Marco Flamingo
Active member
I once had an old utility trailer made from a pickup truck bed that still had shocks on it and I was always impressed with how it towed on rough roads. I had it long enough that I noticed it was beginning to wander and sway, so I replaced the shocks and that solved the problem. Actually, the problem was probably the fact that it was cobbled together from an old truck and the geometry was wrong. But I knew that shocks on a trailer can cure some ills, plus it towed nice when empty, something most trailers don't do.
So I looked for shocks that might fit my little EZ Loader trailer. There's not much room. I had to use the smallest shock I could find or else it would either stick up too high or drag the ground. Monroe makes a little shock that was used on larger Dodge V8 cars in the 80's. So I knew it could handle the weight. Some of the smaller shocks that I found were from go carts and golf carts. I was skeptical of using those.
I moored the boat out front and went to work on the empty trailer. When I finished, I had my wife drive the trailer to the local boat ramp so I could put the boat back on. Her only observation was that the trailer was now quieter. That's because it doesn't bounce as much when empty. And with the boat on it, it was great. The local boat launch is an "unmaintained" rutted mess and then I have to drive over three miles on a potholed gravel road to get to the house.
The boat seemed so well mannered. I still slowed for the potholes, but when the trailer hit them there was hardly any motion transferred to the Santa Fe. For $50 in materials, including the shocks, this gets a thumbs up. I'm planning a long trip tomorrow, so I'll see what it does on the open road.
There are a couple pictures in my album, but I didn't take any pictures when the boat was off because I've lost my #%*! phone.
Mark
So I looked for shocks that might fit my little EZ Loader trailer. There's not much room. I had to use the smallest shock I could find or else it would either stick up too high or drag the ground. Monroe makes a little shock that was used on larger Dodge V8 cars in the 80's. So I knew it could handle the weight. Some of the smaller shocks that I found were from go carts and golf carts. I was skeptical of using those.
I moored the boat out front and went to work on the empty trailer. When I finished, I had my wife drive the trailer to the local boat ramp so I could put the boat back on. Her only observation was that the trailer was now quieter. That's because it doesn't bounce as much when empty. And with the boat on it, it was great. The local boat launch is an "unmaintained" rutted mess and then I have to drive over three miles on a potholed gravel road to get to the house.
The boat seemed so well mannered. I still slowed for the potholes, but when the trailer hit them there was hardly any motion transferred to the Santa Fe. For $50 in materials, including the shocks, this gets a thumbs up. I'm planning a long trip tomorrow, so I'll see what it does on the open road.
There are a couple pictures in my album, but I didn't take any pictures when the boat was off because I've lost my #%*! phone.
Mark