Spring Over Axle (SOA) trailer conversion

[joshuabardwell]

BTW, the kit is $50, but that's only for one axle, so for a tandem, you're in for about $100. Since the kit comes with new U-bolts and nuts, it's not actually THAT much more expensive than welding on new spring perches. Spring seats are about $8. The U-bolt kit is about $16. So the Dexter SOA conversion kit is twice as expensive as welding on new perches yourself. If you have a welder and know what you're doing, it's no debate. But when you add in the hassle of transporting your axles to a welding shop and the cost of getting the new perches welded on, it's a no-brainer. For a tandem-axle trailer, the added cost of the kit is $50. As far as I could tell, that's basically the job minimum for most welding shops around here, so I basically broke even.

 

[Dr Dave]

Thanks for the link.

Dave

 

[joshuabardwell]

Thanks for the link.

In case you miss it, there are two sets. One for a 3" axle and one for a 2 3/8" axle. Don't accidentally buy the wrong one!

 

[Dr Dave]

Ok thanks, did you get any pics of the your trailer as it sets now, did you have to change your hitch ball height?

Dave

 

[RobertN]

Get rid of theose Scotch Loks while you have it on jack stands?

View attachment 288148

 

[RobertN]

Get rid of theose Scotch Loks while you have it on jack stands?

View attachment 288148

 

[joshuabardwell]

Ok thanks, did you get any pics of the your trailer as it sets now, did you have to change your hitch ball height?

I took a picture for you today, Dave. Unfortunately, I don't have a "before" picture for you to compare it to, but just imagine it 5" lower



I did have to change the hitch ball height, but that was sort of the point. With the ball at its old height, the torsion bars of the WD hitch scraped the ground. I actually had to buy a much longer shank for my WD system in order to get the head low enough to let the trailer ride level. Raising the trailer let me go back to the original shank, which is significantly lighter. You may think I'm just whining, but the difference in weight between a 6" shank and a 13" shank is probably 30 lbs. They're solid 2" steel.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Get rid of theose Scotch Loks while you have it on jack stands?

Scotch Lok question addressed in an earlier comment. Short version: I'm not interested in totally rewiring the trailer right now, which would be what it would take to get rid of the Scotch Loks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am sure it is set up the way you want it now but to me it just looks funny with all that room in the wheel wells. Looks like some of the 3/4 ton trucks that certain brands make and put tiny little tires on.

Chris

 

[joshuabardwell]

I am sure it is set up the way you want it now but to me it just looks funny with all that room in the wheel wells. Looks like some of the 3/4 ton trucks that certain brands make and put tiny little tires on.

The problem is, it is simply unusable with a WD system at the ride height that it was, and I can't go over 3500 lbs on my current truck/hitch without a WD system. I suppose I could have addressed the issue with a class V hitch and no WD system, but there are other benefits to a WD system that I would rather not give up. Also a class V hitch runs about $300, while the SOA conversion was about $100.

If I'm really motivated, maybe some day I'll grind out the tacks holding the fenders on and lower the fenders...

 

[radioman]

wow - thats alot of space in fenders. Have you taken it down the road with a load to see how it feels yet ? if so , how does it feel ?

 

[RobertN]

My 5th wheel is the same way. One of these days I need to make up some kind of fender skirt or something. Unfortunately, without the spring over, the trailer would be way out of balance, and really low in the back. And, probably making contact at the area around the top of the tailgate. It was probably fine behind a 2WD, but even my stock Dodge is too tall if the trailer was not SOA.

We bought this used; the conversion was done before I bought it.

Even with the "lift", it hauls/handles really nice.

 

[RobertN]

Wonder how hard it would be to lower the fenders?

I am sure it is set up the way you want it now but to me it just looks funny with all that room in the wheel wells. Looks like some of the 3/4 ton trucks that certain brands make and put tiny little tires on.

Chris

 

[joshuabardwell]

Wonder how hard it would be to lower the fenders?

From what I can see, it would require more than just cutting the fenders off and welding them back on lower. They are the exact height of the trailer rail, so lowering them would require cutting out their back-plate to make clearance for the axles and to allow access to the suspension parts. As high as it rides, there wouldn't be much holding the fender onto the frame if they were lowered to be proportional to the wheels.

Well, I say that, but now that I think about it, I know exactly how much the fenders would have to be lowered, and that is exactly as much as the trailer was raised, and that is 5". Obviously, the fenders could afford to have 5" of metal cut out of them, should it come to that.

I have heard of some folks buying bigger wheels and/or tires after doing an SOA conversion, both for aesthetic reasons, and to allow for the wheels to have slower turning at speed (less heat buildup, less wear on bearings/hubs). Realistically, I am likely to just leave it as it is, even though it does look a little funny. The trailer is for working, not looking at! And no matter how funny it looks, it is much better than scraping my torsion bars on the road all the dang time.

 

[joshuabardwell]

wow - thats alot of space in fenders. Have you taken it down the road with a load to see how it feels yet ? if so , how does it feel ?

I have not. It may be a bit before I have a chance to use the trailer really loaded. I am currently stocked to the gills with both firewood and hay, which are the two main things I use it for. I plan to take it for a short ride empty, just to shake it out a bit, but I don't expect that to really tell me anything useful about the ride. That being said, many folks have done this conversion, and from their experience, I don't expect any trouble. 5" of extra height isn't going to make enough difference in the center of gravity to make it more tippy or anything. And I don't expect that the geometry has changed at all, since the axles went right back onto the springs, exactly where they were (except on the other side).

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am guessing you have just 205/75/15 tires. Just going to 225/75/15 tires will make it look a little better and add some load hauling capability even though its not really needed with 3.5K axles. They are usually only $4 more for 225 C range tires over 205 C range tires around here.

Chris