Offroad trailer leaf springs

[Crews]

I've got a 12' trailer with tandem light duty torsion axles that are completely shot and in need of replacement. Thinking about just going back with a single leaf spring axle. After some research it seems a "long travel" leaf spring and shock setup should be a bit cheaper and work fine for a light duty utility trailer that sees some offroad use (not overlanding.) It seems most trailer springs for 3,500# are 26" long. I see some folks use CJ-7 springs that are almost twice that long.

But I don't know where to start sourcing these parts, or what to be looking for. Does anyone have any pointers?

 

[Weldor]

Local, Tractor supply, or online just about everyone carries springs and perches now. Last axle I bought for a small trailer was from Amazon. Best price crazy

 

[fmyth]

The next time I drag my axle towing down a 2 track I'm retrofitting my trailer with Timbren independent suspension.

 

[Tod osier]

I've got a 12' trailer with tandem light duty torsion axles that are completely shot and in need of replacement. Thinking about just going back with a single leaf spring axle. After some research it seems a "long travel" leaf spring and shock setup should be a bit cheaper and work fine for a light duty utility trailer that sees some offroad use (not overlanding.) It seems most trailer springs for 3,500# are 26" long. I see some folks use CJ-7 springs that are almost twice that long.

But I don't know where to start sourcing these parts, or what to be looking for. Does anyone have any pointers?

As a start, you can just call Dexter and they will make the axles up and fedex you the whole shebang. Fedex ground is not all that expensive. Everything from one place is nice, but not the cheapest.

Having said that I don't think I'd ever go in that direction from torsion to springs. A life goal would be to never own a sprung trailer again. I'd get a replacement torsion axle were it me.

 

[Crews]

Local, Tractor supply, or online just about everyone carries springs and perches now. Last axle I bought for a small trailer was from Amazon. Best price crazy

The whole point is that I'm looking for something other than typical leaf springs, most off the shelf stuff I'm seeing is ~24", which is relatively stiff for a lightweight trailer. I want way longer springs for a smoother ride.

 

[Crews]

Having said that I don't think I'd ever go in that direction from torsion to springs. A life goal would be to never own a sprung trailer again. I'd get a replacement torsion axle were it me.

I think leaf spring trailers get a bad reputation because they're over-sprung and short/stiff. That's the whole point behind what I'm asking for.... a much longer leaf spring that rides smoother and takes some of that bounce out.

If I can find the right stuff I think it'll be cheaper. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[BRTreedogs]

IMO torsion axle is the way to go.

 

[BRTreedogs]

It’s it’s to bouncy for you it needs shocks.

A leak spring setup for a single axle is just a fixed mounting point on the front and a shackle to a fixed point on the back.

You can use any setup u want
Just center the axle where you want with the average weight and weld them in.

One problem I see you having is you want performance and cheap.

Pick one.

 

[nm.otter]

Torsions are nice on the highway, but I've had to replace far too many over the years.

My last equipment hauler had a tandem slipper spring setup (3/4 of the way back, high tongue weight) and drove like a dream on the highway, over ditches, and pretty much anyplace I could drag it.

 

[Weldor]

The next time I drag my axle towing down a 2 track I'm retrofitting my trailer with Timbren independent suspension.

This or similar.

I think leaf spring trailers get a bad reputation because they're over-sprung and short/stiff. That's the whole point behind what I'm asking for.... a much longer leaf spring that rides smoother and takes some of that bounce out.

If I can find the right stuff I think it'll be cheaper. Maybe I'm wrong.

This

 

[Tod osier]

The whole point is that I'm looking for something other than typical leaf springs, most off the shelf stuff I'm seeing is ~24", which is relatively stiff for a lightweight trailer. I want way longer springs for a smoother ride.

You can size those springs for any weight you want, get more flexible (lower rated) if that suits you. As for my dislike of springs, I've just found that there are a lot of wear points on a sprung trailer, spring hangers get worn out, spring bushings and equalizers (on a tandem) all suck, IMO. I much prefer a torsion axle for ride and the ability to replace it with a few bolts and not have the added complexity of cutting and welding to make repairs.

