New Newbie

[square shooter]

Howdy. I'm new at this tearing up (so that's it's name). Mine is a shell that is set on/off a flatbed 5'x8' trailer. Frame of 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" redwood n pine, skin of 1/4" ply. Will include pic when learn how. Just picture somebody crying over a flatbed trailer.... Square Shooter.

[cjkrause]

Welcome aboard
cant wait to see pics

[mikeschn]

square shooter also has this question:

I have looked online, and not fond an answer. I am designing and building a lightweight trailer of around 120 lbs. overall sprung weight. I am hoping you can help. The springs are leaf type. The distance between the eye and slider nylon is 21". The axel travel will be 3". What should be the weight requirement to deflect each spring 1" ? 60 lbs? Do you know of anyone who's built such light rate leaf springs?

Mike...

[square shooter]

I learned the answer to my above question, and finnished the two springs. They work fine. So yes, if the sprung weight of a trailer, including the load, is 120 lbs, each of two springs should flex around 1" with 60 lbs pressure/weight. Further, my springs came in at a bit more than 1" flex at 60 lost (are slightly soft), so the springs are flexed about 1/2" at standstill. So a spring is more useful if it rates slightly more than its intended total load, rather than under, the load increasing as the tire encounters bumps.