How do these leaf springs look?

[mike64]

Are they shot? I'm thinking they should have more "bow" to them.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Yup, they are done, or there are 2 boats on that trailer.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I concur, replace them. There not expensive and easy to replace. Also replace all the hardware at the same time.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Third opinion--replace them. They are not just sagging: You may have one of the middle leaves broken at the center bolt. Shame--other than that, they look in decent condition (in the photo).

 

[jeffnick]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

They're not right.

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

OK, pretty unanimous then. Thanks for the replies!

A couple questions:

My boat weighs about 1000 lbs. Seems like the smallest double-eye leaf spring I see online is about 1000 lbs each, so would something like this kit, at 2k, be more than enough?

http://www.etrailer.com/p-2-1020.html

I have 4 leafs now, but it looks like 3 leaf springs these days are fine weight-wise. Is there any reason why I should replace with 4 leaf springs, or am I good with 3, like the kit in the link?

Anything else I should consider? Do I grease them up before installing, or anything?

 

[Bass Tracker TX17]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

just take them off and get them rebuilt.
We have a local shop do all sorts of work like that for us.
Then your sure the boat /trailer match will be the same.
You could get another set but without the specs you could possible over or under spring the setup.
Just a thought.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Ayuh,... They look, Overloaded,.... Severely...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

go weigh your rig.... don't guess.... then buy new springs that meet or exceed that weight.... those old springs are beyond rebuilding... they are trash

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I had the boat and trailer weighed when I bought it-- came to 1500 lbs on the nose. I figured 1000 for the boat (based on what a 16' glass runabout + 65HP motor should weigh) and 500 for the trailer.

I COULD jack up one side with the boat on the trailer, take off a leaf spring and take it in somewhere for a match. What I was hoping to do was, figure out what type of leaf springs I need, drop the boat off at a friend's slip for a day and do a bunch of nice easy boat-free trailer work like replace the back bunks, replace the springs, and maybe regrease bearings if I have time.

How do I know what springs to replace with? The ones on the trailer are 4 leaf, but those are probably original with the 1971 trailer, and 4 leaf springs these days seem very heavy duty. Is there a rule of weight with springs- go 150% of the max capacity, or something?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

100% or more is fine although at the extreme the ride will become very stiff.... 150% will be fine... length from eye to eye, width of the spring and bolt diameter are factors to consider... a 4 leaf spring with the same capacity as a 3 leaf will usually ride softer and cost more.

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

OK, so I've been doing some research trying to buy everything I need to replace the springs so I can find a slip to stash the boat for the day and do all the work at once. But I'm having a little trouble figuring out the correct parts.

I measured center to center where the spring hardware connects to the frame-- 26 1/2". So it looks like I'll need a 27" spring. This is closest to that size I can find without being too heavy-duty: http://www.etrailer.com/p-PR427.html. But that's a 1500 lb. spring, and my boat and trailer are 1500 lbs. I assume a 1500 lb. spring means 2 springs are 3000 lbs of support. Is twice the support needed going to be too much?

My axle is 1-1/4" square, and the smallest U-bolts I can find online are for 1-1/2" square axles. Is my axle size rare or obsolete or something?

 

[642mx]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I upgraded my leafs from 4 springs to 5 springs. The guy who replaced them said that all the manufactures tend to put on the bare minimum, so on his suggestion we upgraded.

Here is an excellent place to look for springs: http://www.redneck-trailer.com/index.htm They are super nice to deal with and can recommend the correct springs.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

The guy who replaced them said that all the manufactures tend to put on the bare minimum, so on his suggestion we upgraded.

There is actually a reason you put on the bare minimum. You don't want the springs too stiff. I would replace the springs with just a small amount of margin over your load.

 

[642mx]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

There is actually a reason you put on the bare minimum. You don't want the springs too stiff. I would replace the springs with just a small amount of margin over your load.

Yes, but the trailer shouldn't flex so much that it break springs either (happened to me). My 180 is really close to 20 foot (and its not exactly a light boat) sitting on a single axle trailer. The (lighter) 20 Outlaw Baja's have a tandem axle....

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

There is actually a reason you put on the bare minimum. You don't want the springs too stiff. I would replace the springs with just a small amount of margin over your load.

Then the 1500 lb spring I linked would be way too much overkill. I talked to someone at a local trailer parts supply store, and they told me I should go with an eye to eye width a little smaller than the width where the hardware joins the frame, since the spring will stretch. I found a 4 leaf spring here with a 26" width and only rated for 1150 lbs.
http://stengelbros.3dcartstores.com/US-1015_p_1691.html
Would 2300 lbs still be overkill for a 1500 lb rig?

As for the 1-1/4" axle width, I totally stumped them on that. they said the smallest U-bolt width they have is for a 1-3/4" axle. Is there something unique about a 1971 Pamco boat trailer or something? Should I be looking specifically for Pamco parts??

Thanks for the link, 642mx. I'll give them a call too.

 

[Thunderhawk]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Mike, try Joe's trailers, Farmington and 96.

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Mike, try Joe's trailers, Farmington and 96.

Thanks! I called them, and a person there said to just take a spring & U-bolts off and bring them in to match. They said the spring I need is probably 25-1/4", but that sounds too short. And they said a 1-1/2" U-bolt would probably work. I guess that's what I'll have to do, jack up the boat and trailer, put it on stands and do it that way. I was hoping to buy all the parts beforehand and drop the boat off at a friend's slip for the day to do the work.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

They are wasted!

 

[rentprop1]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I'll tell you look to buy them locally or from a place that charges a flat rate to ship, I just ordered some and they got me for over $ 30 in shipping