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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
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    Horsham Victoria
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    113

    Default Independent suspension and stub axles

    Playing around with ideas and want to bounce this off those who know.

    If I were to have a chassis rail pivot for suspension and a sub axle welded to the rail

    1) how would I pivot the rail
    2) what size would the rail need to be to prevent twisting etc



    Obviously some frame would need to contribute back to take the spring. At the moment I'm interested in the pivot and and size of rail needed. Am assuming rhs.

    Looking at single axel and hoping for 1000kg each wheel or 2000kg total

    Dave TTC
    Turning Wood Into Art

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,942

    Default

    Hi Dave,
    Your design would need to be a "Y" shape, to give stability to the axle. For your pivot points I'd be inclined to use 20mm HT bolts, inside urethane bushes.
    Your best bet, would be to go to the caravan park and look under some of the trailers to see what the manufacturers use, no point reinventing the suspension, when it's already been done. For the "Y" frame, I'd use 75X50X5 or 6mm wall, for the tube on the end use 32 NB medium pipe, with the urethane bushes. reason I'm suggesting the urethane is that it allows flexibility and is what is used on other suspensions, inc 4WD's. The important thing, is to get the pivot point and axle square and parallel, otherwise tyre wear will be a big issue. Looking on the net, I see this as a starting point. https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...-53TfC4HnT-cdw Prices are a bit steep, but the engineering has been done and is certified, so any faults and they're the ones in trouble, not you.
    Also found this; http://www.alko.com.au/wp-content/up.../3d-image2.jpg
    Kryn
    Last edited by KBs PensNmore; 18th Jul 2016 at 01:15 AM. Reason: More details
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Yarra Valley Vic oz
    Posts
    1,995

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    618

    Default

    And I just threw out an Alko axle ideal for this.
    CHRIS

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Horsham Victoria
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    And I just threw out an Alko axle ideal for this.
    Where's your wheelie bin

    Dave TTC
    Turning Wood Into Art

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    429

    Default

    The question I ask is what advantage do you think independent suspension is going to give you?

    There are independent suspension systems out there for trailers ...... but frankly I can not think of one single reason what they would have an advantage over a properly designed rigid axle and leaf springs.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    618

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by soundman View Post
    The question I ask is what advantage do you think independent suspension is going to give you?

    There are independent suspension systems out there for trailers ...... but frankly I can not think of one single reason what they would have an advantage over a properly designed rigid axle and leaf springs.

    cheers
    If designed correctly they are way lighter but 99% are heavier due to bad design.
    CHRIS

  8. #8
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    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    429

    Default

    Yeh most of the independent suspensions I have seen on trailers have been crude as with bat$#!^ weird swing arm, spring a shock angles.

    A poor Independent system replacing a poor leaf system at quite a high cost.

    It would be cheaper and more effective to set up a leaf spring system properly.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    618

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by soundman View Post
    Yeh most of the independent suspensions I have seen on trailers have been crude as with bat$#!^ weird swing arm, spring a shock angles.

    A poor Independent system replacing a poor leaf system at quite a high cost.

    It would be cheaper and more effective to set up a leaf spring system properly.

    cheers
    If you are after cheap go for it, but no way is it best. Me I want a trailer that does not bounce when empty and does not bottom out when it is fully loaded. Having towed trailers on long distance trips for many years I have found cheap does not work in the long run but everyone to his own of course.
    CHRIS

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Horsham Victoria
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    113

    Default

    What I would like to achieve is

    1) a floor as low as possible.

    2) a walk in trailer

    3) a trailer that can be lowered to the ground

    The advantages in my case.

    1) by keeping the floor low i can keep the roof low

    2) by keeping the roof low I reduce drag

    3) by reducing drag a reduce fuel consumption



    Dave TTC
    Turning Wood Into Art

  11. #11
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    Jun 2005
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    Helensburgh
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    Default

    Such as this but they are sure exxy Dave......

    http://www.nevco.com.au/products-ser...alty-trailers/

    I suppose you could build a perimeter chassis with a removeable back member and have the front of the floor on a pivot of some description and the rear of the floor that raises and lowers forming a ramp. Depends how wide you want the ramp, fixed sides to the floor would hold storage and the ramp lowers to accept machinery etc.
    CHRIS

  12. #12
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    Aug 2010
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    Horsham Victoria
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    Default

    That is very much the idea Chris.

    I wonder how good they ride

    Dave TTC
    Turning Wood Into Art

  13. #13
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    Jun 2005
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    Helensburgh
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    Default

    They ride really well from all reports and there are a lot in use. I looked at building a drop deck trailer ala dog trailer style at one stage but sanity raised its head and the idea got scrapped. The advantage to that is no loading on the towing vehicle, it stays level and can be pushed or pulled around with no lifting. The last is really important if it is loaded and needs to be moved. You could build a ramped floor using one piece axles if the front of the ramp hinged at the axles or even slightly forward of the axles as the height change at the front would be minimal.
    CHRIS

  14. #14
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    Aug 2010
    Location
    Horsham Victoria
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    Default

    Does something like this work?

    Hydrologic ram to raise and lower. Current position at absokute highest. Would normally be 100mm closer to the ground



    I break a few traditional rules. Just interested in feedback on the general concept. More detail yet to be drawn

    I have not drawn te srub axle on yet but it goes from the outside this the wheel nuts would be accessed from behind a panel inside the trailer.

    Dave TTC
    Turning Wood Into Art

  15. #15
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    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    Default

    Dave, as presented that won't work, let's have a chat about the whole thing during the week.
    CHRIS

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