Forum Discussion

path1's avatar
path1
Explorer
Aug 29, 2015

How to choose different products for Suspension?

Anybody have any actual data or link to testing of different suspension systems?

I'm trying to figure out what would be best for us.

Seems to me that actual testing by a 3rd party would be little bit different than the manufactures.:)

How did you decide on what suspension product?

8 Replies

  • Too stiff of spring pack and you will get bounce

    Springs under-rated and you will get bounce

    Lack of shocks and you will get bounce


    Have you weighed your trailer???

    Proper rated springs and shocks help control bounce.....along with correct tire rating and air pressure (Stiff sidewalls and too much air will make bounce worse)
  • Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    path1 wrote:
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    They all have there +'s and -'s.

    I personally like good old fashion leaf springs. They work good and are cheap and easy to replace if I break one.


    What would you do to take some of the bounce out of it. Rear kitchen, load range E at 75psi, rides better with full tank of water. Back of the bus effect I guess is what you would call it.

    I'm looking into getting something and of course all the manufactures of suspension products say their product "walks on water".

    TT has stock shocks now, I'm wondering if the first step would be to get some type of air shock? Does anybody make it that is designed to bellow out to absorb the shock waves.


    I guess my first question is why do you care how much your trailer bounces? Is the bounce causing the TV to bounce or porpoise?

    It depends on if it's a true bounce or is it porpoising? Is the trailer causing the TV to bounce or are you concerned about the trailer bouncing up and down. If the latter, you need to invest in two good pair of gas shocks and put them on the trailer. I have shocks on my truck but they were junk. I put a GOOD pair of gas shocks on and it is a different truck.

    If porpoising, (for a TT) you need to suck up on the WD bars some more or get stiffer bars. This will cause the truck and trailer to act as one long frame member and take some of the porpoising out of the system.

    All the trailer suspension systems work good. It's just takes time and work to get them just right.


    Yes I got rid of a lot bounce when I put air bags on TV and headlights are back where they belong:). Older 3/4 ton Dodge and 8,500 TT. Bridge crossings on freeway was a killer.

    Why I'm concerned about bounce... I just got thru going over some caulking. Took of corner post at rear to re-do and back siding and loose but at fridge area (right rear) the paneling is not attached to anything other than corner post. According to dealer, no big deal, Arctic Fox has been making it like that for years. But to me I would like to take some bounce out. Wife downloaded an app that measures G force. We're going to test it out next trip out and in-laws also has same app. We'll see what the results are for our TT and what in-laws are. Maybe the app will be better than our current testing method. Which is a glass full of water in sink and see how much spills as a measuring guide.

    I thought by now there would be lots of choices for true "air ride" system for TT's. There is a good spring place in town and you got me thinking. I'm going to call them and see if there is a "progressive" type spring or something better than what I have which is Dexter, I think 5,500 or 6,000 pound? Don't even know if I'm calling it the right name. But a spring that takes the bounce out. Example, my older Dodge rides like a dream, nice and smooth for about the first 1000 pounds in bed then it gets more stiff and more and more stiff. Maybe I can get a springs that will work better.
  • path1 wrote:
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    They all have there +'s and -'s.

    I personally like good old fashion leaf springs. They work good and are cheap and easy to replace if I break one.


    What would you do to take some of the bounce out of it. Rear kitchen, load range E at 75psi, rides better with full tank of water. Back of the bus effect I guess is what you would call it.

    I'm looking into getting something and of course all the manufactures of suspension products say their product "walks on water".

    TT has stock shocks now, I'm wondering if the first step would be to get some type of air shock? Does anybody make it that is designed to bellow out to absorb the shock waves.


    I guess my first question is why do you care how much your trailer bounces? Is the bounce causing the TV to bounce or porpoise?

    It depends on if it's a true bounce or is it porpoising? Is the trailer causing the TV to bounce or are you concerned about the trailer bouncing up and down. If the latter, you need to invest in two good pair of gas shocks and put them on the trailer. I have shocks on my truck but they were junk. I put a GOOD pair of gas shocks on and it is a different truck.

    If porpoising, (for a TT) you need to suck up on the WD bars some more or get stiffer bars. This will cause the truck and trailer to act as one long frame member and take some of the porpoising out of the system.

    All the trailer suspension systems work good. It's just takes time and work to get them just right.
  • Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    They all have there +'s and -'s.

    I personally like good old fashion leaf springs. They work good and are cheap and easy to replace if I break one.


    What would you do to take some of the bounce out of it. Rear kitchen, load range E at 75psi, rides better with full tank of water. Back of the bus effect I guess is what you would call it.

    I'm looking into getting something and of course all the manufactures of suspension products say their product "walks on water".

    TT has stock shocks now, I'm wondering if the first step would be to get some type of air shock? Does anybody make it that is designed to bellow out to absorb the shock waves.
  • They all have there +'s and -'s.

    I personally like good old fashion leaf springs. They work good and are cheap and easy to replace if I break one.
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Suspension for what? Truck/trailer/MH

    Suspension to do what?


    TorkLift if it has to do with truck.



    Thanks, what it's going on would help just a little:)



    Towable, either 5th wheel or trailer.
  • Suspension for what? Truck/trailer/MH

    Suspension to do what?


    TorkLift if it has to do with truck.