Trailer leaf springs
Submitted: Friday, Apr 11, 2003 at 13:42
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geoff
Hi does anyone know of a site were I can learn about setting up leaf springs on my new trailer I am making.Thanks
Geoff
Reply By: Member - Melissa - Friday, Apr 11, 2003 at 13:48
Friday, Apr 11, 2003 at 13:48
Hi Geoff,
Try this group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa_campertrailers
You don't have to be a Sandgroper to join and plenty of experienced members there who should be able to help you out.
:o) Melissa
Petrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper
AnswerID:
17373
Reply By: Tuco69 - Friday, Apr 11, 2003 at 21:28
Friday, Apr 11, 2003 at 21:28
Geoff - without knowing the size or weight of the trailer that you are building it is difficult to recommend
the springs.
That said - you will find that leaf sprung trailers can be made to ride very
well provided you start with LONG leaves. Any spring manufacturer or blacksmith will tell you that short leaves are for carrying load and long leaves are for smooth ride. A classic example of this is with european built trucks with long leaves (benz, MAN, volvo etc) ride corrugation better than many others with shorter leaves.
If you approach any caravan/trailer component supplier you will end up with hard short leaves, and a better approach is to use Landcruiser/Hilux/ Nissan etc - with long leaves. Even if the spring pack is too rigid for your light trailer it is relatively easy to remove some of the bottom shorter leaves to achieve the load/ride compromise. Shackle components for these are also readily available.
Adding a pair of shockies will also help the ride - but be wary of gas shockies, as sometimes they can make it rough again.
I recently removed the ALKO
suspension from our aluminium camper trailer as I was unhappy with the ride. I replaced it with Hilux front leaves (1050mm) and shocks - a great improvement!
Tuco in
Cairns
AnswerID:
17409
Follow Up By: geoff - Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 at 13:24
Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 at 13:24
Thanks Tuco it's a 7x4 trailer when finish should weigh in at about 350kg empty.
The springs I have are 850mm long with 7 leaf and rebound spring.
Geoff
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Tim- Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003 at 02:03
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003 at 02:03
when i buildt my camper i went to
melbourne trailers and gotall the answers i needed to setup
the springs etc
also important is the postion of the axle in relation to the load acounting for the draw bar length but you need to give them a finished weight
have fun cause I did
Tim
AnswerID:
17633
Follow Up By: geoff - Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 at 13:26
Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 at 13:26
Thanks Tim I try to get some info from the 4x4 & camping show when it comes to QLD in June.
Geoff
FollowupID:
11184
Reply By: Allan - Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 07:02
Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 07:02
For that kind of rig I'd recomend an 11 leaf spring put out by King springs on the
Gold Coast. It'll give you a 2 ton capacity which is plenty for a loadedand bouncing camper trailer and these springs are narrower than most and have an awful lot of movement in them whicmakes them soft. Talk to Barry at Trailer world at Springwood, He's No nonsense.
Also after watching my camper jump up and down on rough terrain for the last 8 years and hearing my gear banging around, I'd put a set of Koni shocks on my next one.
Allan
AnswerID:
19033
Follow Up By: geoff - Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 21:14
Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 21:14
Thanks Allan
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