by aggie79 » Tue Mar 29, 2022 12:08 pm
I can't recall the exact Dexter terminology, but keep in mind that the start angle is the angle of the torsion arm unloaded. Once the axle is carrying the static weight of the trailer, the torsion arm rotates upward, lowering the trailer. The remaining torsion arm rotation is the suspension travel.
I ordered my Dexter axle de-rated to match the trailer weight. It worked fine for about 7-8 years and then there was some sag. I would suggest giving yourself a 300-400# "cushion on the derating. Theoretically, you should include the weight of your camping supplies and furnishings too; however, these are approximately equal to the weight of wheels and tires which the suspension doesn't have to support. (They are un-sprung weight.)
Lastly - and this one is controversial - for the lifetime of our teardrop, I kept tire pressures around 25 psi rather than the 35-40 psi range per the sidewall. The lower tire pressure will drastically improve the trailer ride performance. The tires we used were not trailer tires. They were automotive tires. I wasn't worried about excess sidewall flexing because the tires were carrying about 700-800# each on the teardrop compared with the 1,000-1,500 they would be carrying on the average passenger vehicle, plus they did not experience any where near the stress as front tires on a vehicle incur during turning movements.
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop: Build Thread