I was talking with a couple guys this weekend. They recommended that I add a shock absorber system to my torsion axles ez loader trailer for my 285 pro elite Stratos.
I like the idea of a addition dampening device. I have looked all over the net and can't find anything on this.
Does anyone have any input on this.
Thank you in advance
Probably wouldn't be too hard to find a plate you could bolt to the ax....................WOOPS! cancel that, you don't have the option to bolt to the spring with a torsion bar.
I would not even consider it. Only people who don’t understand physics think bass boat trailers need shocks.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
I added them on mine. I made my own brackets and used the monroe trailer shocks. Made several sets for some other guys too and they all noticed a difference as well. The trailer DOES ride much much better. No more bouncing i wouldnt have a bass boat without it but im just an idiot who doesnt understand physics i guess.
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
Shocks dampen movement. So your trailers suspension doesnt move? The shock absorber doesnt know whether its on a car truck trailer but it does the same thing to all of them which is improves the ride. Why dont you tell us why they dont work then?Originally Posted by CatFan
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
Shocks are put on cars to control movement of the suspension and cabin so the passengers are more comfortable and the tires maintain better contact with the road so the vehicle is more controllable. The downside is because they restrict suspension travel they increase the impact transferred to the vehicle when hitting a pothole or a similar impact. Not only do they not absorb shocks, they transfer more of them to the vehicle. There is no need to control roll and sway on a small trailer, and the addition of shocks increases the force transmitted when your trailer wheels impact things in the road. On a large trailer like a big boat, there can be some benefit in controlling roll as it keeps the trailer more stable.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
I'd say, since nobody asked me, shocks won't hurt a thing on a boat trailer. I had a boat trailer with shocks about 25 years ago. Can't say anything good or bad about them because i never rode in the boat at highway speeds.
I would say I can only see positive outcomes if there are shocks. They keep sudden shocks from traveling to the item on the chassis. If you ever rode in a vehicle with no or bad shocks, you would know how bad it is inside the vehicle when you hit a dip or bump, the bouncing takes a long time to subside.
The suspension can rapidly extend or compress fully hitting bump stops or the limit of the springs, and they also keep the tires on the road better.
No, they allow sudden shocks to travel to the chassis.
Without shocks the springs can compress quickly to absorb shocks. Adding the "shock absorber" reduces the ability of the springs to absorb shocks. Imagine you had adjustable shocks that could go from 0% to 100% damping. What would the ride be like at 100%? Every bump would rattle your teeth. As you turned the shock damping lower and lower, the force of an impact would be less and less.
The rolling and yawing of a vehicle without shocks is a problem for control and passenger comfort, but my boat doesn't mind it. Until the boat gets big enough that trailer rocking causes handling problems in a tow vehicle, there is no benefit to shocks.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
I disagree, but actually, it is what it is.
When you pull 20,000 miles on a year, tire keeping contact to the road can improve tire wear, no cupping primarily, shocks can be beneficial on a trailer but I don't see how on a torsion system
Mercury 250 proxs 2B115089
I agree. Hadn't thought about anybody putting those kind of miles on a trailer.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
In YOUR opinion. Doesnt make it fact. Have you ever towed a trailer with shocks personally?
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
It is physics, not an opinion. Shock absorbers absolutely do not absorb shocks in any way. They allow the impact to bypass the suspension and reach the frame because they serve to stiffen the suspension and cause it to react more slowly to sudden changes in road surface. The physics of damping in sprung systems is well understood.
I’ve hauled dozens of trailers 10s of thousands of miles. From short 2 horse trailers up to 36ft goosenecks hauling 15,000pounds of farm equipment. I currently own 5 trailers, and the only one I’d consider shocks for is my 12K 5th wheel, and only because it experiences some side to side roll on the road.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
Yes and? Nobody is arguing that how you are explaining is how they work but you saying they serve no benefit in a boat application is purely your OPINION yet you post it as fact. I dont see how it can be proven in any way that it does or does not benefit. If you think they help run them if you dont then nobody is forcing you too. The op asked for opinions and thats fine but dont make it sound like others are stupid or dont understand physics if their personal experience shows they helped their application. So in your last paragraph im assuming you havnt towed a trailer with shocks installed so how do you know for certain they dont work? Not everything has to be explained on a piece of paper.
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
Shocks do not absorb shocks? You could not be more wrong. Take shocks off a vehicle and go drive it over some bumps. Guess what. You feel every damn bit of that bump. Why do you think vehicles with blown shocks ride like crap and bottom out over anything? Because shocks absorb impacts and road imperfections. Also another reason why high end camper 5th wheels have shocks on them. Take it from someone who has pulled trailers with and without shocks.
2002 Tr-19 200 ox66
But the shock knows the difference if its on a car or a trailer so it doesnt work the same way didnt you know that?
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
On a serious note tho if you go with a torsion axle then onviously shocks are not going to happen not sure how you would even mount them but for leaf springs its a simple setup and for mehas worked very well monroe makes a trailer specific shock thats the perfect length for an application like this didnt cost too much either.
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
Actually......I have pulled a trailer with a boat and the trailer had shocks and coil springs. I should have ridden in the boat while it was being pulled, there went the chance to be THE WORLDS FOREMOST AUTHORITY on this subject as I am on most other things. It ain't easy.
A torsion axle set up will not likely be helped by shock absorbers. ALL trailers would ride best when their torsion axles/leaf springs are matched to the weight of what they are carrying and how the load is distributed. My little Triton is obviously lighter than a 521dc with a 250 on the back but many people will use the same boat trailer for boats with more than a thousand pound difference in weight.
If your boat boat bounces a lot when you’re pulling it you probably have the wrong spring weight or axles meant for a higher poundage. I don’t see a scenario where shocks could hurt how a trailer pulls personally, just my .02.
2006 Triton SP-185, 2006 Evinrude Etec 90, PowerTech NRS3, Garmin Echomap Plus 73CV & 93SV
TThat's it! I'm pulling the shocks off my truck so I can get a better ride.Shocks are put on cars to control movement of the suspension and cabin so the passengers are more comfortable and the tires maintain better contact with the road so the vehicle is more controllable. The downside is because they restrict suspension travel they increase the impact transferred to the vehicle when hitting a pothole or a similar impact. Not only do they not absorb shocks, they transfer more of them to the vehicle. There is no need to control roll and sway on a small trailer, and the addition of shocks increases the force transmitted when your trailer wheels impact things in the road. On a large trailer like a big boat, there can be some benefit in controlling roll as it keeps the trailer more stable.
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