Flat Leaf Springs- Replacement Required?

[1slomofo]

Please see attached image.

I have noticed this at the beginning of last camping season and I ran it like this for a little over 800 miles since I noticed it. I am due for other maintenance and would like your opinion on whether or not I should add new leaf spring packs to the to-do list.

This is on a 2015 Eclipse Attitude 32SAG Toy Hauler w/ Lippert 6,000lb axles. I am not sure what springs to replace them with if I go that route.

[fj12ryder]

I'd keep the equalizers. Those are the EZ Flex from Dexter and if the rubber isn't deformed, are well worth keeping. They work a treat.

[BurbMan]

When we got our Terry TT new in 2008 we found out that they made it with the wrong springs....I had the opposite problem tho, they used springs that were TOO stiff and it was shaking the trailer apart going down the road.

They grab springs from big crates as these things roll down the assembly line and there is a very little visual difference between various rated springs. Entirely possible they made your with the wrong springs. Pretty much SOP in the industry to use axles rated to just cover whatever weight is not carried on the tongue/pin. Even running at max capacity your springs should not have deformed like that.

I would replace with a heavier spring just to give you some more headroom in the ratings and also replace those shackles and equalizers too.

[1slomofo]

Edd505 wrote:

1slomofo wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Are all the springs showing the same?
I would weigh the rig first.
I would be looking at complete spring, shackles and link replacement
Look on etrailer.com for what packages are available.

Yes they all look exactly the same > Flat .. maybe even slighty bending the wrong way in the middle.

I did weigh it "trip ready" (aka loaded to the gills, full water etc) and it was 13,800lbs total give or take (pending my math on how much is sitting on the truck) 11,400 would be on the trailer axles.

6K axles with 13,800 loaded, see anything wrong?? Two 7K's get you just barely, get a pair of 8K axles to carry the weight and have a bit of wiggle room.

Yea I agree there is plenty wrong with that. They literally rely on pin weight of the truck to take up the slack on the under sized axles. The trailers gvwr from the factory is 14000 and they have 12000lbs of axle. And they make thousands of these things.

[Edd505]

C Schomer wrote:
He also Said 11400 on the axles. I’d look for 3500s... for 7k axles as long as they are the same eye to eye. Craig

Dexter 7K & 8K are identical except the outer bearing and lug size 1/2" vs 9/16" Not sure on the 6K

[C_Schomer]

He also Said 11400 on the axles. I’d look for 3500s... for 7k axles as long as they are the same eye to eye. Craig

[Edd505]

1slomofo wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Are all the springs showing the same?
I would weigh the rig first.
I would be looking at complete spring, shackles and link replacement
Look on etrailer.com for what packages are available.

Yes they all look exactly the same > Flat .. maybe even slighty bending the wrong way in the middle.

I did weigh it "trip ready" (aka loaded to the gills, full water etc) and it was 13,800lbs total give or take (pending my math on how much is sitting on the truck) 11,400 would be on the trailer axles.

6K axles with 13,800 loaded, see anything wrong?? Two 7K's get you just barely, get a pair of 8K axles to carry the weight and have a bit of wiggle room.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Last fall I replaced the rear springs on my class C E-450. They looked better than yours--and when the spring shop disassembled them one leaf was broken. The cradles for the air bags had broken welds on both sides.

I got new springs made up with an extra leaf on each side, and added Timbrens as to replace the air bags. They could not source air bags that would fit the E-450, which may be why the oem ones failed. The Timbrens have about 1/2 inch of clearance without the fresh water tank being full.

There was a big upgrade in drivablity and sway. It was a great decision to make the change.

[1slomofo]

pauldub wrote:
If you're anywhere near Santa Ana, get in touch with Deaver Spring.

Turns out I'm in Santa Ana everyday.... I will for sure!

[pauldub]

If you're anywhere near Santa Ana, get in touch with Deaver Spring.

[Lynnmor]

Your springs are spent. One source of springs is a farm equipment store, I bought from one and the parts were better than the originals.

[Lwiddis]

Agree! Replacement time.

[wa8yxm]

Springs do wear out but I see no breaks in them.
There are shops that can tell you for sure. I'm one one of them.

[Matt_Colie]

Get it to a scale and then go find a truck spring shop. They can fix it right the first time.

Matt

[enblethen]

Try to get a rough eye to eye. Looking at etrailer, you should be able to use ones that are within a half inch or so. The kit installation "should" give an over-all length.
Measure width of springs

[1slomofo]

Ltrip wrote:
I just went through that with my 2018 Arctic Fox 25Y. Yours look pretty bad. Figure out what is the stock spring and then upgrade by 250-500 lbs on each spring. The key measurement is the eye to eye measurement when unloaded.
Good luck.

Well.. I am not sure my springs will return to normal enough to measure eye to eye .

Should I just measure the hangers on the trailer frame instead?