Trailer options for sensitive equipment

[VachonMan]

I work at a research lab which operates a 4.5m un-manned submarine. We're in the process of figuring out a trailer option for towing it around and using as a field workstation. We're leaning toward a 24' x 8' trailer that'll be towed by a pickup.

couple of questions I've come up against:

- In terms of Vibration reduction and protecting the gear, how does a Torflex axle compare to air bags?

- what hitch setup is gonna offer the absolute most stable ride? sway bars, torsion control, etc

I'm a little green when it comes to this stuff, so please feel free to dumb it down for me

Cheers

 

[dodge man]

I have no expertise in this area, so I'm just throwing out ideas, but a problem with trailers is they don't have shocks. Most of the time this doesn't matter, but I think a custom setup with shocks would help alot. Trailers also usually have pretty stiff springs for a maximum load. Since you know exactly what the load will be, you could maybe have custom, softer springs put on it.

I think a goose neck or fifth wheel setup would maybe also give the trailer a better ride.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Shocks would surly help and a air ride hitch on a 5thw GN hitch would also help. I do not care for torque flex axles for the simple fact that they do not share the load as equally between them compared to leaf springs with load equalizers do.

Chris

 

[radioman]

I am no expert, but if you think about it logically, a gooseneck generally have axels further back reducing the shock of bumps. If you go with a bumper pull having distrubition bars really helps to keep down the seesaw motion of the trailer and vehicle. The sway bar will help the side to side or fishtailing.

having too light of a load in the trailer will make it bouncy which is not good for electronics. too much wieght will make it rough over every bump and you can feel it in the vehicle when towing. Having said that, towing electronics without indivdual shock covers on the equipment in a trailer may not be the way to go.

I have a feeling you may want to go with a used uhaul truck as everything is much smoother with air ride and shocks.

 

[swines]

Go here

Mor/ryde makes a number of different trailer suspension systems that can be retrofitted onto most trailers. I'm sure one of their applications people could help you.

 

[Skyco]

I love the torsion axles, they have a very good ride.* Some trailers DO have shocks, my 25ft toy hauler trailer does. Some of the axle manufacturers sell kits to add them to a trailer that didn't come with them.

*I was sold on torsion axles when I drove 100 miles+ with an enclosed torsion axle trailer and one of my kids had left a half drank can of coke sitting on the inner fender well, still there and unspilled when we got home. Some trailers I've had would have thrown the can all over the trailer and busted it open!

 

[Cat_Driver]

Depending on the equipment you cantalk to these people and use their Shock Isolated Rack. Have them make a case that will handle the shock.

Also with the options they can add 6"-12" of foam if needed.


Anvil Cases: Options

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I have torsion axles on my 28' enclosed and it rides like a dream.I have left beverages on the front bench and driven 2 hrs home one some of IL. great roads without them bouncing off the bench. I use a weight distribution hitch. My dually rides worse than the trailer. I think it also depends on how much weight you are going to be carrying.
Bill

 

[schmism]

gooseneck or 5th wheel with shocks and airbags.

gonna beat a bumper pull no matter how much fancy WD hitch gear you got.

 

[VachonMan]

thanks for all the great posts everyone, I'll be checkin' out those links.

Been shopping around at the local trailer suppliers and starting to lean toward a stock trailer with torflex, but modifying the inside with a custom sub-frame that would include its own vibration compensation. (similar to those anvil cases, but on a large scale for our AUV).

Seems going to an airbag system may add too much cost and complexity, whereas a custom sub-frame with rubber or coiled shock mounts may do the trick. Any experiences out there?

5th wheel or gooseneck is not an option for us due to availability of trucks, much easier for us to get access to bumper hitches than anything else.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I would look at a air ride kit for the trailer and a air hitch, I forgot the companies name but buddies truck has one and it handles great. search air hitch and watch there vidio's more than I would spend pulling tractors, but would be the ticket for your use.

 

[aczlan]

thanks for all the great posts everyone, I'll be checkin' out those links.

Been shopping around at the local trailer suppliers and starting to lean toward a stock trailer with torflex, but modifying the inside with a custom sub-frame that would include its own vibration compensation. (similar to those anvil cases, but on a large scale for our AUV)..

How much does this thing weigh? Will it need to be lifted out, or can you roll it down a ramp?
You have may have already thought of this, but if it it heavy you might be well served by making a "subtrailer" that is like the cradle on the page on your link but with 10 or 12 inch tires on it, make it so that it can be winched up into the trailer. Perhaps something like this: http://n.b5z.net/i/u/10066744/i/notch/FlaredMobileBunkFeeder.jpg (but in the correct size) so that you can easily use a winch to pull the "subtrailer" onto the big trailer. You could then put your "good" suspension on that and it would only need to dampen the weight of the AUV, not of the whole rig. That would also let you move it around easily on the ground.

5th wheel or gooseneck is not an option for us due to availability of trucks, much easier for us to get access to bumper hitches than anything else.

