Do Shackle Straps Need To Be The Same On Both Sides of a Trailer?

Updated 08/09/2021 | Published 08/07/2021

Question:

18’ big Tex 70pi tandem trailer purchased new 2 years ago. I use it for landscaping and mowing and when changing the tire today I noticed the passenger side shackles were different than the driver side. Can you tell me how this can happen and what I need to do to fix it?

asked by: Bobby L

Expert Reply:

It sounds like the previous owner broke something and instead of repairing the one side and changing the other they just decided to fix what was wrong. After owning the trailer for 2 years if you're not having uneven tire wearing issues and the trailer isn't lop-sided when loaded up you shouldn't have to fix anything. The shackles need to be the same on both sides of the trailer though. Like this one Curved Equalizer for 1-3/4" Wide Double-Eye Springs item # TREQE1. It is 7-3/4" Long that spacing between the leaf springs needs to be the same distance on the other side. Typically a repair or replacement on one side of your trailers suspension involves doing the same exact work on the other. I have included a link to our selection of shackle straps. If you let me know what size shackles you have I can make a recommendation.

expert reply by: Jerred H