Thread: Coil Springs on trailers

There's a few differences between using coil springs and leaf springs on a trailer, and each type of spring setup has its pro's and con's. The biggest difference would be the requirement to set up a shock absorber for a coil spring as there is no other way to stop the oscillation of the suspension travel, other than time, once the trailer stops travelling. Leaf springs inherently do this with the friction of the leaves rubbing together.

As for the springs you can obtain Bob, you'd need to see what size coils these springs have with regard to outer coil diameter, overall coil length, and most of all material size. Not much good if the spring was made from 1" thick material, was 8" in diameter and 2ft long... You'd need 2 ton just to start compressing it. And alternatively, the spring from a retractable ball point pen would not be much good either. So the correct size spring for the job is a factor, although not as critical as for leaf springs.

The thing about cutting a coil spring too, is that you will actually stiffen the spring by doing this. A coil spring is just a straight piece of steel, coiled up to make it more compact. By compressing a spring, you are just twisting the steel. Try twisting a match stick between your thumb and forefinger, and then cut it in half and try again. Same thing as cutting a coil or two from a coil spring.

Thansk Yonnee for your informative reply. Yesterday I knew nothing about "trailer springs", now, thanks to you I know "something".

Today, I am having an interview for a job acting as the sales rep in mid - Yorkshire for a firm who make and sell steel trailers. Because of this pending interview, I have been looking at "Google images" of trailers worldwide and have come to the conclusion that American and Australian trailers seem to be; by far the best. Australia seems to have dozens of manufacturers making very sturdy - well made trailers. In the UK our trailers can be bought in any colour you want - providing it's steel-gray and galvanised.

Summers over here and we've had our 3 days allowance. The streets are well flooded and its been raining non-stop since Sunday. If only we had your weather for just 28 days per year?

Once more, thank you. Bob.

We need to swap some of your rain - no flooding thanks - for some of our cloudless skies - if only it were possible.

If you were into blacksmithing you could be turning some of those 'reject' springs into woodworking tools - hook turning tools, gouges etc. or even mason's chisels.

Thanks BSRLEE. Your comments are noted;

POST: On the internet I found another wwwsite giving advice on trailer building, one of it's leading members - "Valkyrie", had posted a round up of all the www trailer building ideas [blogs] than can be found on the web. This is an 2006 list which trailer builders may find useful.

Valkyrie: Advised these sites on trailer building>
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoTrailerPlans1.htm
http://www.travelsleeper.com.au/
http://www.outbackteardrop.com/
These USA sites for ideas on parts etc.
http://www.jumpingjacktrailers.com
http://www.tentrax.com
http://www.bushmantrailers.com/Camper/index.htm
http://www.campertrailerswa.com/Trailers/trailers.html
http://www.off-roadinternational.com/trailers.html
http://www.kingkampers.com/kamper/overview.html
http://www.haultent.com/trailerspecs.html
http://www.adventurecampers.com.au/
http://www.safaritrailers.com/index....atalog&catID=1
http://www.outlandertrailers.com/
http://www.campausa.com/
http://www.adventuretrailers.com/tra...sInAction.html
http://conqueror.co.za/
Other Advice:

http://www.etrailerpart.com/35ktraileraxle.htm
www.metalsupermarkets.com
http://www.bluesea.com/product.asp?Product_id=53476
http://www.arb.com.au/roof_top_tents.htm
http://www.eeziawn.co.za/
http://www.oasis-tents.com/
http://www.loftyshelters.com/
http://www.tracktrailer.com/conqueror.html
http://www.technitop.co.za/
http://www.safaritrailers.com/index....atalog&catID=2
http://www.4by4connection.com/hannibal.html
http://www.autohomeus.com/
http://www.4wdworld.com.au/products/rooftoptents/
http://www.4x4wire.com/news/oasisII04/
http://www.offroadacademy.com/gear.php
http://www.baum.com.au/cars/autostan.htm
http://parts.grade.de/eeazi/index.asp
http://www.car-top-tent.com
http://www.autocamp.de (German)
http://www.technitop.co.za/
http://www.bimo.com/skydome1.htm
http://www.3dogcamping.com/rooftop.html

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8796/exiled8eb.jpg

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/9...ledrear2pd.jpg

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6...mithson9ss.jpg

http://www.jumpingjacktrailers.com/images/6x8.jpg

http://www.tentrax.com/gallery/image..._Moab_Utah.jpg

http://www.4wheeler.ca/uploads/11077...1108148195.jpg

http://www.kingkampers.com/buying/im...KK_Snow_lg.jpg
Acknowledgements and thanks are hereby given to "Valkyrie", who searched the www web for this information. Good reading.