Trailer Suspension Article

[Martyn]

I've been working on an article on trailer suspension. It's a mixture of observations, experience and history.

I haven't linked the article to the rest of our web site yet, but you can access it directly from: http://www.adventuretrailers.com/suspension.html

I'd be interested in your feedback, anything from content to grammar. I've been looking at the article for so long I don't think I can see what I wrote anymore, but rather what I meant to write.

Hope you enjoy it.

 

[spressomon]

Very good and interesting info Martyn. Now get back to work on the new trailer :violent-smiley-031:
:jump:

 

[fisher205]

Martyn, Good article, but the print and the drawings were a little small. I was having to squint to read it (bifocals next?). I really enjoyed following the evolution of the design. -Brad

 

[OldSven]

A question for you would be for a home-built trailer how does a new axle, springs, and shocks compare up to the air-ride setup price wise? Are the I guess you would call them "axle ends" cheaper then a full straight axle?

Thanks.

 

[Colorado Ron]

Looks great! Thanks for the link. The TASS 3 looks nice but what about field repairs? With TASS 2 its easy to replace a shock or carry an extra airbag, how about the design on TASS3-can you do this easily as well?

 

[Willman]

TASS 3 looking sweet!

That is a great idea!.....Wonder how it will test out in the long run??

 

[Martyn]

Martyn, Good article, but the print and the drawings were a little small. I was having to squint to read it (bifocals next?). I really enjoyed following the evolution of the design. -Brad

Brad

I'm confined on the size of the thumbnails due to layout.

If you click on thumbnails most of them will open up in larger JavaScript windows. Every time you click on those remember I spent hours constructing them, on the last few windows I was smart enough to realize there had to be a simpler way to do it and found http://www.cbtcafe.com/dreamweaver/

If the pop up windows are too small let me know and I'll enlarge them.

 

[Martyn]

A question for you would be for a home-built trailer how does a new axle, springs, and shocks compare up to the air-ride setup price wise? Are the I guess you would call them "axle ends" cheaper then a full straight axle?

Thanks.

Off the shelf axle assemblies and leaf spring as very inexpensive. You can order them on line.

The majority of them use very low quality components. If you look at the picture of the leaf springs in the suspension article the top spring in the picture is an off the shelf leaf spring. We ordered it for a concept trailer we are working on. I have to say it's the most horrible piece of steel that I've seen recently. The lower spring is a true off road trailer spring with urethane bushings and a double military wrapped eye.

 

[Martyn]

Looks great! Thanks for the link. The TASS 3 looks nice but what about field repairs? With TASS 2 its easy to replace a shock or carry an extra airbag, how about the design on TASS3-can you do this easily as well?

Ron

The complete assembly can be replaced in the same fashion that you replace a shock absorber, just two bolts and sliding the air line back into the fitting.

 

[Martyn]

TASS 3 looking sweet!

That is a great idea!.....Wonder how it will test out in the long run??

Only time will tell obviously. We are very hopefully so far. Micro leaks are the most common problem with air bags of all sorts. But the industry as a whole has a good handle on it.

Here are the most common problems in order.
Dirt working it's way into fitting
Fitting leaking
Fittings no tightened correctly
Use of pre doped fittings without re doping or wrapping with Teflon tape.
Burrs at the end of the airline

We have started experimenting with wrapping the airline and fitting junction with emergency tape to keep the dirt out. Higher quality fittings are being made. We now use un doped fittings and wrap them in a thicker Teflon tape prior to fitting them. We use a special tool to cut the airline at 90' with a very sharp blade.

 

[njtaco]

If the pop up windows are too small let me know and I'll enlarge them.

Martyn,

The 640x480 window of the airbag looked like a good size on my laptop screen. The others looked small by comparison.

I agree with fisher205, the font size is a bit small, and I don't wear glasses (yet).:hehe: No worse than some other sites, though.

I went to about a dozen random sites, curious why your font appears smaller. A quarter of them display like the AT site, same font, and only cover a little over half my screen (maybe 800 px wide?) This may be why it is harder for me to read your site. Is there a function in web design that allows the site to "adjust" to my monitor settings, so I see the page across my whole screen? My resolution is set to 1280x800, if it matters. ( Or maybe I have something set wrong on my computer...it would not be the first time. )

Otherwise it is a great article, and a generous resource. AT always seems so willing to share information and experience. I'm looking forward to reading what you do with TASS3, and how it holds up.

 

[Superu]

Excellent article Martyn

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the development of a very nice suspension setup.

I'll have to keep saving my pennies 'til I can order up an AT with a custom deck to hold an Ezi-Awn 2200! :Wow1:

At least I know it'll handle well enough on the trails!

 

[JackW]

Only time will tell obviously. We are very hopefully so far. Micro leaks are the most common problem with air bags of all sorts. But the industry as a whole has a good handle on it.

Burrs at the end of the airline

We use a special tool to cut the airline at 90' with a very sharp blade.

I've seen a lot of failures with tubing connections too - I've used Swagelock Stainless fittings with great success (both on the robots at work and on my Defender 90 on-board air system).

Check them out at www.swagelock.com

 

[UK4X4]

"I've used Swagelock Stainless fittings "

likewise I've used on my trailer too, but for most they are very expencive.

For airbag baby leaks I was thinking "slime"

For the threads ....the firestone ones I have are'nt that great a thread and teflon wont seal it long term.

thread lock thread sealant is perfect for this type of job, where disimilar standard threads come together.

it seals, its liquid when applied and does not go off hard, except in small areas, it stays semi hard at the extremities of the thread.

issue again is cost.......


now back to the thread, yep agree graphics and writting are small.....

or maybe its cos I only have 15" screen...:hehe:

 

[Martyn]

"I've used Swagelock Stainless fittings "

likewise I've used on my trailer too, but for most they are very expencive.

For airbag baby leaks I was thinking "slime"

For the threads ....the firestone ones I have are'nt that great a thread and teflon wont seal it long term.

thread lock thread sealant is perfect for this type of job, where disimilar standard threads come together.

it seals, its liquid when applied and does not go off hard, except in small areas, it stays semi hard at the extremities of the thread.

issue again is cost.......


now back to the thread, yep agree graphics and writting are small.....

or maybe its cos I only have 15" screen...:hehe:

We are talking to Loctite, see what comes of that.

Keeping dirt out of the fittings seems critical, you can start out with a sealed fitting and later it can start to leak. Very frustrating.