Can this Suspension Work?

[Metal Twister]

Ok, so im a little different and want to try some different approaches to my trailer suspension. I thought I would throw this out for debate. Seems if I can tuck the shock up in the frame rail it should make for less chance for damage. I havnt modeled it on Solid works yet but wanted to see if it made since to the experts here. This is just a doodle not to scale or even close. There will be airbags and a detachable sway bar in the final product. Im just playing with the concept at this point.



I need your input ... Thanks in advance.

[Niner]

looks like the cantalever suspensions in the Monster trucks

[Scott_sFZJ80]

Nice "out of the box" thinking. How about the space above the shock, won't you need clearance for the travel? Looks like it would might get in the way of the trailer box and/or fender?

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Scott_sFZJ80

Nice "out of the box" thinking. How about the space above the shock, won't you need clearance for the travel? Looks like it would might get in the way of the trailer box and/or fender?

I might have to lower the pivit point, or make it a wider frame rail? I think that I can work that out easy enough. That is the beauty of solid works. It allows you to cycle the assemblys for clearence and stress . Here are a few ideas I had for trailing arms. Since the time I drew this up Ive decided to go with a double plate for the spindel mount. That should do away with any flex, and it will also give me three good surfaces to weld on.

[Koffer]

I see no problems with it . The only thing you'll need to look into is that the shock will work on the kind of angle. Most are made to be pretty close to a up/down mounting for the valving to work . Steering stabilizers would be good for this mounting setting though.

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Koffer

I see no problems with it . The only thing you'll need to look into is that the shock will work on the kind of angle. Most are made to be pretty close to a up/down mounting for the valving to work . Steering stabilizers would be good for this mounting setting though.

Good thought!!! Do they make different compression and rebound rate steering stablizers?

[rockrash]

You might try either a gas charged shock like one you can charge yourself,or a steering stabilzer shock they are ment to lay horizontal.Fabtech make a gas charged steering stabilzer and so does Superlift give them a try.

I like that idea for a suspension but what about the weight.Will it be able to hold 500-1000lbs.You might need a coil over shock.

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by rockrash

You might try either a gas charged shock like one you can charge yourself,or a steering stabilzer shock they are ment to lay horizontal.Fabtech make a gas charged steering stabilzer and so does Superlift give them a try.

I like that idea for a suspension but what about the weight.Will it be able to hold 500-1000lbs.You might need a coil over shock.

The plan is to haul a couple of bikes in this thing so it will have to haul at least 1200 to 1500 lbs of weight. Add a roof tent and it will most likley need to handle a bit more. I know guys that run bags on their rigs without coilovers and they do just fine with about that much weight on each corner. Time will tell! LOL Coil over steering stablizers?? Thanks for the help.

[Boston Mangler]

Looking Good Bob!

Good call on the Horz valving question Todd!

[Brian in Oregon]

Reminds me of an M151A2 MUTT suspension.

[Koffer]

Make it so the spindle can be bolted on like the fronts of a cruiser (ford,jeep gm etc) to be able to run large bearings and same bolt patten as the tow vehicle

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Brian in Oregon

Reminds me of an M151A2 MUTT suspension.

I must confess I have no clue what a M151A2 MUTT is. Any Pics?

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Koffer

Make it so the spindle can be bolted on like the fronts of a cruiser (ford,jeep gm etc) to be able to run large bearings and same bolt patten as the tow vehicle

I think that is a great idea! I will check on mounting flanges and maybe adaptors?

[Brian in Oregon]

The M151 is the Ford replacement for the military jeep. They were used in the Vietnam War. Sometimes they took the place of jeeps in war movies. Like the one John Wayne drives in "In Harm's Way" (which of course is an error).

M151 MUTT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikipedia has a brief MUTT writeup. The suspension I'm talking about is the M151A2, which corrected the rather squirrelly defects of the M151 and M151A1 suspensions.

[inkpot]

Originally Posted by Koffer

I see no problems with it . The only thing you'll need to look into is that the shock will work on the kind of angle. Most are made to be pretty close to a up/down mounting for the valving to work . Steering stabilizers would be good for this mounting setting though.

Howdy! Most shocks do not know about gravity. They only know compression and extension. The valving operates on pressure from either side, but not from gravity. I have seen similar setups on open desert race trucks in the good old days. Some of them even had the shocks running side to side, between the frame rails. John

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by inkpot

Howdy! Most shocks do not know about gravity. They only know compression and extension. The valving operates on pressure from either side, but not from gravity. I have seen similar setups on open desert race trucks in the good old days. Some of them even had the shocks running side to side, between the frame rails. John

I am sure Im not blazing new ground here with this design. I am only thinking that something a little more unique might be the answer for me. And by original, I mean trailer wise. I dont want to have anybody worried about patent issues.

[inkpot]

Originally Posted by Metal Twister

I am sure Im not blazing new ground here with this design. I am only thinking that something a little more unique might be the answer for me. And by original, I mean trailer wise. I dont want to have anybody worried about patent issues.

Howdy! What I meant was that it IS a workable system. I think it's a neat idea. By doing some geometry, you can get a shorter shock to make a lot longer travel by using an offset bellcrank. Shocks have different valving for compression versus extension, but steering stabilizers do not. Go for it! John

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by inkpot

Howdy! What I meant was that it IS a workable system. I think it's a neat idea. By doing some geometry, you can get a shorter shock to make a lot longer travel by using an offset bellcrank. Shocks have different valving for compression versus extension, but steering stabilizers do not. Go for it! John

Thanks for the input John! I am going to press foward with this idea and see where it takes me. Thanks again for the suggestions. I have been playing with the trailing arm design abit and will post up some early designs.

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

Every time Brian in Oregon answers a post I think it is the Professor from Gilligan's island. He thinks so deep but sure enough he's right the majority of the time.

[Luke111]

Just curious why not just go with a proven design?

Lou

[Luke111]

And mod to meet you needs, susp trave, load etc....

Lou

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Luke111

And mod to meet you needs, susp trave, load etc....

Lou

Well its kinda hard to explain! But I will give it a shot. LOL While the pics that youve shown are great designs,work well, and are proven to be just fine, I have the need to excell and push the boundries. It all goes back to developing Race vechicle suspensions and trying to build a better mouse trap. With out of the box thinking, lots of ideas and conversations, along with the use of the newer computer programs, I believe that I can build a more efficient, better working suspension than what already exists. If I can free up the shock from any possible damage from ground obsticals, and at the same time build in a few more features that really work, It would be a good thing right ? And if it worked better than most, it would be more desirable, unpatented, and free to manufacture under my company name... other wise I would just do like most and copy what someone else thought hard about, marketed, fabricated, and justly so sells for a profit. That in my mind just wouldnt be cool. It's just the way I like to play the game... while always keeping in mind the easy way very seldom is the best way. Its all good and thanks for the suggestions. Bob

[boss73]

I really like this idea... Nice think out side the box and new ideas...

[Luke111]

I missed your web address in the earlier post, had I look at it I would not have said a word.

Lou

[Metal Twister]

Originally Posted by Luke111

I missed your web address in the earlier post, had I look at it I would not have said a word.

Lou

Heck no Lou!!! Im glad you did ask. I really need to know what people are thinking in reguards to design, products, mfg. process, ect. I know at times I come across a little rough. Its due to my inability to write. I honestly appreciate the input here. Thanks again Bob.

[Scott_sFZJ80]

Without "out of the box" thinking we would all still be in stage coaches.

Lou, Are those your trailers? Those are sweeeet!

Bob, curious on the length of the shock link mount to the bell crank.