luke2152
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 07:45 PM |
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Trailer springs
Well I've just brought a large transporter trailer. When I went to pick it up I was surprised to find it completely unsprung! The axles welded
straight to the chassis. Never seen this before. Well anyway the rest of the trailer was very nice and the price was right so brought it anyway.
Actually towed fine on the way home but had no load on it and I'm guessing its not legal like that either?
Anyway I'd like to put some leaf springs on it and have a few questions:
1. Its much bigger then I need. It will be used primarily for the 7 but I'd like the option of towing heavier loads or other cars on the odd
occasion. So should I choose spring weight for the normal load or the maximum load (ie. will they break if overloaded or just give poor
performance).
2. Is the rating on the spring per spring or per axle?
3. With dual axles do I need to use a load balancing pivot between the springs or is that only needed for heavy duty/off road stuff?
4. Never seen sliding leaf springs (ie. only have the eye on one end) until I started looking for springs now. Any reason not to use them?
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owelly
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 08:02 PM |
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You're right. Only agricultural trailers can be unsprung.
Are you thinking of using second hand springs or new ones? Truck or van springs are a goos way to convert. Springs are weight rated in pairs/axle set.
Have you considered buying a pair of caravan indespension type axles? Easy to mount and may work out cheaper than fitting springs. Also, what wheels
and tyres are fitted? The tyres should be C (commercial) rated or 6+ ply.
You don't need to fit any sort of balancing link between the axles and they should be rated for the max load you intend to carry.
What brakes are currently fitted?
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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luke2152
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 08:23 PM |
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Well I saw some new springs on ebay for under £20 each for 600kg. Sounds too cheap but could be worth a try. Brakes look like standard drums on one
axle. Didn't pay much attention to tyres but they did look commercial. I haven't ruled out indespension axles - in fact I have an old
caravan chassis but it is a single axle, in questionable condition and would need widening too.
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Canada EH!
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 09:06 PM |
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Slipper springs are quit normal here have them on two of my trailers, front edge fastened by a normal bushing, the rear has a hook which goes into a
small box with an internal rubbing surface (greased), easy to install as only 1 bolt per spring also widely used on tandems.
Your easiest fitment would be single slipper spring both sides with under-mount axle.
When and if you relocate the axle remember to put sufficient weight on the tow bar by moving the axle rear of centre or the trailer will sway all over
the place (almost lost my race Anglia on a badly balanced trailer at 60 mph).
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coozer
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 09:15 PM |
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Get down the scrappy and get the springs off a Doblo. Theres a few in my local place, ex taxis etc..
Single leaf but Doblos are rated at 2.1T so should be good for ya..
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 09:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by luke2152
Brakes look like standard drums on one axle.
The law requires all wheels to be braked, although only one axle need be operated by the parking brake.
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owelly
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| posted on 23/3/14 at 09:58 PM |
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And the brakes have to be auto-reversing units.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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