WARNING! check your trailer springs

[Mike Delisser]

It could of (& should of) been a lot worse but I learned the hard way to check my trailer springs more often. Towed the boat from Brizzy to Cania Dam and discovered when I got there the tyres had rubbed a hole in one of the guards and scarred the other baddly. I knew there was never a lot of clearance there but this was the first long trip with the boat, I was doing 100k and there were quite a few dips and bumps in the road so I put it down to that. I thought ok lesson learned, slow down next time, plus $45 for one new guard and I need to have them both raised a little. I chocked some wood under both guards to raise them enough to get home and drove back to Brizzy doing 90k to 95k at the end of a great weekends fishing. Today I pulled the wheel off to remove the guard and I discovered all 3 leafs of the spring were broken and now I think I was lucky to get home without a major incident. Not happy Jan, trailer only 2 years old and the boat is easily within the trailers capacity. A bit of googling and I discover imported galvanised springs (even on my Aussie trailer) are renown for cracking. It seem the acid bath prior to the galvanising process makes the spring steel brittle.
Lessons learned
1/ get rid of imported galvanised springs
2/ buy a set of Aussie made non gal springs
3/ check springs regularly and thoroughly
4/ use some U bolts to attach a spare leaf spring to the trailer frame.
I hope this info helps some one out there.
Cheers
Mike
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[whatscracken]

Thats nasty mate, fortunate you didn't have any major damage.

[Mindi]

so how do trailer buyers identify the brands using these cheap imported components..?...Dunbier have a reputation for good quality so what does this say about the others..?

[DarkHorse]

M62,

Had a very familiar thing happen to me a few weeks ago when I borrowed my mates trailer. Had to get the boat towed home on a flatbed and then ordered a new set of leaf springs from the trailer manufacturer. All in all an expensive little exercise to which my mate said it was all MY fault??

Considering he hasn't washed his trailer down in 4 years or serviced it, I am surprised it didnt happen sooner................

[griz066]

M62,

Had a very familiar thing happen to me a few weeks ago when I borrowed my mates trailer. Had to get the boat towed home on a flatbed and then ordered a new set of leaf springs from the trailer manufacturer. All in all an expensive little exercise to which my mate said it was all MY fault??

Considering he hasn't washed his trailer down in 4 years or serviced it, I am surprised it didnt happen sooner................


Geeeeeeeeeezz with mates like that who needs enemys ;D ;D

[FNQCairns]

Yeah I was almost seduced into gal, decided safer to stay with the tried and true rusty ones. other problems that can bite a person is shackle and eye bolt torque too tight as well as fish-plate torque uneven, at least these are my assumptions now from over the years.

cheers fnq

[Dirtysanchez]

Yes, if it were my 'mate' he'd be walking funny and asking the doctor to help extract a boat from his arse..
Anyway, thanks for the warning, and sorry to hear about this drama.. The springs don't look that corroded, but there are signs of ageing.
Were they galvanised ? perhaps the heating from the galvanising has re-tempered the metal and made them brittle ?

[rooboy98]

I was recommended this style of single leaf spring for my trailer when I replaced the original sagged springs about 4 years ago. They are "dual stage" and are rated for 1000 kgs. Great for smaller sized boats. I haven't had any dramas since and no corrosion to worry about.

Cheers,
Roo.

[tunaticer]

The second pic shows the springs have broken right in the centre. The cause of this is always that the U-bolts are not sufficiently tightened. They should be tightened so much that the middle of the spring has zero flex.

It would not matter what brand or quality of springs used if those U-bolts are not tightened sufficiently they will always crack.

Jack.

[Mike Delisser]

Just ordered the replacements, 4x8mm non gal from Mayne Spring Works = $90

[tunaticer]

Just ordered the replacements, 4x8mm non gal from Mayne Spring Works = $90

Make sure you tighten the U-bolts up so that the retainer plate forms to the shape of the springs. They definitely will not break in the centre again.

Ask any spring manufacturer about springs breaking in the middle and you will always get the same reply.

