Trailer suspension.

[monkeymark]

Thinking about making a small/medium box trailer, more for a project to practice with than anything else.
I've seen the suspension units that can be bought. on eBay, but they must be available cheaper else where.

Any suggestions, or recommendations?

 

[madkayaker]

They all seam about the same regardless of where you go

 

[cumbriasteve]

Buying what appears to be bargain cheap units could lead to problems, there are some imports that don't have a fail safe, meaning if the rubber collapses the axle shaft simply falls out, the stated load capacity can be a bit dubious too.

It's one thing I personally would only buy the best of,

 

[rtbcomp]

......
It's one thing I personally would only buy the best of,

Definitely - I'm using some pressed steel hubs in a project and the bearings have failed. They were shielded and bone dry inside. I could feel a high spot even on brand new hubs.

I've been told the hubs were cheap Chinese and some failed in service due to the metal cracking along a bend where they were pressed.

The retailer of these hubs has removed them from sale.

 

[steve.h]

You do know you will need to have an SVA on a new build trailer dont you.... I think its about £80 for a small trailer, I went for "restoring" my old trailer ! ! !

 

[KemppiFrog]

You do know you will need to have an SVA on a new build trailer dont you.... I think its about £80 for a small trailer, I went for "restoring" my old trailer ! ! !

With the SVA, I can see a lot of trailers being 'restored'...with only a bit of rust from the original.
Bit like the old axe. 2 new blades and 3 new handles


On the axle retainer bit: I dismantled a friends boat trailer after one side dropped. It was from a big French manufacturer and did not have any way of holding the axle in the cross tube. It failed because the only part of the trailer not galvanized was the stub axle/trailing arm and the square tube in the rubber had rusted and collapsed. Six years old. We replaced the whole axle assembly and he now is careful to keep it out of the water.

 

[rtbcomp]

This is the bearing out of the hub I mentioned above

 

[Julian_P]

This is the bearing out of the hub I mentioned above

]

Seems to be standard with any of these 'bargain basement' lightweight trailers from the likes of Halfrauds or the numerous on-line sellers. My 500kg flat pack ebay one developed so much slop in the taper rollers after just a few hundred miles that they needed changing.

The problem is the cheap no-name Chinese bearings they use, all you need to do is swap them out for some budget branded bearings from the likes of simply bearings and the job's a goodun for many years :-)

Julian

 

[rtbcomp]

Except that in some cases the actual pressings failed!

 

[monkeymark]

Thanks for heads up on cheap crap.

Maybe ill go along the lines of restoring then.

Another reason for wanting one is also to use to pass the b+e test so I can tow a caravan. Problem is all the eBay trailers I see that are big enough to comply are way more than id like to spend. Shame I cant borrow one (work won't let me use a horse box due to "insurance", think it's more that I dont bend over and take it like most staff there)

 

[Justme]

You could hire one for the test.

 

[madkayaker]

Hire one. The test requirements for the trailer have lowered recently so its worth checking that you are meeting the needs. Indespention do a good range of box trailers.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

The place i did my b+e with had their own trailer, are you putting yourself through the test with your vehicle?

Dan