Interesting trailer

[MAGilbert]

Hey there,

Just got given (for helping a friend move) a "new" trailer to play with.

It is a very old utility frame that someone put a huge box on. Was built and used by the boy scouts to haul camping bits around since at least the late 60's or early/mid 70's, when my friends dad bought it from the scouts. The box currently on it is 6 X 8 and extremely heavy, with 1 inch ply walls, lots of heavy framing and old aluminum siding as well as lots and lots of seam seal.

The frame appears to be a tubular steel 5 X 8, with a tongue to tail length of ~13 feet, but the thing that surprised me is the suspension, which is a multi leaf spring with a coil on top of the axle to the frame. I have never seen anything quite like it. Am planning to strip it down and build a Weekender type TT on top of it.

My one question is regarding the suspension. Has anyone here any information regarding this type of suspension, pro's, cons, thoughts in general. I think it will work great for a build just want more information if I can get any

Thanks and have a good one

Mike

[Yota Bill]

chances are it is just a basic leaf spring setup that someone added coils to because the springs were getting weaker, or were already too weak for what they built. In other words, get rid of the extra weight, and the coil springs. The leaf springs may also be sagging and need to be replaced.

[MAGilbert]

chances are it is just a basic leaf spring setup that someone added coils to because the springs were getting weaker, or were already too weak for what they built. In other words, get rid of the extra weight, and the coil springs. The leaf springs may also be sagging and need to be replaced.

yup, sort of my thoughts as well, but wanted to bounce it off you all to see if I was thinking straight. It is an older frame that that looks pretty solid, and has been in continuous use for a number of years. The axle is fairly new, as it was replaced a couple of years back.

If all goes well ( and the rain stops) will have the trailer home soon, then I can start taking it apart so I can start putting it together

Should be interesting, if nothing else

Mike