 

[longrangelead]

you could try truck springs from a off road shop.
The front springs for a chevy blazer might be close for load rating and they're something like 40" long.

less bounce = shocks

I have a 3500# trailer for hunting. I broke both springs one trip. I replaced them with 5k springs and haven't had a problem since.

Go heavier on the axle as well. A heavier axle will deflect less under load and allow heavier duty/taller tires(4/5 lug vs 6 lug). 4/5 lug are typically 13"/14" rims.
6 lug are typically 15"/16" rims which allow a huge range of tire selection.
I'd go 5k or 6k 6 lug if I was doing it today, with brakes just in case I need them.

the light axles deflect under weight making the tires tip in, thus wearing out the inside half prematurely.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Suspension?utm_id=53603186&msclkid=06c0822a02e11dc5934debe1e55b0987

match your frame width to spring/axle width and weld up whatever you want.

single axle trailers don't articulate like tandem axles so total travel isn't a big deal. ground clearance at the axle is tire size. I run the tallest tires that fit for the ground clearance. it puts it up in the air more, but it drags WAY less now.

 

[nm.otter]

No more ST (Sh!tty Trailer) tires for me -- overpriced underperforming junk.

Load range G/H 235-85R16s hold more weight, drive better, last 4x as long, and are available at truck stops.

 

[Crews]

you could try truck springs from a off road shop.
The front springs for a chevy blazer might be close for load rating and they're something like 40" long.

less bounce = shocks

I have a 3500# trailer for hunting. I broke both springs one trip. I replaced them with 5k springs and haven't had a problem since.

Go heavier on the axle as well.

Yeah this definitely is the type of setup I want.... longer springs and shocks. I was just hoping someone who had done it before could give me some more specifics on parts. I'll do some research on blazer springs, probably like for an old solid steel K5. Seems like CJ-7 springs wouldn't be rated for enough weight.

Is your trailer a single axle utility type trailer? And how much weight are you carrying on it? Did you notice a significant difference in trailer bouncing or ride quality with the 5k springs vs the 3,500?

 

[Crews]

No more ST (Sh!tty Trailer) tires for me -- overpriced underperforming junk.

Load range G/H 235-85R16s hold more weight, drive better, last 4x as long, and are available at truck stops.

So what type of tire construction are you talking about here if not ST. Light Truck (LT)?

 

[nm.otter]

Sometimes they label them as ST, but just look for the load range you want. 235-85R16s are as common as dirt -- used to be standard on 3/4T trucks, still used on a lot of older duallys. The LTs have less capacity, but still more than 15" ST do. Too tall for the wheel wells on smaller trailers, but I've ripped fenders off of utility trailers in order to mount them and get more capacity and life.

If you need really high loads, look at 17-1/2" commercial tires -- used by the dozen on lowboys and for smaller delivery trucks (UPS trucks used to have them, haven't looked lately).

 

[BRTreedogs]

You just need to size the width of the spring with the new spring hangers.
Aka 2” 2.25” or 2.5”

As far as specific springs.
Just google around
I’d say this is a very uncommon swap, so you may have a lot of trial and error.

I predict it will be very tall.
It will certainly be very expensive.

I’d probably search Toyota
Rears up front swap for hanger kits.
They should be 2.25”
And I’d probably start with some Tacoma used take off springs
Or a replacement set off an older Toyota.

It’s gonna be trail and error.

I think I cut off and re did the suspension on the front of my Toyota 3 x before I had it rite.

 

[Crews]

Yeah if it’s that much trial and error I may end up with a torsion axle after all. Hard to see it being any cheaper if there is guesswork involved.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Yeah if it’s that much trial and error I may end up with a torsion axle after all. Hard to see it being any cheaper if there is guesswork involved.

About the best you could do to eliminate trail and error is look at specs and compare, width, number of leafs, arch, spring rate etc.

Maybe google around off-road trailer suspension.

But the issue I’d think would be most of that info would be for overlanding and they probably want it tall.

But maybe I didn’t read throughly.

Do you want it to stay about the same ride height like a normal utility trailer?

Or are you wanting it to be a taller “off-road” trailer

 

[BRTreedogs]

Call and talk to these guys.
I’ve ordered strings thru them.
Super easy to deal with.
See if they have ideas.

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