Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi all,

I was reading a few days ago a post about someone making their own shock kit. I've been thinking it might be a good Christmas gift to give hubby a set of shocks for the Inkwell.

How does one go about picking out the right kind of shocks? I'm absolutely clueless about this and since I'm thinking in terms of a gift for hubby, I don't want to ask him.

So, I'm hoping some of you can help me out here.

Thanks,
Lynn

Check this thread.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... highlight=[/img]

This link gives three different lengths of shocks. I looked at the Monroe book for almost an hour and could not find any that are shorter. That is why my shocks are on an angle. You will get the most damping from a straight shock but you will get more travel from an angled one.

While the selection of shocks is usually very specific to the vehicle, that lack of really short shocks certainly shortens the list... in the Monroe line, the 555002 (their shortest RV shock) is likely the only one to fit a small trailer. I used them on my travel trailer, with its 3500 lb axle.

The problem is that if the mounting hardware used is a different design, then the other shock spec comes into play: the hardware on each end. The Monroe RV shocks have a loop (or "eye") on each end, for a horizontal 1/2" mounting bolt. The Dexter shock kits have a stud on each end, to go through holes in roughly horizontal bracket plates. Some installations may call for a loop on one end and stud on the other end. So, if you know what the mounting plan will be, or at least what general style it will copy, you know which shock is right. The yellow shocks shown in that other thread are all the Monroes, with the loops on the ends.

I took the Monroe part number to NAPA and got their replacement shock. It is the same price as Monroe shock and the same size. Then I mounted it just like Gerdo did but made a lager spacer for the top mount.


Chuck

I guess the best thing for me to do is to bring in the trailer and have a mechanic put on the shocks.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Lynn