Leaf spring shackles are tilted

[wopachop]

My friends are saying its from the force of the trailer brakes? Its a triple axle and all the shackles stay tilted like this even after driving down flat roads.

The shackle will bottom out on the frame while going down driveways. Seems wrong. I tried making it straight with a jack but it bounces right back.

Should i slam the trailer brakes will driving in reverse?

[wnjj]

wopachop wrote:
Thanks for the help and links everyone. The "problem" was just like some of you said. The trailer is simply not parallel to the ground. I knew the driveway sloped very slightly to the right. I didnt think it was enough to make the equalizers look that bad. Lack of experience on my part.

Might not come through in the picture but the concrete is pretty close to level. (i thought)
Once it turns to dirt then it really begins to slope. To me thats why the nose is so much lower than the rear. I still considered the ground and trailer to be level....ish.

Used a tape measure from the ground to the frame on either side of the tires. Once those numbers were the same the equalizers looked nice and even. Sheeesh!!! My bad.

Thanks again everyone.

That makes sense. Consider that the height of the frame above the ground at each axle is determined by the average height of both ends of the spring. Then look at your first picture, ignore the center axle and just look at the front and rear springs. Each have one end on fixed shackles so the same distance from the frame. One of them has the equalizer end up closer to the frame and the other down further from the frame. This means the frame is not the same height above the ground over those 2 axles. The center one just responds to whatever the end ones cause the equalizers to do.

[wopachop]

Thanks for the help and links everyone. The "problem" was just like some of you said. The trailer is simply not parallel to the ground. I knew the driveway sloped very slightly to the right. I didnt think it was enough to make the equalizers look that bad. Lack of experience on my part.

Might not come through in the picture but the concrete is pretty close to level. (i thought)
Once it turns to dirt then it really begins to slope. To me thats why the nose is so much lower than the rear. I still considered the ground and trailer to be level....ish.

Used a tape measure from the ground to the frame on either side of the tires. Once those numbers were the same the equalizers looked nice and even. Sheeesh!!! My bad.

Thanks again everyone.

[fj12ryder]

Okay, here's one for double eye leaf springs, and it shows all equalizers are the same. Leaf spring equalizer

[johntank]

fj12ryder wrote:

johntank wrote:

wopachop wrote:
My friends are saying its from the force of the trailer brakes? Its a triple axle and all the shackles stay tilted like this even after driving down flat roads.

The shackle will bottom out on the frame while going down driveways. Seems wrong. I tried making it straight with a jack but it bounces right back.

Should i slam the trailer brakes will driving in reverse?

Does your equalizers look like the drawing posted by time2roll,if so it has one flaw to it, it shows all equalizers using shackles, from what I know is that the middle axle needs one of the equalizer to have a spring eye end to hold the springs and axle in the right position.
From what I can tell from your posted pic this is your problem.

Not necessarily, some trailers will use the same equalizers at all positions. This link shows the same diagram as time2roll has posted: Suspension components

This might be true, but IMO this why he has the problem he posted about. I will say if he would replace one pair of equalizers that holds the spring at the eye for the center axle this would not happen. BTW your link showed equalizers for slipper springs.

[fj12ryder]

johntank wrote:

wopachop wrote:
My friends are saying its from the force of the trailer brakes? Its a triple axle and all the shackles stay tilted like this even after driving down flat roads.

The shackle will bottom out on the frame while going down driveways. Seems wrong. I tried making it straight with a jack but it bounces right back.

Should i slam the trailer brakes will driving in reverse?

Does your equalizers look like the drawing posted by time2roll,if so it has one flaw to it, it shows all equalizers using shackles, from what I know is that the middle axle needs one of the equalizer to have a spring eye end to hold the springs and axle in the right position.
From what I can tell from your posted pic this is your problem.

Not necessarily, some trailers will use the same equalizers at all positions. This link shows the same diagram as time2roll has posted: Suspension components

[time2roll]

wopachop wrote:
Heres a newb question. I tried looking this up months ago and didnt find an answer i trusted. Can you use an automotive jack and jack stands to get the entire trailer in the air? Starting on one side, and working around. Can that twist and mess up the frame?

That is how I put mine up. I had to make some cribbing to get enough lift on the floor jack.

I use two pair 12 ton jack stands from Harbor Freight to hold it up. Standard jack stands may not be tall enough.

[fj12ryder]

K Charles wrote:
The picture shows the nose high.you say the trailer is level, is the ground level?

How can you see that the trailer is nose high. Is there any way to tell which direction is toward the nose? And given the tight focus, how can say it's nose high? Better eyes than mine.

[johntank]

wopachop wrote:
My friends are saying its from the force of the trailer brakes? Its a triple axle and all the shackles stay tilted like this even after driving down flat roads.

The shackle will bottom out on the frame while going down driveways. Seems wrong. I tried making it straight with a jack but it bounces right back.

Should i slam the trailer brakes will driving in reverse?

Does your equalizers look like the drawing posted by time2roll,if so it has one flaw to it, it shows all equalizers using shackles, from what I know is that the middle axle needs one of the equalizer to have a spring eye end to hold the springs and axle in the right position.
From what I can tell from your posted pic this is your problem.

[K_Charles]

The picture shows the nose high.you say the trailer is level, is the ground level?

[fj12ryder]

wopachop wrote:
Trailer is a 2013 forest river. Previous owner had optional 3rd axle installed. I bought the trailer last July almost to the day. I noticed this issue a year ago and posted on FB. Lots of my friends have trailers.

Best guess people had was the force from the trailer brakes.

Was the third axle added at the factory? If not at the factory, I would suspect that it was improperly installed. AFATG I would suspect that even if it were installed at the factory. A knowledgeable shop can take a look, do some measuring, and tell you what the issue is.

An online forum can give you well meaning advice, but it really needs some eyes, and hands on evaluating.

[wopachop]

Thanks everyone i will first try cranking the nose of the trailer super high. See how the shackle looks. In the picture the front is to the left.

Its a toyhauler that gets shaken like crazy down washboard roads. Wonder if an axle slipped a little on a spring as someone here mentioned. Will have to get down there and measure.

Heres a newb question. I tried looking this up months ago and didnt find an answer i trusted. Can you use an automotive jack and jack stands to get the entire trailer in the air? Starting on one side, and working around. Can that twist and mess up the frame?

[time2roll]

Need to make your own drawing and compare to spring specs etc.
Yes a bit tedious to prove the geometry is correct.



https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Suspension/etrailer/APTT5.html
(scroll down a bit to see this kit specifications)

Note A & C are same and B a bit longer. D should be same.

[Artum_Snowbird]

I wonder about the weight on the front and the back of the center axle? By the look of the position of the hangers, the front of the center spring is pushing down heavier, and the back of the center spring is lighter.

If this is the same on both sides, you could measure the distance from the front of the spring to the axle and see if possibly the U bolts should be moved a bit forward on the spring pack.

I would definitely have a spring shop give you an expert opinion.

[mike-s]

Measure everything - eye to eye on the springs, hub/axle center to hub/axle center on the axles, eyes to hub/axle center on each axle, hole to hole on the hangers. Everything should be equal and centered.

It will sit like that if the center axle is mounted forward of center on the springs - that puts more load on the front end of the spring, pushing it higher in front and dropping it down in the rear. (I'm assuming front is to the right in the picture)