Suspension Necessary?

[martini]

Just been trying to fit new wheel bearings on the trailer and managed to destroy the thread on one axle

Also the brake linings fell of while removing the drum, brakes are all seizing up, leaf springs are rotten, tyres need replacing etc etc...

So I'm thinking about just replacing the whole lot but would like to do away with the suspension, less to go wrong and lowers the height a few inches.

Is this going to be problem do you think? My max speed is only 25-30 mph, trailers rated for 4700kg gross, 1400kg unladen which about right, I guess the boat is about 3000kg.

I wonder if no suspension would put extra stress on the tyres when you go over a bump maybe?

[Erin]

Would make for a very harsh ride on our roads I would have thought (the Avenue won't be smooth for long ).

Also a risk of damage from vibration etc even at low speed. I know on a car it makes a major difference to braking distances if the suspension isn't right, so maybe it might affect a trailer to some extent as well. I guess the biggest risk would be the boat juddering/jumping around on the trailer and possibly shifting position if you came accross a big enough pot hole.

[martini]

The hardest part at the moment seems to be finding anything that will take the weight! Twin axle so each axle needs to be rated for 2400kg to be safe. Most axles, wheels and tyres etc I can find go up to 1800kg

[Erin]

I had the name at one point for one of the main UK suppliers of trailer parts. If I can find it I'll let you know. They supply axles to the main trailer makes and I spoke to them when I was looking at purchasing an Admiral trailer, they may be able to help.

[BogMonster]

What do you tow it with, if it weighs 4.7 tons? Most 4x4s are only rated to 3.5.

I think you'd struggle to find axles that strong without going to commercial stuff. Most light Ifor Williams type trailers are using twin axles from about 2 tons upwards and max out at 3500kg to match most vehicles. Even the rear axle on a Defender 130 is only rated at 2200kg.

At that speed you won't need suspension - my old twin axle trailer (on 7.50R16 Land Rover wheels) had no suspension, the ride wasn't great but at 25mph it wasn't a problem unless you hit the sort of pothole you could see about 100 yards away.

[Bigmuz7]

How far do you need to travel with it ? .. The hull will certainly get a slap if you do hit one I'd have thought ?

[ScotSeats]

At that speed if you arn't towing a huge distnace it will not be a problem the thing i would tend to think about more is if you do decide to take further one day or resale value in the future.

[m chappelow]

On uk roads legaly i think you would need suspension,,though a lot of our local fishing boats are on solid no suspension trailers for launching and a very limited distance on roads ,,but the tyre walls are heavy enough to take all the shocks from the road or any bumps , with a solid trailer my fishing boat that weighs in at around 1 ton will pop out the walls of normal tyre walls and shakes the whole boat and it only has to move 100 yds or so .on a smooth surface fine but finds any small holes or stones pebbles or concreate slipways with grip lines in .suppose it depends on the size of the wheels/tyres and the pressure inside ,, bigger and softer they are less they find the bumps but then will the tyre walls stand the flexing ,,,,the boat in the pic uses agricultural type tyres think weighs about 5 tons .

[wavelength]

I don't know but think it unlikely that you can do away with the suspension when using on uk roads. However without suspension you will certainly become an expert in wheel bearing replacement as its gonna knock **** out of them.

[Rogue Wave]

What trailer are you using presently. My Avon 3ton boat is on an ex Navy air braked twin axle trailer it uses indepentdant suspension units that are rated at over 1.5 tonns per wheel and Air brakes. I know wher there is a bogey with two of these axles on (4 wheel) I'll find out who owns it if you wish.

I bought my trailer from Phil you may have seen them there when you bought your boat. My trailer weighs 1.5 tons BTW

http://www.brambertrailers.com/itemdetl.php/itemcode/10