Added Shocks to the Camper Last Week
I completed shock absorber install last week. I used JohnB's fabulous write up on adding shocks for this install. Everything went well and I'm very pleased with the results. Attached are some pictures...
Forum Discussion
Excellent job! The vids are great. Those must be Monroe shocks? The upper mounting brackets are a good location and pretty easy to weld in there. I trust you replaced the U-bolts.
It's not technically difficult to do this and I don't know why more TT manufacturers don't either provide shocks or at the least as an option.
We just recently had Monroe shocks installed on our new KZ trailer. Could not get the factory to provide them at any cost. Our dealer ended up sending our TT to a shop to get installed. Because our axle tubes are 3", I had a shop make up a replica of the Monroe RB512 lower brackets which are NLA. They used stock OBD tubing welded to an ordinary tie plate. I have a set of original Monroe RB511 lower brackets if anyone is interested. I'll post some pics eventually of our installation.
The Monroe trailer shocks are readily available and inexpensive at $17/each (Stengel Bros.) so if they don't last, low cost to replace. I'm planning to order a spare set in case they become hard to find.
The shop that installed our shocks welded the heads of the upper mounting bolts to the brackets. They said that will prevent the hole from elongating. Not sure how much of a concern that really is.
The rear of our TT used to bob up and down like crazy without shocks and stuff was tossed around in our rear kitchen including the stove grate being thrown off. Now the TT rides with a steady flat line. One thing that really surprised me is that their is no more up and down action transferred to the truck's hitch ball so the truck is steadier too and more comfortable to tow with. Night and day difference and I'd never run without shocks on a trailer again.
For anyone thinking about shocks, they are definitely a worthwhile upgrade. Satisfaction guaranteed....
It's not technically difficult to do this and I don't know why more TT manufacturers don't either provide shocks or at the least as an option.
We just recently had Monroe shocks installed on our new KZ trailer. Could not get the factory to provide them at any cost. Our dealer ended up sending our TT to a shop to get installed. Because our axle tubes are 3", I had a shop make up a replica of the Monroe RB512 lower brackets which are NLA. They used stock OBD tubing welded to an ordinary tie plate. I have a set of original Monroe RB511 lower brackets if anyone is interested. I'll post some pics eventually of our installation.
The Monroe trailer shocks are readily available and inexpensive at $17/each (Stengel Bros.) so if they don't last, low cost to replace. I'm planning to order a spare set in case they become hard to find.
The shop that installed our shocks welded the heads of the upper mounting bolts to the brackets. They said that will prevent the hole from elongating. Not sure how much of a concern that really is.
The rear of our TT used to bob up and down like crazy without shocks and stuff was tossed around in our rear kitchen including the stove grate being thrown off. Now the TT rides with a steady flat line. One thing that really surprised me is that their is no more up and down action transferred to the truck's hitch ball so the truck is steadier too and more comfortable to tow with. Night and day difference and I'd never run without shocks on a trailer again.
For anyone thinking about shocks, they are definitely a worthwhile upgrade. Satisfaction guaranteed....
