Trailer spring ?/help needed

lizardman · Nov 24, 2012

I had someone give me the frame for a small galvanized john boat/skidoo trailer. I am rebuilding it to make into a yard trailer to pull behind my golfcart or Mule. The trailer may also be used on the road to haul trash a short distance or an atv a little longer distance to hunt so I dont want it to fail me.

Ok, the specifics.
The trailer is set up for slipper springs on a 1k lb axle, and the springs on it are shot. According to my measurements, a common 25" flat spring should work, but the end of the spring does not even extend out the back of the "shackle" that the slipper end goes thru. It is in the shackle, but doesnt go all the way thru the approx 1" wide shakle. The old springs extended a couple inches beyond the shackle and had a hook on the end. I cant find slipper springs locally any longer then 25", except for a 30" version which I am fairly confident will not work although I could be wrong(I was wrong once before:laughing

.

So, my questions are:
Does it matter that the spring doesnt extend thru the shackle?
Will it wobble loosely in the shackle and possibly torsion(if possible) its way out of the shackle?
Is there any other reasonable way to mount the spring such as mounting/welding another bracket and using a standard 2-bolt eye spring?
Am I overthinking this or missing some other point?

Thanks,
Rod

radioman · Nov 24, 2012

you could do away with springs and make a solid mount. It would take more abuse and more weight. Do you have pics of your setup?

Diamondpilot · Nov 24, 2012

Go to e trailer. I have replaced more sets of springs than I like to remember and only a few times they have failed me. In those cases my spring shop custom made some amazingly cheap.

Chris

jejeosborne · Nov 30, 2012

radioman said:
you could do away with springs and make a solid mount. It would take more abuse and more weight. Do you have pics of your setup?

I would think an unsprung axle would have a lower rating as I would be bearing the brunt of impacts from the roadways. Are you recommending something different?

radioman · Nov 30, 2012

jejeosborne said:
I would think an unsprung axle would have a lower rating as I would be bearing the brunt of impacts from the roadways. Are you recommending something different?

I am sorry - I thought lizardman wanted to make it into a yard trailer. without springs- you dont have to worry about how much weight you put on the trailer - it only cushions the ride and limits how much you can carry.