shocking

[oldblumerc]

i was driving home last night buoncing down the road thinking to my self"man i need some new shocks for my truck." when i had a little light bulb pop up over my head. has anyone ever thought of putting shocks on a boat trailer i don't think i've evr seen this? is it already out there and i've just missed it? if not, why not? if this is for some reason a bad idea lets hear about it, because i can think of some times when shocks would be wonderful to have on my trailer like over train tracks and bumpy roads'n such. hmmmmm...

 

[werdna]

Re: shocking

Yes, i have thought about it, although its bery bery expensive. It is called Gaffa Suspension. to have a look at what its like, goto www.trailerparts.net.au, go to the shop section and click on 'Gaffa Suspension' from the list on the left. The pics arent fantastic but i havent been able to find anything else. The only drawback is that they cost about AU$900 and only come up to 1500kg sets.<br />Andrew

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: shocking

I'v wondered that also but I have a tandem axle with leaf springs, if shocks were to mounted It would appear to me that they would interfere with the spring equalizers to function as designed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: shocking

"if not, why not?"

A Better Question is, WHY ?????<br /><br />Most trailers are sprung heavy enough that there is Very little Bouncing, After the initial Bump.....<br />Unless you're running an Air Spring suppension, It'll be a Major Waste of Money.....

 

[bubbakat]

Re: shocking

I have an old tee nee trailer built right here in tenn that has shocks and coil springs for suspension

 

[oldblumerc]

Re: shocking

ok bondo i see your point but wouldn't it be better to have a little less spring and more absorbsion of the bounce than to have a harder spring and transfer all that shock load to the rest of your trailer granted it's not going to fall apart or anything but i know that when i run over a pot hole or something else in the road the hard thud i get from my trailer makes me cringe, and i think i could do it a whole lot cheaper than 900 with my MIG welder.

 

[roscoe]

Re: shocking

With coil overs, yes.<br />With leaf springs, not really needed.<br />You springs still have to be heavy enough to support the weight and the impact of the bump.

 

[DJ]

Re: shocking

It's been done.<br /><br />I had a 1957 Thompson (wood lapstrake) sitting on a Holsclaw trailer that had factory installed shocks.

 

[oldblumerc]

Re: shocking

ok so why with coil and not leaf, my truck has leaf springs. and i know you would want enough spring for the weight that goes without saying but shocks have really nothing to do with weight there are all about making the road seam more smooth to the vehicle than it actually is. I think this would be ideal especially for those of you who have a big heavy outboard on the back of your boat bouncing around as you go down the road, trasom saver or no, because all your doing is dampining the bounce back and makeing it less violent.

 

[boater4life]

Re: shocking

Try torsion axles! Each tire is independent in shock absorting.

 

[Bondo]

Re: shocking

Coils run closer to the middle of their range,+ Need the damping action of shocks....<br />Leafs run closer to the Unloaded end of their range,+ Don't tend to Bounce Near as Much.....<br />I'm not saying it can't, or Hasn't been done.....<br />But, I Also Build most of my Stuff, Myself....<br />I prefer to get more Bang for my Labor....<br />If you Do It, You'll Never See, or Feel the Difference.....<br />That said......<br />I think boater4life has the Right Idea... <br />That's the way I'm headed with my Future Trailer Projects.....

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: shocking

Honestly I think (My 2Cs worth) That if you could do it yourself that it would stop a lot of wear a tear! Easier on you transome and your springs would last longer because they would not bounce so much! More and more travel trailer manufacturers are going to putting shocks on there trailers! Space is usually an issue, especially on a drive on!!<br /><br />Hasbeen