Trailer leaf spring adjustment

[Wile E. Coyote]

Hi all,

I bought a small used trailer for my Spindrift 11, it's almost the smallest load trailer that Karavan makes, but the max load is still 1000 lbs. My boat hull only weighs about 100 lbs, plus a little more for some rigging and so on. So it's a bit of a bumpy ride. Has anyone tried taking out leaf springs, or is there some other way to adjust the trailer suspension for a lighter boat?

Thanks,

Matt

[PAR]

Yep, you can remove spring leaves if there's more than one, which is pretty common on small boat trailers. Conversely, you could simply replace the "stacked" spring, with a lighter single leaf spring of a more appropriate weight.

[Peter HK]

You can try lower tyre pressures- on a lightly loaded trailer like this you don't need much pressure. It can soften the ride quite a bit.

I use a standard box trailer to transport a small dinghy but also use it for heavier loads so I just adjust the pressures accordingly.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Wile E. Coyote]

Thanks. I'll see if I can take out a spring.

[meester]

Hi Wile,

 

Thanks for asking your question.  It's one that I have had on the back burner for a while.   I looked up leaf springs on a couple of on-line sites, and they're not so expensive, especially for light springs.

 

Bob

[Wile E. Coyote]

Well I looked at my trailer and the springs have three leaves. There is one long spring that is attached to the trailer at each end, under that there are two shorter springs that are fastened to the longer one by some kind of clip. It looks like I will be able to take out the two shorter springs and just leave the single long one. I don't have time right now, but I'll try that some time in the winter.

Matt

[PAR]

On a stacked spring set, you only have one choice, the leaf with the eyes on it is the only one you can attach, so the shorter leaves have to come out. Typically they'll have a locating pin in the center and a sheet metal leaf alignment clip on the outer ends. Pull the U bolts, remove the spring and everything will be apparent. Running much lower tire pressures, will just eat up the thread (commonly cupping it), dramatically lowering its lifespan.

[Don Silsbe]

But I recommend waiting until spring to do that job.  For some reason, it only seems right.

[Wile E. Coyote]

You made me check this new post, and it's a Dad joke! I'll get you for this Thrillsbe!

[Chick Ludwig]

Trust Thrillsbe to spring into action with something like that! You should bounce him off this thread.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Another groaner! But I will rebound.

[Action Tiger]

Can I hitch my wagon onto this thread? Seems you're all having a ball.

Sorry, I couldn't bite my tongue.

Peace,

Robert