Torsion suspensions

[Hay Dude]

What’s y’all’s opinion on them in OFF ROAD (hay field) situations?
Looking at 10K axles with super singles or traditional tandems with springs.
Got peeps telling me to stay away they don’t hold up as well as traditional suspensions-not as rugged.

BS? or true?

 

[workinonit]

My only experience with torsion was a boat trailer I had at one point. Obviously not the application you are referring to but I really liked the torsion over springs. A bit more bouncy or just active but a much smoother suspension.

 

[Hay Dude]

Need to know if they hold up on rough ground? Or are they better suited for hard top?

 

[mrmikey]

Different situation and weights but.......
I've got a trailer I haul a 1100L water tank on for my daughter for the past 5 years or so, 3500LB torquflex axles, trailer weighs all that when loaded and I've had it overloaded with soil a couple times (the pic of the soil is with the lighter axles under, over a yd of damp topsoil) .
Initially had 2500LB torqueflex axles under it and worked great but I was getting a bit antsy re the overload so I changed them to the 3500LB. It's all on pavement but around here the roads are the $hits being full of potholes and wallows. Pic is when I was changing the suspension.
Never had a lick of problems with the originals or the heavier ones. They never took on a permanent sag or any sign of problem. The lighter ones I had on for 8 or so years and the heavier ones for the past 4 or so.
As for bounce, I built an identical trailer for the SIN using a 2500LB leaf spring axle. Empty it's like a rabbit jumping all over the place, loaded not as bad but still bouncy. Mine, it'll bounce a couple times empty or full and stop. I'd never build a trailer again using leaf springs.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had a horse trailer with them which traveled smoothly. I don't have personal experiance but have heard or read that you can damage them when loaded and jacking around too tightly.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I just remembered that way baked when, I had a14k gooseneck with torsion. No issues but I tried to not jack it too hard when loaded and never much off road use.

 

[confused8122]

In my opinion, torsion is just as tuff. But, they are not self leveling ( not the correct term)
In off road situations, a bump or a hole, one tire might be in the air, overlaloading the other. Not as likely with a standard spring setup.

 

[Peter 315]

Go with leaf springs......

 

[ptsg]

In my opinion, torsion is just as tuff. But, they are not self leveling ( not the correct term)
In off road situations, a bump or a hole, one tire might be in the air, overlaloading the other. Not as likely with a standard spring setup.

My thoughts and experience as well.

My trailer has torsion suspension, while I have absolutely 0 issues with it, I do experience exactly what confused8122 explain.

If I were to buy again, I would most likely go with spring, specially to get the equalizer leaf spring suspension.

The situation I really notice that torsion suspension is going over some of the tall speed bumps we have here, like 4" to 6" tall ones. As the first axle of the trailer starts to go over the speed bump, it unloads the rear of the pickup truck, then as the 2nd axle is leaving the speed pump, it puts most of trailer and load weight on the hitch.

The equalizer should fix a lot of that, I believe.

 

[DarkBlack]

Germany chose torsion bar suspension for their 56 ton tiger tank

Tiger I Information Center - Suspension