suspension stiffness

[Akros]

With the boat on the trailer, If I stand on the trailer next to the wheel and shift my weight up and down, should the suspension move up and down?

 

[roscoe]

Re: suspension stiffness

Usually not. Boat trailer suspensions are mostly for show, and potholes.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: suspension stiffness

I'm going to reply: Depends!

I have had trailers with a fixed pin at the front and a sliding connection on the rear of the spring (el-cheapo's usually adjustable to fit a variety of boats) and have had them with a fixed pin at the front and a moveable shackle at the rear (the more expensive custom type). The former usually had a couple (give or take) thick leaves and the latter usually multiple thin leaves and the leaves were longer.

I like a soft ride for my boat and when the trailer hits a pothole I want the springs to take the hit, not transfer it to my boat. So I like soft springs and for my boats in the 1500-2500# class, I could make the springs move by doing what you say you did. The latter spring type gave me this cushion; the former did not.

If your boat is like 4000# or so, then I would think that if you can move them (your body weight vs 4000#) then they are too soft; but what is too soft? Too soft to me would be where the spring would not be adequate for the load applied and (permanently) bend opposite to the shape that a spring is usually in, or upon hitting a deep hole, the axle would be able to come in contact with the trailer's frame. That make sense?

My 2c,

Mark

 

[Akros]

Re: suspension stiffness

Mine has the shackle and I cleaned and greased it. The boat only weighs about 2000#. I might try taking the bottom 2 leafs out and see what happens.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: suspension stiffness

keep at least the main leaf plus one. If one breaks, maybe you will notice before the whole rig is dragging on the pavement.

 

[fishinpa]

Re: suspension stiffness

Mine has the shackle and I cleaned and greased it. The boat only weighs about 2000#. I might try taking the bottom 2 leafs out and see what happens.

Not a very good idea IMHO !

Take your trailer and run it down a back road somewhere at a common speed,
watch it in your mirror as you cross a few bumps.

It is very easy to break a spring once you start pulling leafs!


fish

 

[Texasmark]

Re: suspension stiffness

Mine has the shackle and I cleaned and greased it. The boat only weighs about 2000#. I might try taking the bottom 2 leafs out and see what happens.

I gotta laugh at this. I had the most disappointment with one of the "fit everything" type trailers with holes punched in the side rails so that you could move the spring/axle assy fore or aft to suit the boat being carried. This is also the one that had no shackle on the rear; just had the bare spring bent horizontal the last 3-4 inches and it fit into a socket sort of thing to keep it in place.

Anyway during that period, I did a lot of tinkering trying to smooth out the ride and in one instance, I just installed a different set of multileaf springs with the rear shackle. The springs were still too much for the light boat so I did just what you said; I pulled out the lower leaves, like one at a time thinking I'd get to a point where the boat would ride comfortably.

Well, those lower short leaves have a purpose and when you remove them, the longer springs have no support in the middle. So, when you hit that humongous unsuspected chug hole the axle comes flying up and the spring bends (takes a permanent set) right where the center alignment bolt hole is and since spring steel is tempered, it can and will break.

So BTDT; I think removing leaves is not the right answer unless the spring was professionally designed like that.

My 2c,

Mark

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: suspension stiffness

With the boat on the trailer, If I stand on the trailer next to the wheel and shift my weight up and down, should the suspension move up and down?

So how heavy are you ???