Posted: 12/10/2025 4:44:18 PM EDT
| Anyone welded or bolted anything to there leaf spring perches/ brackets? I know they are a commonly weak area on the suspension of a trailer and hard turns/ pivots put alot of stress on the welds. Would rather beef it up now before we start using again in the spring. |
Member
Joined:
Feb 2023
Posts:
649
EE: 0% (0)
AZ, USA
|
I wouldn't recommend doing anything to your trailer suspension outside of replacing worn parts with manufacturer approved replacements. Modifications you make could make you fully liable, both criminally and civilly, for any issues should the suspension fail. Unless you have a Professional Engineers license and are willing to eat the liability for doing a Bubba job on your trailer. |
If your "conservative principles" are just to do whatever it takes to not anger leftists and tyrants, your neither principled, nor conservative-M70_Rifleman
|
I am curious to find out where this "liability" originates from? Most consumer grade utility trailers are made from the lowest cost parts available, often by non-certified welders. Have somebody fabricate some brackets similar to the existing ones, out of thicker and stronger steel. A local welding shop or half decent machinist could knock out that job in a few hours. |
|
Originally Posted By M70_Rifleman: I wouldn't recommend doing anything to your trailer suspension outside of replacing worn parts with manufacturer approved replacements. Modifications you make could make you fully liable, both criminally and civilly, for any issues should the suspension fail. Unless you have a Professional Engineers license and are willing to eat the liability for doing a Bubba job on your trailer. This will not be some “bubba” job. It would be done correctly but no one gets engineers involved in something as simple as beefing up a perch or mount. Have you seen the factory welds on these things?? It’s why they are prone to failing. I know they make aftermarket braces that go across the trailer above the axels and bolt on to the mounts to brace up and make the mounts more rigid to prevent the cracking and failure at the welds, I just can’t remember what they were called. |
|
Originally Posted By M4BlackRifle: I am curious to find out where this "liability" originates from? Most consumer grade utility trailers are made from the lowest cost parts available, often by non-certified welders. Have somebody fabricate some brackets similar to the existing ones, out of thicker and stronger steel. A local welding shop or half decent machinist could knock out that job in a few hours. Was thinking along those lines |
Joined:
May 2024
Posts:
2641
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
Get rid of the springs, and go with Timbren Axle-Less Torsion hubs. I have a 16' Scamp that I tossed the straight axle and leaf springs. Installed these in an hour. As long as you have someone to help measure accurately, they are a breeze to install. |
Member
Joined:
Feb 2023
Posts:
653
EE: 0% (0)
AZ, USA
|
Originally Posted By M4BlackRifle: I am curious to find out where this "liability" originates from? Most consumer grade utility trailers are made from the lowest cost parts available, often by non-certified welders. Have somebody fabricate some brackets similar to the existing ones, out of thicker and stronger steel. A local welding shop or half decent machinist could knock out that job in a few hours. |
If your "conservative principles" are just to do whatever it takes to not anger leftists and tyrants, your neither principled, nor conservative-M70_Rifleman
|
Originally Posted By M70_Rifleman: We're talking about RV's in this forum, not cheap Harbor Freight folding utility trailers carrying 1500 lbs. But without pictures and axle ratings, it's going to be hard to give helpful advice. No we are definitely not talking about cheap Harbor Freight single axle hobby stuff. Thats for sure. But again, look at what most travel trailers are made from and its clear they are built with the most minimal specs to get by. So any beefing up would only help, as long as you have knowledge on how it all works and actual skilled people preforming the work. I am not re engineering the current supports, but rather something to reinforce what is there, be it a welded on support, or a type of cross member strut that makes it more rigid to keep the flex of the brackets down. |
| Find a local welding shop with some welders that have a bit of gray hair. I am willing to bet that they have fixed a bunch of broken trailers, consumer grade and commercial grade, and have a good understanding of the common failure points, and what improvements to make. |
|
Google Morryde X factor bracing. It is a bolt on kit that connects the spring hangers from both sides. It uses a new wet bolt that is provided in the kit. It made a noticeable difference on my Grand Design 5th wheel. It is like boxing the frame and hangers but bolt on not welded. |
|
Originally Posted By autumnsong: Google Morryde X factor bracing. It is a bolt on kit that connects the spring hangers from both sides. It uses a new wet bolt that is provided in the kit. It made a noticeable difference on my Grand Design 5th wheel. It is like boxing the frame and hangers but bolt on not welded. This is what i was talking about. I've heard good things about this type of setup. Couldnt recall a brand name. Thanks |
|
I’ve seen where people weld end caps to the spring hangers. Just doing one side would stiffen the connection. My Alliance has angle welded through the spring bracket and does a similar thing. Either are very common and a low cost improvement. |
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!... Not available in all states, must be 21 or older to apply.
|
Sorry for a late reply on your Scamp 16ft. I did a reverse on mine, changed from torsion axle to leaf springs and custom axle. My reasons are likely different I don't want to be buying multiple replacement axles every 5-7 years. When the rubber fails, it does. Mine is a 2010 Scamp 16ft Deluxe. Another benefit is larger tire size that hauls it better. Yeah, I've not been on in awhile. |
|
Originally Posted By Blade_68: Sorry for a late reply on your Scamp 16ft. I did a reverse on mine, changed from torsion axle to leaf springs and custom axle. My reasons are likely different I don't want to be buying multiple replacement axles every 5-7 years. When the rubber fails, it does. Mine is a 2010 Scamp 16ft Deluxe. Another benefit is larger tire size that hauls it better. Yeah, I've not been on in awhile. This isn't about a Scamp its about a fullsize 28ft dual axel trailer. Someone else mentioned torsion axles on a Scamp but that isn't being considered for this solution. |
| Did the Morryde support brackets. Did 3, front, middle, and rear brackets. Won't know how good they are until this summer. My understanding is that they not only support the hangers much more but they also keep the whole trailer more stable from sway. I could see that. Time will tell. |
Join the Community
Your next conversation starts here.
Create your free account to join discussions, share your experience, save topics, and connect with the AR15.COM community.
- Join discussions
- Follow topics and replies
- Connect with fellow enthusiasts
Already a member? Sign in
Stay informed by subscribing to our Newsletter