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  1. #1
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    Default conflicting shackle info

    g'day,

    there seems to be two two ways of setting up rear shackles on single axle trailers.

    see oics

    which one do you recommend?

    meadow
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    Default

    Hi, I'd set it as per your first pic. //metalworkforums.com/attachmen...3&d=1531656040
    It allows the spring a bit of forward flex, have seen springs set up as per your other pic, fold the spring inside the hanger.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
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    Default

    thanks for the opinion Kryn. hope you are well!

  4. #4
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    Yes Thanks, keeping well, shed STILL not finished, not enough hours in the day!!!!!
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  5. #5
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    Default

    I have built a few off road camper trailers and always set the springs up as per your second picture.

    My current camper trailer is nudging up towards 150,000kms across some of the roughest and most remote tracks Australia has to offer and I have never had an issue with the spring setup.

    A few pics from some of the places this set up has been

    Cape York




    Gunbarell Highway








    Anne Beadell and Connie Sue highways







    Pilbara



    The Simpson Desert, 3 times



    And that is to just name a few, its been over countless other rough and rugged tracks across the country.

    Cheers Andrew

  6. #6
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    Default

    thanks AJ, seems it's an either / or type situation.

    enjoyed the pics !

    thanks mate

  7. #7
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    Default

    Great photos, AJ.
    I'm just thinking though that with the setup as per the second picture, any bump initially transmits shock loads straight up into the top shackle bush and trailer chassis.
    The other setup avoids that as the shackle links move backwards straight away, taking away some of the direct upwards load.
    I think the success of your trailers could be due largely to your good workmanship and heavy duty parts.

  8. #8
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Default

    I’m on my phone, so I can’t see the attached pics, but the proper way to set shackle springs in ALL configurations (single, tandem, tri-axle) is that if you draw a vertical line through the centre of the eye of the spring, and one through the eye of the hanger/rocker, there should be a gap of 25mm AWAY from the opposite end of the spring when unladen.
    This way, as the spring compresses and rebounds while travelling, the shackles move in a pendulum motion, back and forth through the vertical plane. If the shackles START in a position to the rear, then there’s a chance under full compression that they will pivot right back up to the chassis, where they can lock there, making the suspension rigid until fixed.

  9. #9
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    Cool

    thanks for the words Yonnee.when you get a chance take a look at the pics loli think you are advocating al-ko 's recommendation or the second pic i posted.the spring eye is infront of the hanger by 25 mm ( spring eye is toward the front of the trailer by 25mm) and will pass through the vertical plane towards the rear on compression.Attachment 374532
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  10. #10
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Well, having worked for Al-Ko as well as having run Melbourne Trailer’s repair shop, I think I’m fairly confident in my advice without seeing the pic... 😊😂
    Industrial Spring Works in Adelaide also recommends this method.

  11. #11
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    Default

    Y0u're the MAN as they say in the classics !


  12. #12
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    Sorry Yonnee, but I find your description ambiguous.
    I'm not sure if you are advocating the forward or the rearward method.
    Any chance you could use a picture of what you mean?

    Jordan

  13. #13
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    OK, now I'm on a PC, the second pic is how they're supposed to be set up.

    And the rule of thumb is a 25mm gap between the Eye of the Spring and the Eye of the Shackle.

    Kryn's suggestion that the shackle may flip forward is a valid one, but more often than not, I've only seen that happen when reversing hard up gutters.
    Too many projects, so little time, even less money!
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  14. #14
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    Default

    sorry if this is convoluting things but :

    is this the unloaded geometry at the time of welding up the hangers?

    presumably the loaded stationary angle will come around to be closer to vertical right?

    meadow

  15. #15
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Correct.
    Generally, the unloaded weight of an empty box trailer won't move the shackles too much from their setup point. Once loaded closer to capacity they'll tend to move closer to vertical.
    Too many projects, so little time, even less money!
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