See what our Experts say about this etrailer Trailer Suspension Parts

• Trailer Suspension Parts Needed to Increase Trailer Capacity from 7000 to 10000 lbs Gross Weight
  Your best bet for upgrading the suspension on your trailer with 5,000 lb axles is to change out the springs from 1,750 lb capacity each to at least 2500 lb capacity each. Helper springs would not increase the capacity of your original suspension, they are designed to help your suspension handle loads up to the rated capacity of the suspension. If your trailer suspension is built with double eye springs you will need to measure the springs with no load on them from the spring eye center...
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• Hanger Kit Recommendation for Dexter 3.5K 4-Leaf Double-Eye Spring
  Hey Dennis, thanks for reaching out! The 4-Leaf Double-Eye Spring # DX23CR has a 3" drop from center eye to middle of the leaf spring (see attached photo). For a single axle setup I recommend the Hanger Kit # APS4, and for a tandem axle setup I recommend the Hanger Kit # APT5. Since the U-Bolt kit sits on either side of the leaf spring, the space between them will be 1-3/4" - the same as your leaf spring width. It might straddle your trailer frame, but you really want more clearance...
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• Choosing Bigger Tires to Increase Trailer Ground Clearance
  It depends on how much clearance you currently have around your wheels. Ideally, you should have 3 inches minimum clearance between your fender and your wheels and an inch minimum between your sidewall and trailer frame/wall. As your wheel size increases, your clearance decreases so please measure with that in mind. You current tires are 225/75/R15 similar to # AM32680. As you can see, this tire has an outside diameter of 28.4". Going up two inches would bring you to a wheel and tire like...
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• How to Determine Axle Placement for a Tandem Axle Trailer
  To determine the location for the front and rear hangers on your tandem axle trailer you will first need to make sure that you have the correct center point for your equalizer hanger. The center point of your equalizer hanger needs to be located where you will have 60 percent of the frame of the trailer in front of the center of the equalizer hanger and 40 percent behind the center of the equalizer hanger. For example, if the trailers frames length is 18 feet, then the center-line location...
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• How to Determine Hanger Spacing for Tandem Axle Trailer Suspension with 26 Inch Springs
  Thank you for providing the specs for the suspension components that you already have. Correct hanger spacing really depends on the components being used such as springs, hangers and equalizers. Most of the hanger spacing dimensions that we have are based on our preassembled kits, so we will use that as a foundation for your setup. First, I would either replace all of the front and rear hangers with 2-1/2 inch tall hangers like part # 115918 or replace just the center hangers with 2-1/2...
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• Will Trailer Hanger Kit APT7 Have Enough Clearance for 6K Axle
  Hey J, thanks for reaching out! The Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit # APT7 would be cutting it a little close depending on what leaf spring you're using, so I recommend going with the Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit # APT5 instead. It uses the same equalizer, but it comes with taller hangers, so you get a little more clearance. Do you already have some leaf springs in mind you'll be using, or are you in the market for those as well?
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• Troubleshooting Slanted Equalizer on Unloaded 7K Cargo Trailer
  Thank you for providing all of that information! From the photos and dimensions it looks like you have the suspension kit that's equivalent to the Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit # APT5. For your axle and hanger spacing you need lead springs that are more in the 25-1/8" to 25-1/8" range. Leaf springs will elongate over time and if you took the center eye measurements with the weight of the trailer down then both of those will contribute towards the longer spring measurement, but from my...
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• Trailer Suspension Hanger Kit with the Most Lift for Tire Clearance Under the Trailer Bed
  The # APT4 Tandem-Axle Hanger Kit will provide about 4 inches of clearance from the center of the trailer axle to the bottom of the trailer frame, with no load on the axle. This is assuming that your axle tube is 3 inches diameter. If your axle tube is smaller the height will be sightly less. The curve of the springs you select will have some affect also. I would recommend that you go with the APT5 hanger kit because all of the hangers are the same height and it will make it easier to...
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• Recommended 2,000 Lb Trailer Axle with Brakes for Small Trailer
  The best option we could provide you with is the Trailer Idler Axle Beam part # e48GR which measures 60" long and has a 2,000 lb weight capacity. It's not setup for brakes so in order to equip them you'd need to have a brake mounting flange welded on, the Brake Mounting Flange for 1-3/4" Round Trailer Axles part # 4-34. This will then allow you to add brakes like the Electric Trailer Brake Kit part # AKEBRK-2 and hubs/drums like the Easy Grease Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly for 2K Axles...
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• Best Way To Keep The Back Of A Trailer From Dragging On A Driveway
  There are a couple ways of going about lifting a trailer, Jeremy. You could cut off your old hangers and weld on new taller ones, like the Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit for Double Eye Springs - 3-1/4" Tall Front/Center/Rear # APT5. The amount of lift will depend on how much taller the new hangers are compared to your old ones. This will be the most difficult way to lift a trailer. The easier way would be to do an axle flip with the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit 2-3/8"...
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• Can Trailer Hanger Spacing be Shortened by 3/8 of an Inch
  Hey Greg, 3/8 of an inch is not that much so you could shorten it up that much if you wanted without issue. I would try and even that distance difference out for both axles and also do the exact same on other side of the trailer so that your alignment stays good.
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• What Hanger Kit To Use For Tandem Axle Trailer With 2,000 lb Axles
  Hello Torrey, thanks for reaching out. Generally with a 2,000 lb axle setup you would want each hanger to be the same height. Using a taller hanger will increase the deck height, and shorter hangers will bring it lower. So if you want a lower ride, you could use a kit like the # APT9 kit which comes with 2-1/2" tall hangers. Or to bring it higher use # APT5 which is 3-1/4" tall hangers. This could also help get you more clearance between the tires and fenders if needed. I have linked...
