Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi all,

We had to have the Inkwell weighed today. No problem, except there was a horrible bounce between 20 to 25 mph. When we opened the door, everything had bounced right off shelves. (Interior is not finished.) When we went over the train tracks the trailer actually left the road.

Soooo, what do you think is possibly wrong with our suspension?

Oh, and fyi we have 15" tires, leaf springs and the trailer weights 1300lbs.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Lynn

Lynn, I don't recal what kinda trailer frame y'all used...dooya know the weight rating of the springs...some things to try...check air pressure...if above 50#s try letting some out OR you can try some of these...
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm
...if your spring rating is around or above 2000# you may have to remove a leaf to get it within range of your trailer weight....
madjack

Lynn,
The way madjack sugested to you is the way I did my trailer. I removed the small leaf from the 2000 lb axle. I have the shock kit and run the tire pressure at 28 lbs on 15 inch tires. The trailer weighs 1,000 lbs and tows real good. I have been thinking of trying the tire pressure at 25 lbs due to the light trailer.


I removed the small leaf

Shock mount


Improved shock mount
jplock

madjack wrote:Lynn, I don't recal what kinda trailer frame y'all used...dooya know the weight rating of the springs...some things to try...check air pressure...if above 50#s try letting some out OR you can try some of these...
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm
...if your spring rating is around or above 2000# you may have to remove a leaf to get it within range of your trailer weight....
madjack

Thanks for responding MadJack. We went outside and checked the tires are at 44 with a max of 50. We have three leafs in the springs. The trailer is 6x12 body with a 4' tongue.

Here's a shot of the trailer right after we picked it up. Note the height between the wheel and the top of the fender.

Currently I can't fit my fingers between the tire and fender. Does this mean we need more leafs?

Thanks,
Lynn

jplock wrote:Lynn,
The way madjack sugested to you is the way I did my trailer. I removed the small leaf from the 2000 lb axle. I have the shock kit and run the tire pressure at 28 lbs on 15 inch tires. The trailer weighs 1,000 lbs and tows real good. I have been thinking of trying the tire pressure at 25 lbs due to the light trailer.

Hi JP,
Thanks for posting. We'll have to contact the man who made our trailer to find out the how many pounds our springs and axle are rate for but maybe this picture will help. It's of our driver's side spring that shows how it is mounted to the frame.



Lynn

I can't see it for certain, but it looks as if your spring shackle is horizontal. If so, that would be your problem, and re-engineering the suspension geometry is in order.
Maybe my eyes are messed up.

I checked the bill of sale, the maker recorded the GVWR as 2500 LBS and a shipping weight of 460lbs.

Lynn

Phil & Ningning wrote:I can't see it for certain, but it looks as if your spring shackle is horizontal. If so, that would be your problem, and re-engineering the suspension geometry is in order.
Maybe my eyes are messed up.

Hi Phil,

If the item at the front and back of the spring that connects with the frame is the shackle, than yes it is horizontal.


Is this difficult to change to a vertical position?

Can you tell I'm not a mechanic?

Lynn

A big part of the problem is the mount for the rear spring shackle is too far forward. Causing the shackles to lay flat, they should be nearly vertical.

I usually figure 750 lbs. per leaf that is 1-3/4" wide. Which looks like that is what yours are.

I am guessing that because you have very little spring travel and your tires are pumped up tight, that you are bouncing on the tires when you hit a bump.

Put this all together means: first move the brackets back(will raise the frame giving you more axle clearance), drop the air pressure to 30-35psi., adding shocks will help take the bounce out and keep the wheels on the road where they belong, and if need be add another leaf-although you have plenty of arch and travel.

Hope this helps,
Mike

Lynn Coleman wrote:

Phil & Ningning wrote:I can't see it for certain, but it looks as if your spring shackle is horizontal. If so, that would be your problem, and re-engineering the suspension geometry is in order.
Maybe my eyes are messed up.

Hi Phil,

If the item at the front and back of the spring that connects with the frame is the shackle, than yes it is horizontal.


Is this difficult to change to a vertical position?

Can you tell I'm not a mechanic?

Lynn

Lynn,
It appears to me that you could move the angle iron spring hanger that is bolted to your frame, rearward away from the axle and reposition the shackle that is now in a horizontal position. The way it is sitting now, it has virtually eliminated any movement in your suspension. It's no wonder the trailer bounces, there is no spring action.

Front and back?

If you have shackles at both ends of the spring, there will be no stability at all in the setup. You should have the front spring eye bolted to a channel which is attached to the frame rail with no shackle. The rear spring eye should be attached to a shackle which is in a vertical position. The upper end of the shackle attaches to the frame. All pivot points should be equipped with rubber or urethane bushings. Normal axle to frame clearance would be around 3 to 4 inches.

If you are not sure, you should take it to a qualified trailer builder to sort it out for you.

Good luck!

Lynn, the first and VERY dangerous problem is what others have posted...the spring geometry is all worng...the shakle should be almost vertical...not laid down horizontal...that need to be fixed immediately for safetys sake...right now, you have virtually no suspension except for the air in the tires......
madjack

Phil & Ningning wrote:Front and back?

If you are not sure, you should take it to a qualified trailer builder to sort it out for you.

Good luck!

LOL the guy who built the frame supposedly was one.
Here's a pic of the forward connection.


Lynn

Well your front hanger is right but I kinda think he cheesed on the bolts in the angle. I would have at least put one at either end of it. I think eventually that setup will let the angle rock and wear the aluminum.

BTW that spring shouldn't be that flat, that is due to the shackle up against the frame pulling it tight.