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/62535Has 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!

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

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!

I've owned trailers with factory shocks and without. I don't feel or see any difference.

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.

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.

Shock Absorber Addition to Travel Trailer | Good Sam Community

4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2015
Lynnmor wrote:
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I read an article in Trailer Life magazine that said if you are going to add shocks you need to get the angle right. If you do not then they do not help as much.

I read that article. The Monroe shocks are plenty strong, if I would have mounted them nearly vertical, they would have been too stiff. The more angle, the less they travel, so you need to make your best guess on how to set them up. If they are leaned too far, some shocks won't purge the air or gas from the piston area.

Hi that looks like a great job and I have a couple of questions:

Did you design and make the metal parts that are painted yellow yourself?

What is the function of that long bar running the span between the two shock systems along the length of the trailer?

How did you decide to size the section thickness of the material you used?

A great Job and I am sure it will work really well.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2015
The fact that American built travel trailers do not come with shocks from the factory as STANDARD equipment is frankly scandalous and I dont know why we as consumers let them get away with it.

No one would buy a car without shocks. And for the same reasons a trailer should have them.

In many cases I think that what so many people refer to as "Sway" is actually the movement of the trailer reacting to the road surface. With shocks that motion is damped out and the trailer handles much better. Eliminating the need for hugely expensive "Anti Sway" hitches.

I plan to put shocks and change over to disc brakes on my trailer this October.

Trailing Arms and a REAL coil spring independent suspension is too much to ask of the manufacturers but would make a world of difference.
eartha
Explorer
Feb 27, 2015
I have installed the Joy Rider shocks to my trailer.I used the kit. It was a very easy install and looks good. The difference in the two kits is the axle size. The kit gives you the angle to get the best use of the shocks. Good luck.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I read an article in Trailer Life magazine that said if you are going to add shocks you need to get the angle right. If you do not then they do not help as much.

I read that article. The Monroe shocks are plenty strong, if I would have mounted them nearly vertical, they would have been too stiff. The more angle, the less they travel, so you need to make your best guess on how to set them up. If they are leaned too far, some shocks won't purge the air or gas from the piston area.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Feb 26, 2015
I read an article in Trailer Life magazine that said if you are going to add shocks you need to get the angle right. If you do not then they do not help as much.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2015
I don't have shocks either it is on my future list though! I do have a set of Dexter EZ flex shackles sitting in my work bench at home waiting for spring to arrive. I have read great things about them. There is a sticky at the top of the TT forum. Check it out.
LenSatic
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
Hmmm. I just learned that a company in TX offers a Monroe Shock kit for Casitas. I'm definitely going to upgrade ASAP. I've replaced several broken cabinet door hinges over the last couple of years as well as broken dishes and glasses.

LS
RUSSELL5000
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
ScottG,

Did you use kit?

Thanks.
Atlee
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2015
My Koala doesn't have shocks. However, I haven't seen any negative effects during the 12K miles we've towed it, including a 7900+ mile round trip coast to coast trip last year.

I've never noticed the stuff in the cabinets in shambles once getting to a new location.

The probably are good to have, but I haven't seen a need to retrofit them.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
I built my own shock mounting system because of clearance issues with the slideout shaft and had to mount the shocks inboard.

Handling improved with the trailer and truck feeling like it is one unit now. The only negative is that uneven concrete slabs transfers more bounce to the truck with the suspension being stiffer. Before shocks, I suppose that the springs flexed more in this situation.

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Shock Absorber Addition to Travel Trailer

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