trailer trailing arm suspension
Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 20:26
ThreadID:
53285
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Dave731
Hi,
Currently in the progress of desgining and (very) shortly building a camper trailer.
Going down this path due to some specific requirements we have for gear that is going to be carried in it along with all the regular equipment.
Currently looking at fitting it with independant trailing arm
suspension and wouldnt mind some suggestions.
Can anyone who has used any of the commercially available options provide coment as to the performance of what they have had fitted?
Has anoyone had success designing and building their own from scratch?
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Dave
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 12:42
Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 12:42
Our Campomatic has a trailing arm coil and shock setup - been trouble free. Seems most advanced ($$$) trailers and some caravans use this setup (Trakmaster sell a lot of their "sugar-glider" TA coil,and shock setup). Chief benefits as I know them are improved central ground clearance and the independent factor breaks up "harmonics" in the overall trailer as it rattles along rough roads (especially corrugations). Not sure if Campo made their own or bought the
suspension in as a unit (
mine was pre the Trakshak buyout) - there are various makers of "bolt on " systems. Anyone with high quality welding skills and equipment (plus metal cutting gear) could make one I suppose - ours looks rather simple in design - there is an eccentric bolt in the mix one side for correction of alignment. There must be a restraint mechanism of some sort to hold the
suspension together (ours is a webbing sling type) should a shocker go free - otherwise the spring will jump out and the whole lot collapses (uncommon, but has happened to some users).
AnswerID:
280750
Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 20:02
Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 20:02
Supreme Getaway caravans utilise the "Sugar Glider"
suspension as
well and I have been nothing but impressed with
mine. I have done so many k's on
mine that the front bushes flogged out and the whole swing arm could move at least an inch from side to side. Go around a corner and you would be waiting for the van to come around the corner behind you with a clunk as it locked fully to one side of the swing arm, very unnerving when two and a half tonnes is doing this at 90kph. Replaced front bushes and all is good for another 200 odd thousand k's.
Would definatly reccomend and use again.
Cheers, Trevor.
FollowupID:
545159
Reply By: Dave731 - Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 at 20:40
Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 at 20:40
Hello All,
Thanks for all the responses! Sorry I havent come back to the
forum but have been off interstate working.
Have come across most of what has been suggested and have rulled them out for a few reasons...
Sugar Glider
suspension runs out to $2400 with their hubs and brakes, The Gaffa
Suspension uses some odd imported shocker that seems difficult to replace and the Vehicle Components trailing arm
suspension (coils) only has 30mm of travel! (YES - 3 0 mm of travel!!)
Louie the offer of the CAD drawings is much appreciated - I have software that will let me open autocad files.
Bob Y - any images of what you have built would also be helpful
My email address is davedavezz@yahoo.com.au
Unfortunately unless I find another solution it seems the trailer may end up with leaf springs.....
Thanks again
Dave
AnswerID:
282140