Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 14:40
Remember one thing.
Most comparisons are with leaf spring systems that could be at best considered crude.
IF the leaf spring system is bassed on trailer industry springs and components , they will invariably be short leaves, fixed to a straight beam with no particular attention made to the attitude of the spring, its ability to travel or even its spring rate. The shockabsorbers will not be designed to compliment the behaviour of the spring and mostly that are mounted as an afterthaught at a disadvantageous angle.
In addition the spring packs from the trailer industry are crude in every way, there is no attention to progression of the spring rate as the
suspension compresses.
Even the bushings and shackles look weak and crude beside a similar rating spring pack removed from a motor vehicle.
BY far the majority of the problems of leaf springs on trailers is not due to them being leaf springs, but due to the
suspension being cheap and crude in every way.
I find it commical that "serious 4wders" have an incredibly strong preference to beam axles and leaf springs in their tow vehicles, but will cough up lots of extra money for an independent
suspension that some one fabbed up in their back shed or was migged together on the floor of some third world country.
IF comparisons where made against a
suspension built in a manner similar to that found under the rear of a good quaity 4wd.....I think the comparisons would be different.
When I say installed in a similar manner
Selecting a spring pack from a vehicle with similar rear axle loadings to the trailer in question.
Mounting
the springs with similar of not identical hardware that it would have been mounted with in the vehicle of origin.
Mounting that spring pack in the correct attitude and in a way that allows it to travel sufficiently......( remember most 4wd leaf spring packs travel past being straight before they hit the bump stops).
OH did I mention, bump stops.....some of them would be good.....most leaf spring trailers have none.
Fitting shockabsorbers that are designed to work with that spring pack...and mounting them near to upright in a similar manner to the vehicle that would have come from.
Then you have a chance of a leaf spring system that performs better than an iron age dray.
Lifting a complete leaf
suspension from an existing vehicle gives you many advantges.
Starting with the design input from a large multi-national motor company.
The ability to obtain spares easily
The choice of any variety of high quality
suspension upgrade options.
But trrailer manufacturers will make a hell of a lot more money selling you independent
suspension...and mostly crude independndent
suspension at that.
If course the question to ask about any independent
suspension is.
Where do I get spare parts from WHEN it breaks..
If ya trailer runs hilux or landcruser springs.....on factory hardware.....hell there are spares for that in just about every shed and padock in the bush.
cheers
AnswerID:
542675
Follow Up By: disco driver - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:15
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:15
In WA, at least, there are restrictions on spring length that prevent using ex vehicle springs on trailers/caravans.
I have no requirement for putting long springs on my van, it was built back in the days when a bit of care and design work went into constructing things.
Consequently it travels smoothly on any surface that I drive over.
Disco.
FollowupID:
829142
Follow Up By: KSV - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:31
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:31
Hi Disco,
So you have solid axle with spring over it setup - is it correct?
FollowupID:
829143
Follow Up By: disco driver - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:52
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 15:52
KSV,
Short answer is "Yes"
A bit more detail:
The springs are attached to the van chassis at the front end as is common, the rear of
the springs are bushed and use spring hangers to attach to the van (exactly like the back of the rear springs on a Cruiser ute).
The difference is that there are shock absorbers attached to the rear of the spring and a point to the rear on the chassis.
The van is a 1982 Viscount Grand Tourer with their chassis design.
Works
well on most surfaces.
Disco.
FollowupID:
829144
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 16:26
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 16:26
Restrictions on spring length???
What? how? why?
cheers
FollowupID:
829150
Follow Up By: KSV - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 16:30
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 16:30
"The Bantam posted:
Restrictions on spring length???
What? how? why?
cheers"
You would be surprise how stupid some laws in WA. For example they have most ridiculously restrictive firearm laws, so I would not be surprised if they have similar idiotic rules related to cars. And we saying that Victoria is
police state
FollowupID:
829152
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 17:04
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 17:04
And there was me thinking we had standardised trailer regulations.
cheers
FollowupID:
829156
Follow Up By: KSV - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 17:22
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 17:22
Standardized trailer regulation? Coma on! We do not have standardized car and firearm regulation!
FollowupID:
829158
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 19:05
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 19:05
serioulsy if you have chapter and verse on this one I'd be interested.
cheers
FollowupID:
829171
Follow Up By: disco driver - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 19:10
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 19:10
Bantam,
Since you have challenged my information YOU do the search and prove me wrong.
If I can be proved wrong by you I will publish on this
forum the following statement.
Bantam Knows Everything
but then everyone knows that don't they?
FollowupID:
829172
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 23:59
Sunday, Dec 07, 2014 at 23:59
I am not chalenging your information. I am just interested in a manifest foolishness of the regulation....but if that is the way you want it.
Now.
The " Bantam Knows Everything"
will that be posted in this thread or as a thread of its own.
Believe me I may not know everything...but I'm pretty good at finding stuff out.
cheers
FollowupID:
829189