Should Leaf of Trailer Leaf Spring be Removed to Lower Capacity

Updated 02/10/2026 | Published 01/23/2026

Products Featured in This Question

5-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 6,000-lb Trailer Axles - 25-1/4" Long

(122)

$55.33

4-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 5,000-lb Trailer Axles - 25-1/4" Long

(2083)

$70.28

3-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 4,000-lb Trailer Axles - 25-1/4" Long

(2083)

$41.36

Question:

Hello I currently have the EMCO PR5 6k leaf springs on my tandum axle trailer. I ran the trailer over a cat scale and it is weighting in at 7,500 which is way under the 12,000 capacity of the suspension. It is riding a bit bounce and stiff. I have heard that ideally you want to be only about 20 over your actaul load and that you can remove a leaf from the pack to achive this. I think I want to remove a leaf out of the pack to try to get closer to 9k or 10k capacity for a better ride. Which leaf in the pack should I remove to get down to the desired 20 over load capacity?

asked by: Kurt T

Expert Reply:

Hey Kurt, that's not something we recommend at all. If you take a leaf off of the # TRU32FR there's no telling what the capacity would then be or if it would even stay together after the fact. We also don't have instructions on how to do that either.

A better option would be leaf springs that are closer in rating to what your trailer weighs like the part # e57SR for 4k axles. This would give a total of 8k in leaf spring capacity or the part # e44SR for a 5k axle spring. Both of these are same length as what you have now so the install wouldn't be difficult at all.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Jameson C.

2/10/2026

Hey Kurt, how did things turn out after switching to the lighter leaf springs for your tandem axle trailer? Your update could make it easier for the next person trying to smooth out their trailer ride.