couple questions on trailer basics.

[WaveBreaker]

Hello All new to the site been lurking reading builds some great ones on here for sure.

Planning mine for next season. Couple of basic questions.

1) axle width what seems to be standard / same width as Tow vehicle?
or narrower? what do most of you use.

2) dry weight avg for a scratch built? Off road type with RTT /trying to determine what material to use in construction.

3) suspension: do people find springs generate alot of bounce back while traveling over obstacles? and adding shocks to this does it help to dampen the effect? or is one better off to use the independent suspension? seen a couple write ups here on that note. or are the disadvantages to the construction of independent not worth the bother?

Thanks for the input and the build write ups here lot of good stuff

Cheers

 

[Dell]

Hello All new to the site been lurking reading builds some great ones on here for sure.

Planning mine for next season. Couple of basic questions.

1) axle width what seems to be standard / same width as Tow vehicle?
or narrower? what do most of you use.

2) dry weight avg for a scratch built? Off road type with RTT /trying to determine what material to use in construction.

3) suspension: do people find springs generate alot of bounce back while traveling over obstacles? and adding shocks to this does it help to dampen the effect? or is one better off to use the independent suspension? seen a couple write ups here on that note. or are the disadvantages to the construction of independent not worth the bother?

Thanks for the input and the build write ups here lot of good stuff

Cheers

1. My M100 tracks slightly narrow (56 1/4") to my '00 Tacoma...
I like that on the tighter trails... but I think it's best if the trailer's wheels track the same as, or as close as possible, to the tow vehicle.

2. the sky and yer wallet, are the limit
My M100 (dry) is 565 lbs.
w/RTT and host of other attached mods...
I'm probably closer to 800 lbs. dry
(not blt fm scratch... tho' possibly less weight is a goal) ?

3. leaf springs will carry more load... and likely be more durable in the long haul.
a longer leaf would offer a more compliant ride..
adding extra dampening will not do much for bounce if the springs are of the shorter, stiffer type.
even then a single shock should be sufficient.

In dealing with those type of short leaf (load) springs...
tire air pressure plays a key role in controlling bounce
adjusting that... dependent of load weight.

 

[WaveBreaker]

Dell
Thanks for the reply.
good idea with longer springs i have a couple sets of YJ springs i could use.

I am still doing the math on weights versus different types of materials.
I'm a boat builder by trade so am hoping to incorporate some newer marine tech into the build to keep it lighter. but when you start adding 100 lbs for RTT 120 lbs for a couple battery's it adds up fast. hopefully ill be able to start building next month once i pick up my RTT

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I'm not so sure having the axle with (tire track) the same as the tow vehicle is all that big of a deal.

It's a plus to have the track match for driving around rocks, ruts, etc. And this works for fairly straight roads or trails.

Where it doesn't work is on tighter curves or with compound turns in a very short distance. The trailer tires will follow a path of their own that won't match the tow vehicle. The longer the distance between the tow vehicle and trailer, the more amplified this is. Ever see a semi-truck make a tight turn? The trailer wheels are often half the trailer width or more off of the path of the truck tires. Of course that's a very long trailer, but the principle is the same.

 

[WaveBreaker]

Brian .. so hitch length comes into play then with tighter obstacle. so adjustable hitch length keep it tighter to tow vehicle? As for springs ill go for the yj springs maybe lose a leaf or 2. trying to keep the height of it down as well i hope.

Thanks for the reply's.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Your hitch length is as crucial as your comfort on the road. Some use an extended hitch on the hwy and shorten it on the trail The shorter length on the road the more bouncy effect you are going to have. The longer on the trail the more crucial your departure angle becomes. Good luck