Thread: Independent Suspension Design

Reminds me of the old VW swing arm suspension geometry! I'm guessing that it will need to adjust to a specific ride height with the varying loads. Have you considered hinging the suspension from a cross member rather than from the spine of the trailer - I just say this because it will always retain your chosen camber angle(s) and it may improve handling and stability. This may have already been discussed previously.

Is the aim to reduce the ride height etc or for something cool and different? Irrespective, I like it.

you're airbags arent going to like that unless you put some wedge angle on to deal with the relative motion of the bag through its arc.


I assume that you're going to fit self levelling airbag controls so that you dont have to worry about the wheel camber changing with varying load?

if you run that design.
I would run a sway bar to enable some left to right dynamic load sharing.
I built up some swing arms on soft coils.
Hated the varying camber, hated the lack of cross axle load sharing. Changed it over to a solid axle with triangulated 4 link. Tis now awesome.

Name one solid engineering reason why a sigle axle trailer should have totally independently suspended hubs?

S

Reminds me of a South Australian invention around 25+ years ago, "Sway-Allay".
Aimed at the solid beam axle/cart-springs which was then the 'standard' for caravans.

Basically, a pair of triangle arms hinged near the spine,attached to the axle at the apex and base....then the axle between the triangle bases (L and R) was cut out. Instant independant suspension !

The original spring/shocks setup was left untouched.

It certainly did as it was designed, reduced caravan swaying especially on the Bendy Bits.

From fading memory, it was sold to a rustproofing company...who made a dog's breakfast of fitting them... and subsequently went out of business.

Shock absorbers as required for length of suspension travel



Maybe I should have said select either air bag A or B configuration for suspension travel.

I note that truck bogies use the air bag outboard of the axle as per B. They are not after a lot of suspension travel but load handling so the lever (radius arm) can be used to their advantage on the airbags pressure handling capability to provide the necessary spring rate.

Mate dont try and re invent the wheel so to speak. I went down the same path and ended up building a solid axle on RR coils using RR trailing arms, A frame and small adjustable shocks. Works like a treat. Will put up a photo if you like.

Justin

The CRUISEMASTER® Range

Vehicle components make some top quality gear, and I doubt you'll easily find any better trailer suspension kits.....

Thanks guys for all you input about location & angle of the air springs.

I'm not the person that builds an item my self just like the ones on the shelf. i believe that the design can be improved for my requirements, so i will give it a shot. I have taken some of your tips & added them into the design, but will be sticking to the original setup.
The drawing are with the 3D CAD man, so real work on this project should start any day.
I'l keep posting images & updates.

Cheers
David