Trailer Shocks?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 165
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Trailer Shocks?
Complete trailer towing newbie here.
I've been doing a lot of research. I've noticed that no trailers seem to come with shock absorbers. But Monroe does sell aftermarket shocks for trailers.
Have any of you added shocks to your trailers?
If so, why?
Did they succesfully solve whatever problem you were trying to correct?
Thanks.
Regards
John
I've been doing a lot of research. I've noticed that no trailers seem to come with shock absorbers. But Monroe does sell aftermarket shocks for trailers.
Have any of you added shocks to your trailers?
If so, why?
Did they succesfully solve whatever problem you were trying to correct?
Thanks.
Regards
John
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I installed shock absorbers on our fifth wheel to reduce the chucking. They did not completely eliminate the problem, but they did greatly improve things.
Why are you considering them for your trailer?
Steve
Why are you considering them for your trailer?
Steve
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 3
I'm not really considering them. I'm an old auto parts guy, and I remember seeing them in the catalogs. I'm basically just curious why they're not used more. I find it interesting that they are absolutely necessary on the tow vehicle, but apparently not at all necessary on the trailer. I'm the grown up version of the kid who's always asking: "But WHY?"
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 118
From: Tallassee, ALabama
Most times, no one is riding in the trailer, so the ride is usually not a concern as in the tow vehicle. Shocks on a car or truck are to smooth out the ride for the occupants. Also with the trailer axles in close proximity to each other, you don't get the wheel drop in to potholes nor the rise of the wheels over bumps like in your truck or car that need to bee dampened.
JMHO
JMHO
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
Every trailer up to the current 2014 we have owned has had shocks - even a p'up. This one has a Morryde urethane gadget in the equalizer that's supposed to smooth out the ride and so far seems to do the job. If anyone feels the need, Dexter offers a 'kit' to add shocks.
Oh, and in NY State, you can legally ride in a 5er as it's considered an 'articulated vehicle', the same as a tractor trailer rig and locally for the Saratoga track, large horse trailers have help in them. I rode in our long gone Kountry Aire 5er once when we had to 'go' and I had a severe case of food poisoning - not recommended - ever
Oh, and in NY State, you can legally ride in a 5er as it's considered an 'articulated vehicle', the same as a tractor trailer rig and locally for the Saratoga track, large horse trailers have help in them. I rode in our long gone Kountry Aire 5er once when we had to 'go' and I had a severe case of food poisoning - not recommended - ever
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
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From: Bristol, TN.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
There are a lot of misconceptions out there concerning what shock absorbers do and do not do.
The spring portion of the vehicle (or trailer) suspension is what absorbs the force of impact between the road surface and passenger (or dishes), as do the tires to a lesser extent.
Shock absorbers dampen the action of the springs, preventing oscillations that could grow into out of control vehicle bouncing. Shocks, in effect, push the wheels back down into contact with the ground.
Without getting into a lot of esoteric physics and stuff that makes my punkin' little head hurt, trailer suspension is generally (relatively) stiffer than passenger vehicle suspension, and, as pointed out earlier, are being pulled, rather than driven. This goes a long way toward damping up and down oscillations too, though I'm sure you've seen the occasional utility trailer bouncing merrily down the road behind an apparently oblivious owner. That situation occurs when the trailer is unloaded and has no weight to counteract the bouncing action of the springs and tires.
The spring portion of the vehicle (or trailer) suspension is what absorbs the force of impact between the road surface and passenger (or dishes), as do the tires to a lesser extent.
Shock absorbers dampen the action of the springs, preventing oscillations that could grow into out of control vehicle bouncing. Shocks, in effect, push the wheels back down into contact with the ground.
Without getting into a lot of esoteric physics and stuff that makes my punkin' little head hurt, trailer suspension is generally (relatively) stiffer than passenger vehicle suspension, and, as pointed out earlier, are being pulled, rather than driven. This goes a long way toward damping up and down oscillations too, though I'm sure you've seen the occasional utility trailer bouncing merrily down the road behind an apparently oblivious owner. That situation occurs when the trailer is unloaded and has no weight to counteract the bouncing action of the springs and tires.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
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From: Upstate NY
Steve - The ancient Viking p'up even had some real dinky shocks as well as the Sunline TT. There was another TT that I can't remember the name (something-Lite) which also had shocks The Kountry Aire and Titanium 5ers as well had them.
The Titanium forum had a thread a few years back. As I recall, if those had had shocks, they were the pre-Lippert (late 2008) frames.
The Titanium forum had a thread a few years back. As I recall, if those had had shocks, they were the pre-Lippert (late 2008) frames.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 155
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I am about to add the Lippert Shock kits (shocks, brackets, spring plates, etc.) to our rear kitchen 5vr. We hope it will help keep things from bouncing around too much in the cabinets. We also hope it will reduce some of the chucking we are experiencing now. I have to come up with a solution to get around an existing slide-out gear connecting shaft that is interfering with the placement of the bolt-on upper shock brackets first!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX-GoldCanyon, AZ
My fifth wheel triple axle toy hauler has shocks at each wheel...
I left a bar of soap on the soap tray in the shower about 30 minutes before we hit the road. 500 bumpy miles later we stopped for the night. When I took my shower the next morning, I realized the soap was still there where I left it.
I do have a bit of chucking but it's not terrible or bad enough to cause me to buy a cushioned hitch.
I left a bar of soap on the soap tray in the shower about 30 minutes before we hit the road. 500 bumpy miles later we stopped for the night. When I took my shower the next morning, I realized the soap was still there where I left it.
I do have a bit of chucking but it's not terrible or bad enough to cause me to buy a cushioned hitch.
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