Need some leaf spring knowledge/advice.

[GAmes]

When I got to my destination on my last trip I discovered that one master leaf was broken on my 5th wheel. After talking to a couple welders it was agreed that even a "temporary" welded patch wouldn't hold to get me home. Being that I tend to over engineer my repairs I bought a set of 6000 pound 6 leaf springs along with a bolt and shackle kit. What I didn't think of was the added thickness of the two extra leafs. To enable the installation of the U bolts I removed the two bottom leafs from the spring. Now home I have a choice to make before I install the other three springs. Do I buy 8 new U bolts or just remove the two bottom leafs from the other three springs? The GAWR on the trailer decal says 5080 pounds, each axle. Actual weight on the tandems is 9000-9500 pounds. Looking at the new springs compared to the old spring all the leafs I would employ are longer than the originals. This might be a no-brainer but does that mean they are stronger and I would be safe with four leaf springs? The same company (eTrailer) sells four leaf, 5000 pound springs and in the pictures it appears that the 6000 pound springs are the same with two leafs added. A phone call to ask them to compare was met with resistance and I don't want to order a 5000 pound spring just to send it back.

 

[NIsaacs]

I would not modify the spring pack, get longer bolts. The spring pack is engineered with progressively shorter leaves for a progressive weight spring. The short ones are sorta an overload, and work in sync to the longer ones.

 

[Topzide]

I would not modify the spring pack, get longer bolts. The spring pack is engineered with progressively shorter leaves for a progressive weight spring. The short ones are sorta an overload, and work in sync to the longer ones.

I second this! Will give better ride to trailer. Sorry it left you away from home and tools!

 

[GAmes]

Actually, I had the tools I needed. A big bottle jack for the rear of the frame, the landing gear for the front, a small bottle jack and a bunch of boards for the axle and a good assortment of 1/2 inch drive sockets. The biggest problem was I lost a bunch of time I could have been on the lake.

Thank you both for the input.

 

[endoscott]

Gitts Springs in Auburn, WA makes any kind of custom springs you might want. I replaced the suspension on my 5th wheel and for some crazy reason they were not a stock size set of leaf springs, but Gitts was awesome and also affordable, one of those old fashioned American businesses. Don't mind the gal running it, her bark is worse than her bite. She knew absolutely everything about springs. 253-833-6806

 

[GAmes]

I already have the springs, but thanks.

 

[bcbender]

Going alittle bigger will give you some margin, RV makers seem to spec them for juusssst enough.. Heck there were so many issues with my model the upgraded the axles from 6k to 7k and warrantied all the older ones to be retrofitted... I bought the year model I did because it came with the 7k axles but previous years did not.. .Silly that they built a 44' quad slide bunkhouse coach with only about 1000# carrying capacity. With the 7ks its north of 2500#

 

[AH64ID]

Get the longer U-Bolts and use the new springs without modifying them. Your TAW's are high enough that you will only see benefits from the new leaf packs.

 

[GAmes]

I installed the springs yesterday along with greaseable bolts and a new center equalizer . Aches and pains relieved by Alive. The finished product raised the RV 2 inches from the previous height. Now I might have to adjust the hitch but I'll have to see. It was slightly nose high to start. I'll be heading to my next fishing trip in a couple weeks to see if the trailer handles any different. Replacing the bolts, hangers and sleeves was long overdue.

 

[Topzide]

The greasable bolts will aid in the longevity of the components! I found when I made a set for my equipment trailer, it made for a quieter ride. Not as much of squeaking for the axles moving up and down. Sure is nice to have tools to fix the problems we find ourselves in!

 

[GAmes]

The tools were the same I used before. What I would have like to have was a young helper to fetch tools and parts as I went along so that I wouldn't have to be get up from down a thousand times. Today I need to get under it again to make sure my brake lines have clearance. I thought about that sometime last night.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I'd get longer u-bolts from a spring company. Make sure they are high grade steel. I remember when a lot of aftermarket lift kit mfg. used cheap, low grade steel for their u-bolts and they would not take much torque.

 

[GAmes]

The u-bolts are grade rating 8.8 alloy steel. Like everything these days, made in China. You might be interested to know that the '97 I pull it with is the same truck you installed an 11 plate in. That was about 2002 IIRC.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Well, grade 8.8 is better than hardware grade, but at 110k psi a bit weaker than American grade 5 (120k).

 

[AH64ID]

Nice! A 2” lift with those springs tells me that your old ones were sagged out. Before you adjust the hitch height get some miles on the springs to let them settle.

 

[GAmes]

Nice! A 2” lift with those springs tells me that your old ones were sagged out. Before you adjust the hitch height get some miles on the springs to let them settle.

Yup they were pretty flat but the trailer wasn't really much lower than it was new. I upgraded to 16 inch wheels and tires when it was brand new and clearance was close, but never an issue. Now it is noticeably higher. I had planned on the next trip to be without any adjustment. It will be about 300 miles round trip.

 

[BigPapa]

What I would have like to have was a young helper to fetch tools and parts as I went along so that I wouldn't have to be get up from down a thousand times.

I feel you here. The getting up and down is what kills me, especially since my knee replacement. I still can't get on hands and knees after almost two years. Thankfully, I have a couple of good helpers.

 

[GAmes]

My teenage grandkids are 2000 miles from here. One of them helped me tear down an old Ford V8 when he was about 7.