Torsion suspensions

Hay Dude · Aug 25, 2024

My Diamond C dealer assures me the Lippert rating is good for 11 years on Diamond C trailers with Lippert torsion axles.

I should be ordering soon.

Renze · Sep 1, 2024

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

I havent used torsion suspension on really rough ground like trails.

But from my days at the trailer builder, i remember Knott having a sinking chassis by having a retractable equaliser bar between two torsion axles. It allowed to step over obstacles without lifting one wheel above the ground, but they use hydraulic retractable bar to lower the chassis to the ground for food sales wagons on fairs.

https://www.knott.de/fileadmin/Knott/Resources/Public/files/Absenkbare_Drehschubfederachsen_2008.pdf

But if you talk about taking torsion suspension out in the hay field, i dont see any problems with that.

Its just that straight axles with leafs can take turning on the spot better, when the wheels are deeply embedded in mud. The swing arms on torsion axles bend a little sooner when turning a wheel against a kerb, especially on a 3 axle setup when its 2 wheels against one.

When the local landscape contractor loaded my trailer with a Volvo L90 and saw the scale run to 5960kg, i had about 4500kg on the trailer with 1300kg rated axles. I took wide curves when backing it behind my fathers house, to not bend the swing arms. Its still tracking nice. Torsion suspension can take a lot if you use your head.

pmsmechanic · Sep 1, 2024

If I replace an axle(s) on a trailer I'll always replace with torsion. Less maintenance and a lot quieter.

I have several trailers in both styles.

I wouldn't worry about one axle temporarily taking all the weight. If you aren't stupid and are careful you will be ok.

Hay Dude · Sep 1, 2024

pmsmechanic said:
If I replace an axle(s) on a trailer I'll always replace with torsion. Less maintenance and a lot quieter.

I have several trailers in both styles.

I wouldn't worry about one axle temporarily taking all the weight. If you aren't stupid and are careful you will be ok.

Sometimes it’s not so much about “stupid” as it is about bumps, swales & ditches in fields.

pmsmechanic · Sep 2, 2024

Hay Dude said:
Sometimes it’s not so much about “stupid” as it is about bumps, swales & ditches in fields.

That's the part you can't control. What you can control is turning sharply while crossing the above. And doing that is what I define as stupid.

nisaacs · Sep 2, 2024

Hay Dude said:
Sometimes it’s not so much about “stupid” as it is about bumps, swales & ditches in fields.

I know the trailer you are looking at has Lippert axles. But, this is what Dexter says about torsion axles. They appear to over build to allow for uneven ground, on the bigger axles especially or spec 3 or more axles. They don't recommend light duty torsion axles configured in more than single or tandem's. To get 3 or more axles they recommend 7,8 or 10k.

I think torsion axles are a non-issue for your use. Just get'em.

Dexter site:

https://www.dexteraxle.com/user_area/content_media/raw/LIT28000TorflexFlyer.pdf

https://www.dexteraxle.com/user_area/content_media/raw/applications-manual-(lit-008-00).pdf

cannuck · Sep 17, 2024

I may rapidly wear out my welcome here, but this is a subject I have a lot of experience with and some very strong opinions about.

To start with: EVERYTHING sold into the "recreational" trailer market is absolute garbage. I no longer build with anything but automotive (medium duty truck at HayDude's weights). But if you are not looking to spend a king's ransome engineering and building one-offs there are some important things to know.

No experience with Lippert, so will comment on Dexter. Make darn sure you order replaceable spindles because if you are working high miles and big loads the bearings will fret and start walking on the spindles, and it is a LOT cheaper to replace them than a whole axle. My torflex experience is both off road and long distance OTR. They are simple, maintenance free and reliable - up to a point. What I find is when loaded up around 80% or more of rating the rubber deflects enough to cause severe tire wear. Forget about multi axle installations unless you can keep trailer dead level. I have ordered a 3 axle matched set and even dead level different tire wear. Found the load at same deflection (kept dead level by air suspended two vehicle) vaired over one ton from axle to axle. Travel very short (thus HUGE loading of one axle over bumps) but damping is actually decent.

When you say 10k and 235 tires I assume you are giving up on super singles and going with duals. Problem with that is no room in a tiny 16" wheel for any brakes that could stop a 10k axle. Keep in mind you are almost at steer axle weights of a class 8 semi tractor - and have you ever seen one with the toy car brakes that go into a 16 inch wheel? Closest you can come is electric over hydraulic discs, but even then look for something that will fill a 17.5 wheel with a 245 single.

There IS a solution to making torsion axles work on rough ground or variable trailer angles but your trailer manufacturer probably can't/won't be able to deliver. Mount the rear axle in trail and front axle leading on a walking beam. I use class 8 rubber bushings for that kind of thing.

Hay Dude · Sep 17, 2024

High loads, but low miles. My main concern is overloading while traveling across uneven fields. Current 38,500 lb gooseneck with 15K Dexter axles & 17.5’s handles this fine

cannuck · Sep 18, 2024

cannuck said:
X Closest you can come is electric over hydraulic discs, but even then look for something that will fill a 17.5 wheel with a 245 single.

There IS a solution to making torsion axles work on rough ground or variable trailer angles but your trailer manufacturer probably can't/won't be able to deliver. Mount the rear axle in trail and front axle leading on a walking beam. I use class 8 rubber bushings for that kind of thing.

ran out of time last night, couple things I should have mentioned.

I have one pair of 10k axles that have large brakes that fill a 17.5 wheel and are trailing links that will handle bumps, etc.
For Trailers / STi Air Ride Trailer Suspension

If you don't like the walking beam (dead simple and ultra reliable), Dexter has a "me too" version of Timbren STI:

Home | Dexter Group

www.dextergroup.com

When I look around the Lippert site the only way to get to 10k is with 2 x 5k - and you seem to need 2 x 10k. Why don't you just remount your existing 15k Dexters on a leading/trailing walking beam and be done with it? Here is a nice article about building a trailing/trailing walking beam, with good explanation of how and why torsion axles handle the question of differential articulation (where some otherwise good suspensions do NOT accommodate well or at all).