trailer suspension

[Jack1776]

I bought a 2020 gulfstream vintage crusier single axle and towing it with my 2021 Ford 150. My queston is: Is it practical to upgrade the trailer suspension for a smoother ride and/or sway? and if so, what would someone recommend?

Thanks...Vincent

[dodge_guy]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I changed out my Equalizers to Dexter EZ Flex ...

OP said single axle.

Yes, not sure on Dexter, but I know there are others out there that offer a similar type shackle for single axle.

[Grit_dog]

amxpress wrote:
To answer your question, is it practical? No. Some of these suggestions are ludicrous.

You mean like adding a panhard bar to the trailer? LOL
The amount of weird, false info put forth on here is the main reason I stick around....to try to help folks like the new guy who started this thread who is getting recommendations to essentially start fabbing custom parts and adding stuff that doesn't even apply.

Absolutely amazing.

[propchef]

OP, the suspension on nearly all bumper-pull RVs and 5th wheels is state of the art directly from the 1920's. VERY rudimentary. It's one of the major causes of tire failure.

- pics would help with suggestions as has been mentioned. These suspensions lack two major things: dampening of vertical movement and the prevention of lateral movement. Something like a panhard bar and a set of shocks can rectify this, but only if you have appropriate mounting points.
- Tires, while a great upgrade, won't address either of the above items.

Good luck! Update with what you're doing.

[JIMNLIN]

sometimes adding products to a truck/trailer combo just to be pro active can backfire.

Having pulled single axle cargo trailers between multi state jobsites sometimes even made my one ton drw trucks ride harsh compared to 16k-22k GN flatbed trailers.
Proper hitch weight for that combo, with a single axle trailer, is critical especially with a soft suspension 1/2 ton truck.

[theoldwizard1]

dodge guy wrote:
I changed out my Equalizers to Dexter EZ Flex ...

OP said single axle.

[amxpress]

To answer your question, is it practical? No. Some of these suggestions are ludicrous.
Some of the suggested upgrades aren’t even available for a single axle trailer!
If you want to be pro-active and improve the ride and safety of your trailer, replace the tires with a quality tire like Goodyear Endurance or Maxxis M8008. You might be able to move up a size to a tire with a little more load capacity. Regardless what tire you get, have them balanced. Properly inflate them and religiously monitor them.
Install a quality hitch and set it up per instructions, and properly load your trailer as mentioned in the posts above. Get rid of the cheap tires.
Now load up, hook up, and hit the road. Go make some memories.

[Grit_dog]

It’s a new trailer. You have the best possible scenario already. No improvements needed.
Make sure all the bolts are tight if it’s truly new. Make sure there’s ample grease in the bearings, tires are right pressure and lug nuts are tight, brakes work well and start driving. Not a thing you should need to worry about changing or touching for the next 10k miles.

[dodge_guy]

I changed out my Equalizers to Dexter EZ Flex with bronze bushings and wet bolt kit. Best thing I did. I know they make a similar design to replace the shackles. Definitely worth it. It smooths out the ride and bridge expansion joints are about invisible!

[theoldwizard1]

Single axle trailers will always "buck"/"porpoise".

If you have tradition steel springs, a "twist" axle will help. Even better is a Timbren Axle-less suspension. It would likely require welding to beef up the frame. $,$$$. !!!

[JBarca]

Jack1776 wrote:
I bought a 2020 gulfstream vintage crusier single axle and towing it with my 2021 Ford 150. My queston is: Is it practical to upgrade the trailer suspension for a smoother ride and/or sway? and if so, what would someone recommend?

Thanks...Vincent

Jack1776 wrote:
I'm sorry I didn't make my self clear. I haven't experienced any significant problems, but my wife and I are planning an extended 3 to 6 month trip and wanted to be pro-active. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks again.

Hi,

For a starter, does the camper have leaf springs, and if so, does it have shock absorbers? OR do you have a torsion (rubber ride) axle (no leaf springs)? If you do not know, post some pictures of the suspension.

Need to understand better what your camper has to start with, and what you are trying to fix and why? Smoother and sway was mentioned which seems to point to, you feel the ride is rough now, and you have some level of sway. But it seems you haven't experienced any significant problems, we need more to go on to give more practical answers.

Hope this helps

John

[Lwiddis]

IMO adjust before you leave…12 to 15% tongue weight.

[Jack1776]

I'm sorry I didn't make my self clear. I haven't experienced any significant problems, but my wife and I are planning an extended 3 to 6 month trip and wanted to be pro-active. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks again.

[Lwiddis]

When adjusting your tongue weight to the 12% to 15% ideal number, do not exceed your TV’s maximum hitch weight.

[ken56]

Being a single axle and not terribly heavy the most I would do is put in wet bolts with the bronze bushings. The nylon insert they put in at the spring connection bolt wear out fairly quickly and gets sloppy. Dexter has the bolts and bushings you can order online. Morryde is an excellent product but so is the price tag.

[valhalla360]

Sway is more likely about hitch weight. Try to get 12-15% of the trailer on the hitch (assuming the tow vehicle can handle it...if not you have a marginal tow vehicle)

A Weight Distributing Hitch with sway control incorporated will help if you are marginal but better to get the weight correct as sway control has limits.

As far as "smoother" ride, are you talking about the trailer bouncing up and down or side to side?