dog trailer designs help please

[brooker2011uk]

hello im a pretty confident welder but when coming to things like mechancial stuff like axles i wont be too hot. im looking to make a dog trailer for the summer and have an idea what its going to look like but im stuck on the axle. can anyone pont me in the right direction for designs on fitting the axle and where it would go.

thanks for the help

 

[cumbriasteve]

Do you mean an axle with springs? or independant suspension beam.

If using independant suspension units its important to get one's that are not over strong or the trailer will ride solid, something you deffo don't want with dogs in it.

Probably a pair of 7 cwt would suffice unless the trailer is going to be very heavy duty.

Once all is fitted the tow hitch should ideally weigh approx 16lbs for the right balance.

If when completed you find it a touch tail heavy it can usually be corrected by carrying a spare wheel bolted up front somewhere.

 

[cumbriasteve]

This is pretty much the standard chassis layout for a box type trailer, the diagonals offering a good 'tie in' to the frame and axle beam

 

[brooker2011uk]

to fit the leaf springs how easy are they to fit and what all does it intail

 

[cumbriasteve]

Ok..so its an axle with leafs, they have to be fitted on a small swinging bracket at the correct angle to allow movement, I suggest hunting out an old car or visiting a scrap yard to see their method of fitting.

Usually one end is direct onto the chassis and the back end of the leafs are on ' spring hangers' these swing a few inches when the leafs absord the shock.

This video shows the usual set up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtu3-VcaULw