2 questions about off road trailer suspension.

[Waters]

Im in the early stages of my off road trailer build.

Question 1. Do leaf springs need to be mounted level to the frame? My frame is rectangular tubing. When I set the spring on the tube the rear of the spring is already higher than the front, and I still need to add a shackle to the rear which will raise it more. Does that matter on a trailer? Do I need to raise the front? I understand it matters with a differential and pinion angle but this is a straight trailer axle.

Question 2. Spring in current configuration is meant for the axle to be below the spring. If I need to reverse it, why cant I just remove the center bolt and invert it, anything else come into play?

Thanks

 

[stomperxj]

Question 1. Do leaf springs need to be mounted level to the frame? My frame is rectangular tubing. When I set the spring on the tube the rear of the spring is already higher than the front, and I still need to add a shackle to the rear which will raise it more. Does that matter on a trailer? Do I need to raise the front? I understand it matters with a differential and pinion angle but this is a straight trailer axle.

No this is not necessary.

Question 2. Spring in current configuration is meant for the axle to be below the spring. If I need to reverse it, why cant I just remove the center bolt and invert it, anything else come into play?

You can absolutely do that. I'd suggest buying a new center pin/bolt. They are cheap. You will have to get an axle with the spring perches on the bottom side though as most axles are cambered.

 

[Waters]

Thanks for replies. The springs are old man emu, for an XJ. Manufacturer told me there is no reason they cannot be used on a trailer, but obviously I'm using them off label so gathering the other suspension components and making everything mesh is taking a bit of research. The axle I built, the tube is straight DOM tube, no camber. I do have some RS5000 shocks I will be mounting.

I mocked up the spring shackle and mounts and the configuration is way to high and way to angled. If I mount the shackle on the opposite end, it is perfect. By opposite end I mean there is an arrow on the spring, ARB told me this goes forward to the fixed hanger. This end has a larger loop in the spring and uses a larger bushing. If I mount the shackle on this end the spring is almost perfectly flat and the amount of lift is perfect. So now I'm wondering, mount the shackle in the front? I've never seen a trailer with a shackle in the front, still trying to research it. Or, ignore the directional arrow, mount the smaller loop end forward, and mount shackle in the back? Are leaf springs really directional? I would ask ARB again, but I understand they are not in the business of designing my trailer, and can only give me info based on the tests they performed on the spring for the vehicle it was intended for.

Link to build-

http://www.febuilt.com/expedition-trailer-build-.html