If I don't put shocks on a car, if will bounce itself off the road. Trailers don't have shocks. How come they don't bounce crazy?
Enquiring minds need to know...

 

Because of the type of load. Leaf springs generally do the job.

 

I don't think it has anything to do with the "type of load".
Look at older LD trucks and every big rig on the road with straight axles & leaf springs they all have shocks.


I believe on trailers it has to do with how the springs are setup with a pivot in the center.
I also think it has to do with the spring used as the trailer springs are pretty thick and do not flex as easily as thinner springs and that leads to "bouncing".
Trailer springs are also shorter besides thicker.


That is my story and sticking to it.
Dave ----


ps: my big rig runs air bags on the power unit rear axles, suspension not setup like the small trailer axles, and it has shocks. My trailer running air bags I don't remember seeing shocks and again not setup like small trailers with the pivot in the center so who knows?

 

[QUOTE=FuzzFace2;17543238]I don't think it has anything to do with the "type of load".
Look at older LD trucks and every big rig on the road with straight axles & leaf springs they all have shocks.


I believe on trailers it has to do with how the springs are setup with a pivot in the center.
I also think it has to do with the spring used as the trailer springs are pretty thick and do not flex as easily as thinner springs and that leads to "bouncing".
Trailer springs are also shorter besides thicker.


That is my story and sticking to it.
Dave ----



ps: my big rig runs air bags on the power unit rear axles, suspension not setup like the small trailer axles, and it has shocks. My trailer running air bags I don't remember seeing shocks and again not setup like small trailers with the pivot in the center so who knows?[/QUOTE

I agree. I think trailer springs are stiffer and shorter. It may not ride too well, but who's gonna know? Cheaper to build and maintain.

 

Lack of passengers is what I have always as the reason and cost of course.

 

Okay, first some trailers do bounce like crazy depending the weight on the spring and the rating of the spring. I had a light weight fiver that was bouncer when the road got rough. Not a pogo stick for sure, but much more noticeable than our current fifth wheel and also used a light weight utility trailer on soft coils that would virtually toss the load over the rails on rough road. And some camping trailers and fifth wheels did or do come with shocks.

Since trailers do not carry people the manufacturers do not have to worry about spring rates or comfort so put on a heavy spring and put a lot of weight on the spring and it just doesn't have much flex.

My two cents,

Steve