New Springs on Trailer

[bruceb58]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

You can leave it where it is to take the picture. Just get it parallel to the driveway by making the rear of the trailer the same distance from the ground as the front.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Lowered it within an inch or so all the way around, same thing.

You can leave it where it is to take the picture. Just get it parallel to the driveway by making the rear of the trailer the same distance from the ground as the front.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Then I would have to agree with the other posters that they did not weld the outer spring mounts in the right location.

Do you know what size springs and what size equalizer that you have?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Are all your pics with the trailer loaded with boat?
As it is pictured, you have nowhere for the spring eyes to extend to.
One spring is up to the frame and center pivot bracket and the other spring is about to smack into the other side of the center pivot braket.

Just for chuckles, make sure they did not tighten all those pivot point bolts with an impact wrench.
They should be snug not so tight as to bind it all up.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Yes, the boat is loaded.

I was also thinking it may be too tight as well, but I didn't want to go and losen them up not knowing what I was doing.

Are all your pics with the trailer loaded with boat?
As it is pictured, you have nowhere for the spring eyes to extend to.
One spring is up to the frame and center pivot bracket and the other spring is about to smack into the other side of the center pivot braket.

Just for chuckles, make sure they did not tighten all those pivot point bolts with an impact wrench.
They should be snug not so tight as to bind it all up.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Just for chuckles, make sure they did not tighten all those pivot point bolts with an impact wrench.
They should be snug not so tight as to bind it all up.

Also, when the boat is off the trailer, the two rear wheels are off the ground.

There is your problem. They are too tight. If they pivit while driving, they would equalize when empty. Right now, the weight of the boat is depressing the springs of the axle with the brakes on it (cannot tell if it is front or back) in order for both wheels to touch. Without enough weight to depress the springs, the axle is lifted. Try loosening the bolts a tad. They are nyloc, so they should stay even loose.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

I am not too confident that the pivots are too tight.
Even when free to pivot the whole set-up looks "not-right".

I am wondering if the fabricator placed the spring mounts for 25.25" eye-to-eye springs and installed 27" springs by mistake.

http://www.championtrailers.com/springs.html#double_eye

 

[BrianS.]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

I agree with you. Even if it were not too tight, looking at the setup still makes me shiver thinking the system will be rubbing on the mounting brackets.

I brought it back this morning to let them re-do it. I also noticed some other boats in their lot that looked a lot better and told them "Make it like that".

Thanks again for everyone's advice and comments.

I am not too confident that the pivots are too tight.
Even when free to pivot the whole set-up looks "not-right".

I am wondering if the fabricator placed the spring mounts for 25.25" eye-to-eye springs and installed 27" springs by mistake.

http://www.championtrailers.com/springs.html#double_eye

 

[BrianS.]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Called them up, they retook measurements and realized they did mess up. So they are fixing it.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Personally I'm leery of welding the spring mounts directly to the trailer frame. If the location isn't perfect for proper tonque weight it is alot of work to repostion. A lot of trailer manufacturers mount the spring assembly on a bracket which is then bolted to the trailer frame. Allows for easier adjustment, and spreads the stress over a larger area of the trailer frame. The Bracket can be made of heavier gauge metal than the trailer booms. Plus if it a galvanized trailer there is the health issue( for the welder) welding zinc.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Most larger trailers have the spring mounts welded on.

Welding on galvanized steel is not a problem if the area to be welded is cleaned to bare metal first...which is what you would want anyway for a strong weld.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Alright, she's all fixed!

 

[Windykid]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

Now go ahead and wire brush that area and prime and paint to make it last.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

I think the right shackle is a smidge out of whack...better take it back!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

So..its interesting to me that it looks like they moved the center equalizer support. Therefore they must have moved either the front or rear spring's hangers and left the other.

Just as a sanity check, measure from the rear of the trailer to all the mounting points to make sure they are equal on both sides of the trailer so to make sure the axles are parallel. Or at least measure front hanger to rear hanger on both sides.

You never know...they screwed up once!!

Also, paint the new springs, equalizer and shacles while you are at it.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

I have heard a good bit about the spray galvanize stuff. You may want to look into it, as it would match the rest of the trailer.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

So..its interesting to me that it looks like they moved the center equalizer support. Therefore they must have moved either the front or rear spring's hangers and left the other.

To me it looks like maybe they only centered the equilizer bracket between the two outer brackets. Still looks like very little room left before the shackles hit the center bracket. They do make a short equilizer and a long equilizer.

 

[Bindernut]

Re: New Springs on Trailer

To me it looks like maybe they only centered the equilizer bracket between the two outer brackets. Still looks like very little room left before the shackles hit the center bracket. They do make a short equilizer and a long equilizer.

I agree with jeeperman. The shackle angle is still a bit too vertical. As the springs compress, the shackles will get pushed towards the walking beam mount and might bind.

Keep an ear out when you go into driveways or across dips and the suspension flexes...if the shackles bind against something you'll hear it or you should see some paint scraping. Hopefully not!