Torsion suspensions

[Hay Dude]

What’s y’all’s opinion on them in OFF ROAD (hay field) situations?
Looking at 10K axles with super singles or traditional tandems with springs.
Got peeps telling me to stay away they don’t hold up as well as traditional suspensions-not as rugged.

BS? or true?

 

[workinonit]

My only experience with torsion was a boat trailer I had at one point. Obviously not the application you are referring to but I really liked the torsion over springs. A bit more bouncy or just active but a much smoother suspension.

 

[Hay Dude]

Need to know if they hold up on rough ground? Or are they better suited for hard top?

 

[mrmikey]

Different situation and weights but.......
I've got a trailer I haul a 1100L water tank on for my daughter for the past 5 years or so, 3500LB torquflex axles, trailer weighs all that when loaded and I've had it overloaded with soil a couple times (the pic of the soil is with the lighter axles under, over a yd of damp topsoil) .
Initially had 2500LB torqueflex axles under it and worked great but I was getting a bit antsy re the overload so I changed them to the 3500LB. It's all on pavement but around here the roads are the $hits being full of potholes and wallows. Pic is when I was changing the suspension.
Never had a lick of problems with the originals or the heavier ones. They never took on a permanent sag or any sign of problem. The lighter ones I had on for 8 or so years and the heavier ones for the past 4 or so.
As for bounce, I built an identical trailer for the SIN using a 2500LB leaf spring axle. Empty it's like a rabbit jumping all over the place, loaded not as bad but still bouncy. Mine, it'll bounce a couple times empty or full and stop. I'd never build a trailer again using leaf springs.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had a horse trailer with them which traveled smoothly. I don't have personal experiance but have heard or read that you can damage them when loaded and jacking around too tightly.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I just remembered that way baked when, I had a14k gooseneck with torsion. No issues but I tried to not jack it too hard when loaded and never much off road use.

 

[confused8122]

In my opinion, torsion is just as tuff. But, they are not self leveling ( not the correct term)
In off road situations, a bump or a hole, one tire might be in the air, overlaloading the other. Not as likely with a standard spring setup.

 

[Peter 315]

Go with leaf springs......

 

[ptsg]

In my opinion, torsion is just as tuff. But, they are not self leveling ( not the correct term)
In off road situations, a bump or a hole, one tire might be in the air, overlaloading the other. Not as likely with a standard spring setup.

My thoughts and experience as well.

My trailer has torsion suspension, while I have absolutely 0 issues with it, I do experience exactly what confused8122 explain.

If I were to buy again, I would most likely go with spring, specially to get the equalizer leaf spring suspension.

The situation I really notice that torsion suspension is going over some of the tall speed bumps we have here, like 4" to 6" tall ones. As the first axle of the trailer starts to go over the speed bump, it unloads the rear of the pickup truck, then as the 2nd axle is leaving the speed pump, it puts most of trailer and load weight on the hitch.

The equalizer should fix a lot of that, I believe.

 

[DarkBlack]

Germany chose torsion bar suspension for their 56 ton tiger tank

Tiger I Information Center - Suspension

 

[Hay Dude]

I feel like a spring suspension is a safe bet, but a couple trailer choices I really like have torsion axles.

 

[garry1p]

Airstream trailers use torsion axles.
The are smooth and the only problem I'm aware of is they will sag from just sitting over time.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just want to know if they can handle bumpy fields with heavy loads.

 

[nisaacs]

My PJ 22k dump handles the rough country fine. Just an FYI, Dexter warranty on spring axles is 5 years, or 10 years on torsion. They do need to be level. All spring and torsion axles suspensions are not created equal. It is how the manufactures mount them that is important. Spring suspension has a lot of wear points v/s torsion. I have both and like both.

 

[Fallon]

I've had 2 torsion axle trailers. 1970s Boller & a late 90s Casita. The Boller had no movement left in the suspension & the Casita was ok, although I was thinking about a new axle, mostly for a lift. There is rubber between the square axle tube & the square axle shaft. It squishes as the inner twists. After 20 or 40 years that rubber dries out & gets hard. I tend to think that's pretty good durability all in all. They are easy to replace as long as they aren't welded on. A lifespan of a decade or 2 isn't leaf spring good, but generally pretty adequate.

I wouldn't hesitate to get a single torsion axle trailer again. There is no equalizer between torsion axles like there is on a spring axle though. Hit a speed bump & that first torsion axle takes most of the force. The equalizer on a spring axle distributes a good chunk to the 2nd leaf spring pair & the other axle.

You say heavy off road use. If you are going to be pushing a multi-axle trailer towards the limit in rough terrain you'll likely end up overloading them. I wouldn't be nearly as worried in a single axle scenario though.

 

[dieselscout80]

I think bumps in the field would be less of an issue than turning in the soft ground with a heavy load. When turning (going forward or back) it me a seems like there would be a lot of stress that could bend the ends of torsion axle.

I do have a torsion axle horse trailer and it's old and has not had any issues.

I really like the increase clearance they tend to provide vs a spring axle.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, I’m in negotiations with my Diamond C dealer. We are trying to see if DC will build me a 20’ DEC 210 deckover and bump the rating from 20,000 to 23,000 with a 235 tire and ply upgrade and an upgraded ball coupler on the torsion axles.

I am going with the wide ramps instead of the mega ramps. I know “why would you do that?”

I think it’ll be easier to load small tire equipment and it’s $1,500+ cheaper. Also the flat part of the deck is 20’ long instead of 19’ long.

 

[Snobdds]

I had a wood chipper with a torsion axel. I took it up to my cabin all the time on the rough roads. It held up fine. I just don't know if they can handel the weight over time you would be using it for.

Actually my leaf spring tandem axel trailer had an issue where the hangers were placed too close together and it would cause the spring pack to invert on bumps. I would get to the cabin and one whole axel would be not riding on the ground. That took me a while to figure out what was going on. The fix was to put the hanger out by one inch on both sides.

So I guess each has their pluses and minuses.

 

[nisaacs]

Well, I’m in negotiations with my Diamond C dealer. We are trying to see if DC will build me a 20’ DEC 210 deckover and bump the rating from 20,000 to 23,000 with a 235 tire and ply upgrade and an upgraded ball coupler on the torsion axles.

Are you going to pull it with your dump truck or just your 5500? They can both carry some serious pin weight. I don't think the DEC with the 8"x15# I-beam frame will stand a heavy pin weight. Most manufactures use 10"-12" I-beam frame in about 16#-19# per ft. Not sure why DC's bumper pull is so light for 20k rating.

They do make a serious pintle hitch, heavy frame, with 25k gvw, 10k axles but duallys.

 

[Hay Dude]

Are you going to pull it with your dump truck or just your 5500? They can both carry some serious pin weight. I don't think the DEC with the 8"x15# I-beam frame will stand a heavy pin weight. Most manufactures use 10"-12" I-beam frame in about 16#-19# per ft. Not sure why DC's bumper pull is so light for 20k rating.

They do make a serious pintle hitch, heavy frame, with 25k gvw, 10k axles but duallys.

It’ll see work behind both, IF it happens. I’ll have to get an electric brake model if the 5500 will also be pulling it.
Prices are out of control and there’s plenty of used, traditional tandem trailers out there for sale.

New-expensive
Used- repairs, not as nice.