Ground clearance

[typoagain]

I have a couple of strange questions. I really need to start ordering materials soon so I have to make up my mind. (Something I am not very good at.
I know myself well enough to know that I have a 65% of building 2 different trailers and giving the first to my oldest son. I would personally use mine strictly on graded roads. So a low frame height makes the galley a bit easier to use. I am thinking 14 inch tires and some storage underneath.

But my son on the other hand is heavily into bow hunting and fishing and would use a bit of extra ground clearance. For him a torsion bar suspension with 15 inch wheels would be a better choice.

I am trying to find a bit of a compromise to suit both of us. I have even considered building the frame specifically so that I can change out the suspension later on if I want to.

So what do you have clearance wise?
Do you like it or would you change it?

[gudmund]

Torsion Bar will work for either trailer, do some more research on line. Check out Dexter Axle. They have complete instructions on line on how to order their axle for placement in relation to the 'start angle' for ground clearance and load height depending on the axle load capacity for what you need. It's all there on their web site. Torsion Bar in my mind is the way to go - I love mine and am so glad I never went leaf spring!!! Now for off road - "OFF-OFF ROAD USE"!!! there are some coil spring / air bag type trailing arm $$$$$ suspension set ups that trump Torsion for off road use from what I've read but being I am not much for the off road thing, I stayed with the road setup. Mine is a Dexter #9 Torflex 22.5 degree up with a 1800 pound capacity. I have about 9 to 10 inches of clearance at my lowest point - at the axle tube between the 14 inch rims and 205-75 tires. It's lower than most of the tears I been around but rides just fine. Would probably go with a bit higher start angle if I ever do it again, like a 10.0 degree up or down but It is good for now and carries the load just fine!!

[Shadow Catcher]

I have a Dexter axle but may switch it out for a Flexride http://www.ucfamerica.com/flexiride.html These are splined and adjustable. I am also working on a way to add an air shock.

[citylights]

My tear has 13 inch tires and 14 inches from the ground to the drop under storage box. I used a 3000 lb dexter axle mounted under the springs.

The galley counter is "Bar" height.

My tear goes anywhere my 4WD FJ goes.



Now I am set up to tow with my cross trek too.

[typoagain]

Thanks guys.

I was leaning towards a torsion bar suspension from the very beginning simply for the improved ride.
Many years ago I had a small, lightweight motorcycle trailer I used to haul a couple of dirt bikes. I could hit a pothole hard and have the entire trailer bounce off the ground. Since I want to keep the weight of my new teardrop fairly light, I want to eliminate as much bounce as I can.

I did not realize that Dexter had so much information on their site.

[Vedette]

Dexter Torsion axle all the way!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[KCStudly]

For me the bigger issue is the compromise with counter height. I will be running 31 inch AT tires on 15 inch rims and wanted to have my cooler on a sliding tray under the counter. So using a Dexter D35 over a custom YJ rear leaf spring setup that puts the bottom of my frame around 19 inches. I built up my floor using 1-1/2 thick foam and 5 mm skins, so I lost about an inch there. Add some for the height of the tray, the cooler, the rail under the edge of the counter, and 1/2 inch ply for the counter itself, and my counter will also be at about bar height.

Any higher than that and I would be looking at a split counter with the section that is not over the cooler being lower than the section that is... but then the space between counter and floor starts to get smaller pretty fast.

Another issue is keeping the side door sills at a comfortable seating height without having the door sill cutting into the backs of your legs.

Matching the trailer level height to the hitch is less of a concern with all of the variations in draw bar heights that are available, but can still be an issue on some vehicles where opening a tailgate, tailgate mounted spare tire, or hitch/bumper mounted rear racks come into play. Usually not an issue on a high clearance vehicle, but things to look out for when setting ride height.

[typoagain]

Used to friends 5 by 10 trailer the other day. 5 by 10 is the size I'm looking to go with.
This trailer had about 14 inches of ground clearance at the front and the back.
I have a circle drive. The back of this trailer dragged coming and going out of both sides of the drive.

Also I stopped halfway out of the drive with it hooked up to the tow vehicle. The the trailer only cleared by about 3 inches at the hitch, and that is with no load in the trailer or the tow vehicle.

[KCStudly]

On my car hauler flat bed, which has fairly low deck, I included heavy steal rollers on bronze bushings under the tail end. If it ever bottoms out it will ride on the rollers enough to prevent any serious damage. I have also seen casters used in this capacity, but they would have to have a pretty hefty rating to get the job done.

If at all possible, one way to mitigate bottoming while crossing a swale or crest is to take the obstacle on a diagonal track (assuming that suspension travel is adequate to preclude lifting a drive wheel, such as in some off road situations). This reduces the teeter-totter effect quite a bit.

[ctstaas]

Hi there, I went with independent torsion axle and the floor of my cabin is 18" off grade so I can sit in the doorway comfortably with my feet flat on the ground. i stand when working in my galley so depth was more of a concern than height when I was designing my galley. I wish I would have given myself an extra inch of depth less one inch of cabin length. My TD is #1050 ready to camp and each side axle is rated at #1500.Strong, high ground clearance yet not like hauling a large boulder down the road. I adjusted my finish floor height with the angle of the axle mounting brackets. The plans I used for my frame called for a straight axle with springs and I can still go back to that config at any time.I designed and built mine before I found TNTTT and considered construction with an escape plan "B" if needed and upgrades later. A planned work in progress got me on the road quick and now I have several projects for the "Girl" at various stages of completion. The fun never stops.
Enjoy, Chris