Very logical, you can use most any vehicle (Truck, Van, SUV) with a heavy enough bumper hitch that way

Aaron Z

 

[VachonMan]

You have may have already thought of this, but if it it heavy you might be well served by making a "subtrailer" that is like the cradle on the page on your link but with 10 or 12 inch tires on it, make it so that it can be winched up into the trailer.

Aaron Z

That seems to be the way we're starting to lean, winch it in on some bigger wheels on a custom frame. Take care of the vibration and shock ourselves.

 

[RobertN]

I have shipped SEM's before; Scanning Electron Microscopes capable of 500,000 times magnification.

They had thier own anti-vibe system, but it required Oil Free Air. So that part of the system was down. The biggest thing for us, was making sure the UPS ispower was good; it was able to maintain the vacuum on the system which is absolutely necessary. Biggest issue we had, was that we had to unplug the system from house power just minutes before going on the truck, and it had to be back on house power within 6 hours. These systems operate under extreme vacuum; if you lose that vacuum, it takes days and days to recover.

These systems went in a big rig, with air ride suspension. The paricular systems were a couple years old; we did not have original packing, and the manufacturer did not see the need to go to that effort(they helped get the system ready to ship, and were there to recieve it to get the power and vacuum pumps running).

New, these systems did come in crates with shock absorbers. But, they came in pieces, and were built over a few days, during which that important vacuum system was high priority.

I would contact a company that deals with equipment like that.

We also shipped/received microprobers accurate to sub nanmeter. They went by air and/or air ride truck.

Companies like Wentworth Labs, Cascade Microtech, FIE, Hitachi ship these sensitive systems all the time. You might contact a company like that.

I would think, a well built trailer, with air ride suspension would be a start. Second, consider air ride on the tow vehicle. 5th wheel/goosneck would be a good start.

I would also consider secondary packing of the unit itself with some shock absorber features on the crate. Think about shock indicators for the packing too. They are just little stick on indicators, that will change color if a known shock level is exceeded.

To start the project, I would also consider a National Instruments or similar portable DAQ with a few transducers. Monitor your equipment to see what is really hapening on the unit you are transporting.

You may look again at goose necks, even if it requires a different truck. A different truck may be less expensive than damage to sensitive equipment.

I would though, contact a couple companies that ship/receive sensitive equipment.

 

[Mace Canute]

thanks for all the great posts everyone, I'll be checkin' out those links.

Been shopping around at the local trailer suppliers and starting to lean toward a stock trailer with torflex, but modifying the inside with a custom sub-frame that would include its own vibration compensation. (similar to those anvil cases, but on a large scale for our AUV).

Seems going to an airbag system may add too much cost and complexity, whereas a custom sub-frame with rubber or coiled shock mounts may do the trick. Any experiences out there?

5th wheel or gooseneck is not an option for us due to availability of trucks, much easier for us to get access to bumper hitches than anything else.

Really? You are talking about transporting a 4.5m un-manned submarine plus the equipment needed in the trailer/workstation and you are quibbling about the cost of an upgraded trailer suspension??

I would suggest you go for the suspension option that gives the best ride period and forget building a dual purpose sub-frame that would include its own vibration compensation. I believe THAT would be the expensive route to go.
Having the sub mounted on its own vibration compensation frame does nothing for anything carried elsewhere in the trailer either.
There's an old saying..."Don't try to reinvent the wheel".
The groundwork and development has already been done on various suspension systems...make use of that.

 

[VachonMan]

I fully agree. My concern is not the cost so much as the added complexity of the air-bag system, one more thing that'll need power and can fail. As I mentioned I'm not an expert in this by no stretch.

Out of the dealers I've met here in town, all but one don't even offer an air-ride package, and the one who does has never gotten one in before. How common are they on a 24' car-hauler type trailer?

Our custom sub-frame would be a completely passive system, that could find use outside of the trailer in our 20' container, as well as for manual moving around the University. Conversations with the manufacturer have lead us to this option as well, others with a vehicle like ours do a similar thing with a sub-frame utilizing coiled vibration dampeners.

This trailer would not be used for anything else.

Really? You are talking about transporting a 4.5m un-manned submarine plus the equipment needed in the trailer/workstation and you are quibbling about the cost of an upgraded trailer suspension??

I would suggest you go for the suspension option that gives the best ride period and forget building a dual purpose sub-frame that would include its own vibration compensation. I believe THAT would be the expensive route to go.
Having the sub mounted on its own vibration compensation frame does nothing for anything carried elsewhere in the trailer either.
There's an old saying..."Don't try to reinvent the wheel".
The groundwork and development has already been done on various suspension systems...make use of that.

 

[CurlyDave]

1. Mainframe computers and such are routinely transported on big rigs with air-ride suspensions. This is well established technology. You could consider just hiring one of the companies that does this when you need your submersible transported. This is an inexpensive and sure-fire method.

2. If you really want a sub-frame that isolates vibration, take advantage of the special nature of your cargo. Built a water tank which fits the sub's contours, blow ballast on the sub and transport it in the water tank with a few lbs of positive buoyancy. The only reason to fit the sub's contours is to keep water weight down, if weight is not a huge concern, a rectangular tank would work. A few boat fenders will keep it from banging into the sides.