Help With M416 Trailer Shocks

[IZZYDUSIT]

I need an advise for my trailer!

It did not have shocks when I bought it, and since I had the spring over axle conversion done. It has the upper mounting bracket but not the bottom
brackets. even if it did have the bottom brackets, where would I install it?
what shocks did you guys use? bushings fitment?
if some of you ran into this, please include pictures.
thanks in advance!

 

[IZZYDUSIT]

ok lets try again..

 

[ntsqd]

Search out the 2 Big Broncos tech page. Years ago I compiled a list of the compressed & extended lengths of all known U.S. off road application shocks into an Excel spreadsheet and last I knew it was posted there. It also used to be on POoR, but should not be there now. If it can't be found then I still have the original file at home.

You won't find much in the way of the monotube shocks listed, but I got specs for all mfg's at one year's SEMA show to compile the list. Then it's just a matter of measuring what the travel is and finding a shock with a length that will allow easy fabrication of the lower mounts. I would NOT worry much about the extended length. Set the compressed length to be ~1/4"-3/8" longer than the shock itself.

 

[FEF]

It's true, we did have nearly all the measurements for the models of the day.

But what shock should be used??? Would any automotive shock do? Would it be too soft, or stiff? Would somthing like an RS5000 do? Maybe a Monroe for smaller cars? I'm not sure.

My little trailer has no shocks. My truck bed frame trailer has auto shocks for that make and model. The 5th wheel trailer is a stripped Travle Trailer frame, and uses stock shocks for that application.

Have you tried it? If it's like my small trailer, it may not require shocks at all. I'd consider making an upper spring plate that has a shock mount on it. That way you'd have the leaf plate, and the mount on one piece. HUMmmmmmmm... Many vehicles have this arrangement. Get a good idea where the upper mount is (maybe take a pic on a cell phone), then look at a u-pull-it yard for an leaf plate with a shock mount on it. From there, it will be easier to find a shock length.

I haven't found that a lot of axle articulation is used on a trailer. You might could even get a generic shock, and put the lower mount toward the middle of it's stroke.

It's tough to give advice without more info on the trailer, and even then it would only be indeas and suggestions. As you know, there's a lot of responsibility put on the owner of a modified rig.

Hope this helps,

 

[IZZYDUSIT]

Thanks for all the responses guys!!

 

[ntsqd]

Classic trailer leaf springs are designed short for their rate. This yields little deflection at max loading. The implied idea being that they move so little that dampers aren't really needed.

The one trailer I've built with really long leaves has now d/c'd Monroe eyelet type circle track racing shocks (hard/hard) on it. Trailer works rather nicely on washboards.

Occupant comfort isn't an issue (normally) so achieving that 3-5hz isn't a big deal so long as the beer doesn't spray on you when opened and the eggs aren't running around the bottom of the cooler. With leaves I'll venture that so long as there is something there what they are really doesn't matter.
With t-bars or air springs it is a different story, though perhaps not hugely different.