Spring over axle lift

[Overland]

There were three reasons that it didn't work - 1) they said the stability was questionable just moving it around the factory, 2) because of my hitch config, the trailer already travels nose down a bit even with a 4" rise on my hitch, and 3) it looked totally silly.

 

I also think that a lift would make the trailer more difficult to level - not a huge deal, but you'd have to carry some extra blocks I think.  Also an extra step to get in and out.

 

That was a 4", maybe 5" lift, so obviously something lower would mitigate all of the above.

 

[John E Davies]

Overland thanks for the pic, I agree that the full lift looks pretty dorky and unstable. OTH...

 

I am still anxiously waiting a thread about your off-road tongue jack.....

 

 

Please.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[wyofilm]

Has anyone considered the trailer sumo springs?  They mount to the side of the leaf spring/axel bracket.  Maybe there is enough room.  Since I don't have my Oliver yet, I can't measure the available distance.  Conversely, the sumo springs might be trimmed to allow for the proper fit.

 

https://www.supersprings.com/instructions/INS_TSS-106-40.pdf

 

[John E Davies]

On 1/27/2020 at 6:01 AM, wyofilm said:

Has anyone considered the trailer sumo springs?  They mount to the side of the leaf spring/axel bracket.  Maybe there is enough room.  Since I don't have my Oliver yet, I can't measure the available distance.  Conversely, the sumo springs might be trimmed to allow for the proper fit.

https://www.supersprings.com/instructions/INS_TSS-106-40.pdf

That is essentially a light add-on overload spring. There is probably room for it but it doesn’t alter the severe lack of upward travel (about 1.5” on my moderately loaded trailer.)

BTW these trailers do not need stiffer overload springs, but they absolutely need longer wheel travel, plus a little better ground clearance. The first time you smack a deep pothole at high speed you will wonder if you broke something when the axle ubolts crash into the subframe....it is frightening. The Sumo Springs would probably help a little but I can’t see them being truly effective. However, if you flipped the axles, those would make dandy bump stops.

Maybe somebody could field test them and report back. Thanks for posting that...

John Davies

Spokane WA

Edited January 28, 2020 by John E Davies

[Rsb]

On 5/14/2019 at 4:05 AM, Overland said:

There were three reasons that it didn't work - 1) they said the stability was questionable just moving it around the factory, 2) because of my hitch config, the trailer already travels nose down a bit even with a 4" rise on my hitch, and 3) it looked totally silly.

 

I also think that a lift would make the trailer more difficult to level - not a huge deal, but you'd have to carry some extra blocks I think.  Also an extra step to get in and out.

 

That was a 4", maybe 5" lift, so obviously something lower would mitigate all of the above.

 

you may have notice a few million of these "lifted" trailers on the roads before... obviously they are closer to 5th wheels than Ollies, but why are they stable and this lifted Oliver is not?  does the king pin make that much difference?  

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Rsb

[Overland]

I don't know all of what goes into making semis stable (I've been around more than a few that didn't seem so - that, or their drivers weren't), but I do know that 5th wheels and semis are inherently more stable than bumper pulled trailers, since they eliminate the double pendulum effect.