RE: Spring installation

[MtrngMan]

I recently had the trailer weighed, partialy loaded, and it came out at 1060 lbs with a toungue weight of 160 lbs. I decided to replace the complete axle on the trailer because the existing one is only rated for 1000 lbs and I don't want to risk another cross country trip. So the new trailer axle/spring kit arrived this week fron Northern. I purchased the 2000 lb axle kit with springs and hanger hardware. I will have to alter the spring pads to batter match the trailer width of 55 inches outside to outside.
Determining the axle placement is easily done as well, but I don't know how to determine the rear spring shackle placement with respect to the angle that is best used. I know that I don't want the sackle to end up at an angle close to being parallel with the frame in its loaded state. Can anyone give me some help with this?

[Southern Oregon Bob]

I'm not and expert but when I got my dexter 3500# axle with 2000# leaf springs from a trailer fabricater, he said the distance between the spring hanger and the shackle hanger holes should be 1" more then the measument from eye to eye on the leaf spring so after it was loaded the spring would staighten out and leave the shackle close to vertical. I went with a slightly longer leaf, I believe it was 25.5" under no load. If yours was couple of inches shorter I suppose that could change slightly but would probably be close enough. I'm just starting on my sides so as of now my springs have never been under much load and I am going on what I was told. Hope that helps Bob

[Colemancooler]

in this article shackle angle is explained very well, and from my experience it is correct

http://gitout.com/content.php?179-Leaf-Spring-Tech-Shackle-Length-Shackle-Angle