Check your leaf spring shackles!

[jamilbk]

Just went through a pretty rough stretch of the Alaska highway northbound between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek, YT.

Stopped for fuel, and found this:



I'm lucky the axle didn't rip off! Apparently it's a common problem up here. I suggest to anyone with a decently heavy trailer with OEM suspension -- upgrade your spring shackles! Or for that matter, upgrade your suspension in general! All it takes is one pot hole to break something and potentially cause a fatal accident.

Trailer specs:

Total weight: 13,000 lbs
Weight on axles: 11,500 lbs
Axles: Tandem Dexter 7,000 lb
Miles on trailer: ~ 20k

Larger picture of the trailer (yes, it's a "tiny house"):



Currently getting a new set of shackles installed in Beaver Creek, YT and have a Dexter EZ-Flex kit on order. Anyone have recommendations for a suspension shop in Fairbanks?

[BarabooBob]

I replaced a worn out torque style axle with a Dexter torque-flex axle on a fiberglass trailer about 15 years ago. The rubber bushing still move when I jump in the trailer. That said, the shop where I bought the axle said that the life expectancy is 10 years for the rubber parts. There is a company that makes axles with replaceable bushings.

[beemerphile1]

In reference to the rubber torsion suspension; the rubber deteriorates and they do wear out. Check the life of your particular unit, they do wear out.

[westend]

I have the original torsion axles in my '71 Starcraft. With shock absorbers, also, it rides like a caboose back there.

Sprung axles are able to handle more severe roads and a sprung axle will absorb larger shock forces better. The torsion axles excel in a steady rate of deflection but that may result in added tire wear across some road surfaces. Sprung axles are typically used for higher weight trailers.

The shop hands in Fairbanks are going to love that big old tiny house. How high is that roof line? I'd bet anyone that works on it is going to be on the ground, outside.

[Rbertalotto]

Nearly all horse trailers are now torsion axle. They give a much superior ride and this is much better for the horses legs. Set up properly there is zero issues as described above.

[Lynnmor]

dodge guy wrote:


Except that the torsion suspension offers no suspension travel. And if you aren’t perfectly level you will overload one of the axles. I had those axles on my first trailer and the trailer hit every bump with a jolt.no thanks!

Yes there is some suspension travel on torsion axles, but you are correct about loading one axle more than the other because there is no equalizer. I have a large snowmobile trailer with torsion axles, often there is daylight under a tire on an uneven surface. The other thing it that the frame takes the load at a single point on uneven surfaces and at two points normally, a leaf spring trailer spreads the load over a longer distance. A torsion axle trailer needs to be dead level to better balance the load between two axles. I do believe there is a benefit with an equalizer which allows the tires to step over a bump. I'm not really defending the leaf spring arrangement because they are mostly cheap junk and we have to pick our poison.

[dodge_guy]

jamilbk wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
What are leaf springs?



Yes, I know this does not add to the post, but I've owned this TT for 16 years now and would not want to have anything else than the torsion suspension..

Mitch

I'm with you 100% On my next trailer I'm getting this installed:

Except that the torsion suspension offers no suspension travel. And if you aren’t perfectly level you will overload one of the axles. I had those axles on my first trailer and the trailer hit every bump with a jolt.no thanks!

[lenr]

Since E-Z Flex has been mentioned in this shackle thread, I'll add a note. I installed Lippert Equa-Flex 5 years ago and hardly noticed a difference riding in the truck--I hope the trailer noticed a difference. Lippert advertises that their's is better than Dexter's (I doubt it.) Along with the MORryde wet bolt kit, we also had the MORryde SRE4000 rubberized equalizer installed. Again, wow, what a difference. From the rider in the truck perspective, it is hugely better.

[jamilbk]

beemerphile1 wrote:
This year my 2006 got all new shackles, equalizers, and wet bolts. Prevention is less expensive than a roadside break down.

Couldn't be more true. The only repair shop up here in a hundred miles charged $125 CAD for the repair... for two shackles (that aren't even the same length as the original) and a bolt!

I just ordered the EZ-Flex for $300 shipped to Fairbanks and will probably get a new set of springs as well. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[jamilbk]

MitchF150 wrote:
What are leaf springs?



Yes, I know this does not add to the post, but I've owned this TT for 16 years now and would not want to have anything else than the torsion suspension..

Mitch

I'm with you 100% On my next trailer I'm getting this installed:

[lenr]

We just had the MORryde Wet Bolt kit installed. It may be the same as the Dexter wet bolt kit--looks the same. Wow does it look tough with the 1/2" thick shackle straps compared to thin straps. With the ability to grease I expect to go a long time before needing repair. And, those straps should be able to take our terrible roads here in Indiana.

My new slogan: "Tax cuts don't fix roads."

[Lynnmor]

path1 wrote:
So if I'm a newbie...what should I look for or do? Should it be on my inspection list. Where would I get written guidance.
Any hints helpful.

Thank you

The bolt should be tight and there should be NO elongation of the holes. The head end of the bolt has straight knurling to prevent turning and that is a poor fit that becomes ineffective so wear begins. The pictured shackle shows a hole that wore till it broke out the end. Those bolts ride in a plastic bushing in the spring end and they fail quickly, but you can only guess the condition till it is disassembled.

[dodge_guy]

I replaced mine years ago. they were trashed just traveling around the Midwest. I went with Dexter EZ flex with the wetbolts. much stronger than the factory junk.

[path1]

So if I'm a newbie...what should I look for or do? Should it be on my inspection list. Where would I get written guidance.
Any hints helpful.

Thank you

[MitchF150]

What are leaf springs?



Yes, I know this does not add to the post, but I've owned this TT for 16 years now and would not want to have anything else than the torsion suspension..

Mitch