What was that noise???

[desertmoose]

A week ago, Kat and I went camping in the tear. I loaded everything on Friday, and was hooked up when Kat got home. As she was getting in the truck she got a text.... Close friends of ours said that they had dinner ready and the movie picked out for their turn at movie night.... Whoops, we had forgotten. No problem, took the ice chests inside, poked everything in the fridge, and went to a great dinner and movie. Got up Saturday, poked the stuff in the fridge in the ice chests and went camping. Found a new spot hidden in heavy brush. Nice and private. Spent a great day, then started getting ready to cook the ribs for dinner.... only to find out the ribs, along with the hot dogs and bacon were still in the freezer at home... Had fried rice for dinner Saturday. Sunday I went fishing for dinner and kept four nice trout. Had a good time. Left about 3:00 Monday to come home. after a few miles of easing down the dirt road, Kat said "What was that noise? Sounded like metal!" Stopped, walked back and found one of the two leaves on the right side spring had broken. With only one leaf left, I crawled in granny gear until we finally hit pavement, then kept it under 45mph all the way home. the normal less that 2 hour drive took 4 hours...Made it without trouble. Got some new heavier springs, and now the tear is on 3 leaf 3000 pound springs instead of the original 2 leaf 2000 pound springs. Sits about 2" higher, but it will probably settle a bit with the first use.

















Sam

[pchast]

Ouch! Had you ever weighed the trailer? Was the weight at all near the designed limit or
was it defective parts?

Nice pictures. I wouldn't mind a location like that myself.

[desertmoose]

It's hard to say what caused it. I planned on the tear weighing 1500 pounds... it ended up on certified scales at 1960 with the mattress in it. That's total weight. Add the camping gear, subtract the tongue weight, and I guessed it was close to the 2000 pound spring rating. I don't know how much if any margin was on the 2000 pound rating on the original springs.

We have over 4500 miles on it, with a lot of dirt/ rocky road miles.

The broken edge was right at the center bolt hole. Maybe there was a crack started from the drilling? Maybe not.

That is also the side that we lost the tire on a year ago. Not sure if many miles of running on a rim would have contributed to cracking the spring.




Anyways, with a broken spring, I went up a size to the 3000 pound ones.

Sam

[doug hodder]

So were the springs used when you started? Did you drill a hole? typically they are punched prior to arching I believe. I could be wrong on it though. Glad that you didn't suffer any trailer damage. In any used spring type situation...I just put in new ones from the get go. Who knows how the originals were treated and how much life is left in them? A new set is pretty inexpensive insurance. At any rate, you didn't have a lot of "cushion" on the weight limit. You do now though. Doug

[desertmoose]

All the parts, including the springs were bought new. Made in China though....
If I'd known ahead of time it was going to be close to the max, I would have gone up a size at the start.

I am glad I ordered a 3500 pound axle with brakes and 15" tires from the get go.

Sam

[doug hodder]

Well, you got plenty of axle in it, and now with the new springs you should be good to go. It's always a hard guess on springs when you scratch build as you don't have a fixed number and depending on how you build...it can go heavier. Too much and it's a buckboard...too little and you got other problems. I've only flattened a set...didn't break one though. Me, I'm kinda spooked on the 14's on the new standy...hope I don't have tire issues. Doug

[S. Heisley]

Think of it this way: You are gathering the kind of "Nobody got hurt" stories that you can chuckle about for the rest of your lives.

[Jiminsav]

I know how the springs got broke...wink wink, nudge nudge.

[Wolffarmer]

If you ever get the chance to watch a spring type of object break, flat spring, cultivating tools. You will find that they usually break on the rebound. When the load is suddenly taken off. At least the 3 times I have seen it that is what happened.

Randy

[Irmo Atomics]

I’ve read that axle U-bolts that aren’t torqued to spec can cause springs to break. The little bit of slop in the fit between the spring and axle will stress the area at the hole. Here’s some more info: http://www.eatonsprings.com/ubolttorques.htm

[Mukilteo]

Awesome camp site.
Can't get any better than that.

[nevadatear]

Oh my, another for the scrapbook. So glad you guys are safe and no more damage than there was.

[Fiferguy]

I know how the springs got broke...wink wink, nudge nudge.

Beat me to it.......

[PKCSPT]

What a beautiful campsite, drooling over here.
Glad the broken spring didn't leave you stranded.

[bc toys]

can I ask what part of Nv you live in I live in Las Vegas myself love that camping area you was at
it has trees and not a bunch of people