Thread: Who has shocks on their leaf spring camper?

adam my mate has a new jayco outback camper i could get a pic for you
and i'm sure we could work out the angle as well

I'm told that the best angle for mounting shocks is vertical, just like the front axle on a Land Rover.

Coils will need double acting shocks, whereas you could probably use series Land Rover shocks on a leaf sprung trailer.

I bought a leaf sprung trailer a few years ago for $52. It had Land Rover size rims with 7.50x16 tyres, but smaller wheel nuts that had RH thread on one side and LH thread on the other. The hubs have grease nipples, the chassis is C channel with large circular holes cut out (like an aircraft frame) and there are round cylinders that take oil and have an arm attached to the chassis and the arm connects to an attachment on the axle - some sort of WWII era shock absorber by the look of it. The arms have been bent back so they don't connect.

I've replaced the wheel studs with SIII Land Rover studs and plan on seeing if I get get the primitive shocks to work. Otherwise I'll be putting shocks on the trailer, it's okay on the road, but I imagine offroad all the conents would go flying.

I mention my trailer design for 2 reasons :

1. does anyone know what it might be off?
2. if you put shocks on yours, I'll be interested in your findings before I put some on mine.

I gussed the vertical was probably best, but it is not practica on a normal trailer as the shocks would be very short and I don't know if you could get them short enough.

I would not use standard shocks as they would fade in the first 10min once you hit the corrugations in the outback.

I will probably use tough dog shocks as this is what I have on the Disco and they have worked well so far.

I have looked at a few pics of leaf spring trailers with shocks and they seem to be on about a 45degree angle. One site stated that the angle was of the "utmost" importance...but then never said what that angle should be.

Originally Posted by hiline

adam my mate has a new jayco outback camper i could get a pic for you
and i'm sure we could work out the angle as well

That would be great Ray.

I have a pair of air shocks for when I do the trailer. No idea on the mounting yet.

What about airbags?

Just an idea.

Originally Posted by Michael2

What about airbags?

Just an idea.

No, now you are just changing the subject!

I already have the axle and springs ready to install, I just need to work out shocks.

Originally Posted by walker

That would be great Ray.

I'll get them for you tomorrow arvo