Forum Discussion

RUSSELL5000's avatar
RUSSELL5000
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015

Shock Absorber Addition to Travel Trailer

I assume the reason most travel trailers don’t come with shock absorbers is to save on production cost for the manufacturer (I realize some travel trailers have shock - mine does not). I assume this is also pretty much OK if towing the travel trailer an hour or two to a campground six to ten times a year.

I would think shock absorbers would be beneficial if travelling thousands of miles per year.

I have done web searches and have found two kits that are available:

Camping World: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/shock-kit-for-3-inch-axle-tube/62535

JoyRider: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/shock-kit-for-3-inch-axle-tube/62535

Has anyone retrofitted shock absorbers on their travel trailer?

Did you use a kit, and if so, which one?

How do you like the results?


Thanks!
  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2015
    I had the dealer add shocks. It seems to help a lot. We do a lot of rough road towing -- the California freeways are in bad shape, and then we go onto dirt roads in the national forests, very slowly.
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2015
    I added them to our 1st TT. Big difference. I did my own DIY also.
    On our current 5er I also did a DIY install. However the plates for the shocks were already on the axle, so I just needed to install the upper mounts. Keeping with the angle the plates had built in is part of the problem. The shocks on the TT were close to vertical and the shocks on the 5er are laid down more.
    I didn't see much difference on the 5er because of that. I think that some who don't think they're doing anything might have them laid down more vs more vertical.

    Take the shocks of your truck and bounce on the rear. That's pretty much what any trailer is doing.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2015
    I cannot see anything wrong with adding shocks, but I cannot say I have done enough off road or bumpy travel to warrant them.

    I certainly do not need one more maintenance item.

    I suppose if terrain is an issue, it is like chicken soup; it cannot hurt anything.
  • gcloss's avatar
    gcloss
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2015
    I had a Jayco 256RKS and wished I had shocks in the trailer. I'm sure it would have prevented all of the bouncing with kitchen doors coming open and microwave nearly falling out of the top cabinet.
  • coolbreeze01's avatar
    coolbreeze01
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2015
    I've owned trailers with factory shocks and without. I don't feel or see any difference.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Feb 26, 2015
    I added shocks to mine and it made a surprising difference. Not only does it not bounce around on pot-holed dirt roads but I can no longer feel anything when going down the freeway and hitting expansion joints. Those joints and other road anomalies would cause a thump and often make the trailer kind of jerk the truck a little. Now it's rare that I ever feel the TT back there.
    A very worthwhile mod!
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2015
    Shocks will always improve things no matter how short the tow. Cost being a factor you may not find them necessary but consider tire bounce and premature tire wear and it may even out

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