Is this extra leaf spring install right??

[ultimbow]

Hi i am building a trailer for my boat. I got all the part from they person from who i bought it (axle, leaf spring, manual winch...) Now, the leaf spring are in 2 part and i am not sure if i install them properly. So here a pic of the installation and if i am wrong can you tell me how to install it properly or refer me to a website that show how (i am very visual on stuff like that).

Thanks

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Ah, NO, it is not correct. You do not have nearly enough axle clearance between it and the frame. The axle needs to go below the spring. While I have not had experience with the extra leaf you have circled, I am reasonably sure that it too goes below the main spring between the spring and axle.

If I am incorrect, someone else will surely chime in and give you correct installation instructions.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Frank, he can go either way with the springs, the upper spring is an overload and designed to come in contact with the frame when the load is sufficient. I agree with you though, the reason we like the springs on top with the u-bolts facing up is so you if you hit a road obstacle you don't shear the bolts off. I'd rather you put a bump stop on the frame, go over the top with the spring and get rid of the over loads. If the axle has spring pads welded to it you can just roll the axle over. Most trailer axles don't have pads because there's no torque on the axle like the rear end of a car.

As a side note, if your boat is heavy enough to need those overloads then you might want to consider a double axle trailer.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the overload spring goes below the spring pack. Typically the type of overload springs that go on the top of the pack also have a u-bolt that goes around the spring pack, to apply tension as the load increases. How heavy is the boat? Do you know the load rating of the axle and springs? If you have a trailer shop any where close by they are usually pretty helpful with such projects, in my experience anyways.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Nope, that ain't right...
Trailers generally are sprung with a single spring pack, of the proper rating 'n No overload spring...
It appears yer tryin' to cob together something out of an old pickup truck...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

It is the correct way to install that type of overload - sort of. I would say that the overload looks like it is mounted backwards - the taller half should be on the shackle side.

It definitely is a trailer spring and not a pickup part. They are far superior to a single bump stop over the axle tube.

Now your real problem is that you mounted the axle spring under when using a relatively flat leaf pack. I would pretty much gurantee that pack is designed to be used spring over. If it were me I'd pick up some new springs that have a more arched design (at whatever load rating you are after). Either that or you'll need to C notch the frame.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

To answer your question , it is in the right place, however that is the wrong spring set up for a boat trailer. That's known as a over load spring, and over load springs are not normally used on boat trailers, it is normally only used on something like a 1 ton truck or bigger , so that un loaded it rides ok and when heavy loaded that spring picks up the extra weight. Single axle boat trailers are designed for a max load of around 3000 pounds and if you need more than that you should go to a tandem axle with breaks, and just from what I can see in the picture the springs look used, and may of been pulled off of a truck, the bottom spring set may be the correct load range with out the over load spring. That you will have to look into. Hope that helps.

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

It looks good to me, but I agree with the others that the axle should be below the springs.

 

[skyking897]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

You are going to get a lot of personal preferences on this one. If you go look at boat trailers, you will probably see as many axles over the springs as under. It's a matter of height requirements. Also those springs are quite long, they are not trailer springs, they are for some auto application probably. Around here we call that extra spring a helper spring and they are usually only found on larger trucks. Will it work, sure, do you need it, time will tell. If you are going to use it, I'd probably turn it around so both ends were equal distance from the frame. One thing for sure, those longer springs will probably give you a bouncier ride without shocks to dampen the rebound. Also, someone mentioned if you do flip the axle under the springs to just roll it so the perch fits against the spring, be careful, some axles are arched for the camber. If you roll it when you move it you will affect the camber and cause tire wear if it is an arched axle.

 

[ultimbow]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Wow so many opinion the boat is actually the blue thing in back of picture 14' aluminum row boat with a 9.9 evinrude.
With equipment and trip luggage the max weight will never be over 1000 pounds. Leaf spring are suppose to be rated for 2500 but i think that is with the overload. i have about a 5 inch clearance between the axle and frame with about 300 pound on trailer. That's why i put the overload and i had it. I might put the axle under but i will have to put the trailer on the car hitch but i think it will make the back of the trailer to hi. Didn't get to that point because a storm came to stop my project and the hand of trailer is not install yet. I have to agree when i took the picture i tough the same thing as oldjeep that the overload is backward. For the u bolt being upside-down unless i am backing, if something hit those i will most likely have destroy the bottom of my car the trailer has 10'' clearance and car 6''

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Axles can be above or below the sprigs. When mounted above, you need a solid plate below the springs which is hard to tell if that exists in the picture.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

it looks to me like you don't have spring perches on the axle and like the center pin does not go through the extra leaf

looks like an add on "add a leaf" and you likely don't need it

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

I was going to say the same thing as smokeonthewater, it needs spring perches, otherwise I really don't have a problem with it.

The spring perches spread the weight over the spring as well as locating the axle on the spring pack, I would also put a bump stop on the axle so that it doesn't hit the frame.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Look at the center bolt of the spring pack.
Usually the head side is the axle side as it usually goes up into a center hole in the axle spring perch/pad.
That overload spring kinda looks like it is being bent over the spring pack center bolt.
If you want to use the overload spring, you might want to add it to the spring pack with a longer center bolt.
If the overload spring has a center hole.
I would also guess the overload spring is an aftermarket one which at one time had heavy rubber band around each end.
Which would silence the noise and squeaks when it slapped or rode the frame or main spring.
I think the overload spring would be better to ride on the frame versus pushing on the spring.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

With it set up that way, the helper spring will do exactly nothing until it makes contact with the trailer frame. That's NOT the way it's supposed to be.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

With it set up that way, the helper spring will do exactly nothing until it makes contact with the trailer frame. That's NOT the way it's supposed to be.

Correct me if I am wrong but that's exactly how they work.

 

[duped]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Correct me if I am wrong but that's exactly how they work.

It is, add a leafs go under, overloads like that one go over. There are also overload packs that shackle to both ends on the spring rather than hitting the frame. With his set up there there should be tabs on the frame that the overload would hit.

All that being said, I dont like the way anything looks on this trailer. The geometry, the lack of frame clearance. Wouldnt put my boat on it. No way.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

When you have helpers springs they usually are u bolted to the spring pack on top on any application i have seen. Never seen then on a boat trailer. Had helpers on my pickup and went to airbags.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

Correct me if I am wrong but that's exactly how they work.

See bolded text below:

It is, add a leafs go under, overloads like that one go over. There are also overload packs that shackle to both ends on the spring rather than hitting the frame. With his set up there there should be tabs on the frame that the overload would hit.

All that being said, I dont like the way anything looks on this trailer. The geometry, the lack of frame clearance. Wouldnt put my boat on it. No way.

That frame is gonna take a lickin' but I don't think it will keep on tickin'.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Is this extra leaf spring install right??

See bolded text below:

That frame is gonna take a lickin' but I don't think it will keep on tickin'.

You don't usually see pads with that type of overload (bent ends). You do see pads with the arched type overloads used on big trucks, but that style overload tends to be mounted beside the frame.