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• Why do Some Trailer Suspension Kits Have Longer Equalizer Hangers
  The reality is that not every manufacturer makes their suspension kits to the same standard sizes. Some use taller hangers with wider equalizers and some might use a taller equalizer with a shorter center hanger. It really just comes down to the preference of the manufacturer and what gives them the ride height and distance between tires that works the best for them. Also the fact that some trailer leaf springs happen to be longer or shorter plays into what is best solution as well. Ideally...
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• MoRryde CRE3000 Equalizers on 31 Inch Tandem Axle Spacing
  I just spoke with my rep at MORryde and she said that you are able to use the CRE3000 MORryde Rubber Equalizers for Tandem Axle Trailers - 33" Wheelbase - 8K item # MR87ZR on a tandam axle trailer with 31 inch spacing if your are using 24 inch leaf springs.
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• Ideal Leaf Spring Hanger Spacing for Tandem Axle Trailer Using # e34SR 6000 lb Leaf Springs
  The spacing will depend on the axle diameter and on which particular spring hanger kit you use. If you have a 6000 lb 3 inch diameter axle, and you're using the # APT5 hanger kit which includes 7-3/4 inch equalizers and 2-5/8 inch shackle straps (which are the correct size for dual axle trailers, 3-1/8 inch shackles are usually used on single axle trailers) , the center to center distance between the front and center and center and rear hanger is 29-1/2 inches. The center to center axle...
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• Hanger Spacing Dimensions for Installing Double-Eye Leaf Springs on a Trailer
  The Trailer Leaf Spring, 2250 lbs. 6 Leaf, item # e27SR, is sold as a replacement spring for older trailers and measures 26 inches for eye to eye, center to center. If you are replacing the springs and hangers you will need to use the same center to center dimension as the original mounting brackets. These springs are designed for a 4,500 pound axle. If you are building a new trailer you will need to determine the weight capacity of the axle you will be using and order springs and hangers...
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• How to Determine Axle Position when Building a Trailer
  There is an easy way to determine axle placement on a trailer. Take a look at the picture I have included. Just plug in the numbers and complete the formula to determine the axle placement. The other factor that is going to come into play is the springs that you are going to use. Once you have the measurements all figured out you can determine which springs are going to work with that set up. I have also included a link to our double-eye suspension FAQ article to the right.
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• How to Find the Correct Replacement Equalizer
  The Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit for Double Eye Springs # APT5 may have the correct equalizer but you will need to measure the current equalizer to find out. The length from the center of the left-most eye to the center of the right-most eye of your equalizer needs to be the same as the 7-3/4 inch measurement in this kit. Since you said the shackles are hitting the frame I recommend using a kit with a center hanger that is longer than the 3-3/4 inch hanger that comes with Kit # APT5....
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• Recommended Hanger Placement for 7K Tandem Axle Trailer
  I have attached an article to help with correct axle placement on your 18-foot tandem-axle trailer. Then based on correct placement, I recommend using a hanger kit like # APT5. I then recommend using the 6-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 7,000-lb Trailer Axles - 24-7/8" Long # e64SR which will work well with the spacing of your hangers at 29-1/2 inches on center which will put your axles at 33-1/2 inches on center. See attached photo.
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• Tandem Axle Hanger Spacing for Double Eye Springs 25-1/2 Inches
  For your double eye springs that are 25-1/2 inches, it is likely your hangers are 29-1/2 inches apart on center and your springs most likely were originally 25-1/4 inches as they will stretch slightly over time. For instance if you were to use 25-1/4 inch springs like # e34SR then you could use tandem axle trailer hanger kit # APT5 and use either spacing 29-1/2 inches on center for a good fit.
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• Changing 3,500 Pound Trailer Axles to 5,200 Pound Axles
  The first thing to consider is if the axle(s) are actually bent. Trailer axles have a bow in them so they are higher at the center than at the ends. When under load the axles straighten out some. That is part of how they get their capacities. If the axles are bent from damage then that is another story. Like you said the 5,200 pound axles that we have include spring seats that are on the bottoms of the axles. In order to have the spring stacks on top of the axles all you would need to...
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• What Causes Shackle Straps To Flip Below the Equalizer
  It is not uncommon for the shackle straps to flip once weight is lifted off the suspension but if they do so when you have a load bearing then this will not allow for proper load distribution or suspension travel. The cause of this issue is that the leaf springs are too long, the shack straps are too long, or a combination of both. The best option for you to make sure you get the proper spacing would be to change these parts out. If you can let me know the distance between your leaf spring...
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• Should Trailer Suspension Equalizers be Level
  If the trailer is not loaded then you will often see equalizers that are tilted like yours. It does not necessarily mean that there is a problem with the suspension. If the springs are worn out then the trailer would easily bottom out. If that is not happening then the springs are likely fine. It is possible that some component is not the right size as well. If the springs are too short or the equalizers are not long enough that can affect the geometry of the suspension.
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• Determining Spring Hanger Spacing for Tandem Axle Trailer Fabrication Project
  Thank you for the measurements you provided and for the photo of your trailer suspension mockup showing the spring components' spacing. As long as your shackles do not hit the trailer frame (you mention 1/8-inch clearance) you should be fine, but if you'd like a bit more breathing room you could increase spacing from 29-1/2 to 30-inches without negatively affecting anything else.
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