his way is most definately easier with a 2nd person.
there are also suction guns (for lack of a better word I can think of right now) that are made for doing this job solo. I'll see if I can find a link.

edit:
this is exactly what I have used in the past for bleeding my brakes
http://www.toolsource.com/brake-bleeding-06820-p-65745.html?osCsid=bfpt3b81l7vilgjef3tn0sabj4

edit2: never looked in to it before, but this is interesting
http://www.brakeandclutchbleeder.com/brake_fluid_test.htm