Trailer shocks

[BoatBuoy]

I have a 15' boat on a Gator trailer. I have to travel some curvey and bumpy roads to my favorite waterway. I always heard chirp, chirp, chirp on some of these curves and bumps.<br /><br />About 15 years ago I added shock absorbers. Talk about a difference. It now rides like the proverbial Cadillac. I've not seen shocks on any other trailers. Is this something that unusual?

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer shocks

Yours is the first one I have even heard of, BoatBuoy.<br /><br />Thought about it many times.<br /><br />Now, Just how do you know it rides like a Caddy?

 

[datawire]

Re: Trailer shocks

I've never seen or heard of it before - but it sounds like a great idea BoatBuoy. Anyone ever seen it done on a tandem axle rig?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer shocks

I've looked at alot of boat trailers to get ideas for mine and never came across one with shocks, I would have thought the more pricey ones would have them. Plenty of tandems & tri have load sharing "rocker" springs - but no shocks.<br /><br />They put them on horse floats, why no boats.<br />Maybe its a clearance thing, dunno.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Trailer shocks

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> They put them on horse floats, why no boats.<br />Maybe its a clearance thing, dunno.

Maybe water? It would be interesting to ask a major trailer manufacturer.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer shocks

The water thing crossed my mind. In my younger days we did a lot of outback and mountain treks, put the old landcruiser through many a river crossing with no ill effect - often up to and over the tyres. The shocks got a good bathing everytime - but it wasn't salt water.<br /><br />Then again we hose the boat trailer down after every dunking.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[jackrg]

Re: Trailer shocks

The trailer I have has shocks also. It looks like they were added on. I dont think they came on the trailer new. They seem to work good, the trailer tows very smooth behind the truck. All my fishing pals are always surprised when they see the shocks after i unload the boat at the ramp.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Trailer shocks

I found this tidbit from a quick yahoo search:<br /><br />"Shock absorbers were common on trailers 40 years ago, and I suspect that cost is the major reason they are not common today. I did, however, check with two trailer manufacturers and got the following three rationales. First, trailer suspensions are fairly stiff compared to an automotive suspension, so the tendency for the axle and wheels to continue to oscillate after traversing a bump or pothole is minimized."<br /><br />Taken from a free trial offer of www.highbeam.com. Have to subscribe to read the whole thing.<br /><br />Mark

 

[DJ]

Re: Trailer shocks

Most of the old trailers that had shocks also had coil springs. Coil springs are much more prone to bounce than leaf springs are.