Jack.

[iceknight]

Your not the only one with dunbier problems! i have a dunbier trailer. new in jan. driving home I shred a pair of wheel bearings. due to them being Dry. no grease whats so ever. when i called the person up i bought it i was met with " well tow it back at your own expence then we will look at it and remburse you" i thought bugger it, if thats how they are ill just go get some and do it myself on the side of the road. which i did, then to top it off i got a street from home, only to be booked.. as some TOSSER had wired up the lights wrong...I should of checked them befor i left i guess... needless to say ill never be buying another dunbier agian!

[batten]

a good thing bout thosse 'dual stage' sing leaf springs is water cant get between the leafs, slows rust

[SnowE]

Be careful using those single, tapered leaf springs if you travel over rough or corrogated road surfaces. They are prone to breaking in these conditions. I have seen a pile of broken ones at a remote place where I fish, and the guy that lives there says they are the type that fail most often. To the point where some of the suppliers at the closest place to buy springs, Katherine - NT, do not stock them anymore.

Having said that I believe that they get a good life if used on good roads, and no rust between spring leaf's is a good option.

Cheers,
SnowE

[FNQCairns]

Yeah the parabolic springs are nice, the MQ patrols had them and I have never heard of them breaking although the total rubbish trailer parts we are exposed to and our governments wait until someone dies style of industry QC compliance to Australian standards means if you get a bad Chinese or Aussi one that ends in nothing more than inconvenience, time and money, no matter how close to death you/others came .... then tough!, it's officially an OK to repeat experience.

If the Japanese made them I would fit a set.

The ride can be rougher for the boat due to no inherent dampening.

cheers fnq

PS. somewhere on ausfish is a tale with pics (I think) of broken parabolic trailer springs, think they were gal.

[rooboy98]

Some of the comments regarding using "parabolic" springs on dirt roads are interesting reading.

I actually rebuilt this trailer while living up in the Territory with the help of a guy in Katherine who was fixing trailers for a living full time. I set this thing up specifically to handle the corrugations after the original set up on the trailer started to disintergrate.

The springs were recommended by mates who were also living up there so I figured I'd give 'em a go.

I've found them to offer good handling on the dirt and this trailer (Boat is a 4.1m with a 40 HP 4-Stroke) has now racked up literally thousands of kilometres off the bitumen.

No spring is unbreakable though and I personally wouldn't go putting them under larger heavier boats.

At the end of the day, my opinion is just based on what I've actually experienced with them......Maybe I've just been real lucky for a really long time.

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Roo.

[FNQCairns]

Some of the comments regarding using "parabolic" springs on dirt roads are interesting reading.

I actually rebuilt this trailer while living up in the Territory with the help of a guy in Katherine who was fixing trailers for a living full time. I set this thing up specifically to handle the corrugations after the original set up on the trailer started to disintergrate.

The springs were recommended by mates who were also living up there so I figured I'd give 'em a go.

I've found them to offer good handling on the dirt and this trailer (Boat is a 4.1m with a 40 HP 4-Stroke) has now racked up literally thousands of kilometres off the bitumen.

No spring is unbreakable though and I personally wouldn't go putting them under larger heavier boats.

At the end of the day, my opinion is just based on what I've actually experienced with them......Maybe I've just been real lucky for a really long time.

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Roo.

Roo you think they are in your instance superior to leaf? I am waiting for them to be come more popular so I can based on numbers try and trust them on my boat trailer, I have a year max before new springs so will make he choice then.

Good to hear you are happy with them, what brand? on vehicles they are certainly a step up compared to leaf springs.

cheers fnq

[Fishbait]

Thanks for that - I do get them checked over each year at my service, but I'll be paying extra attention each wash time to ensure this don't happen or at least be aware of the problem anyway. Thanks for the advice. Darren.

[rooboy98]

Roo you think they are in your instance superior to leaf? I am waiting for them to be come more popular so I can based on numbers try and trust them on my boat trailer, I have a year max before new springs so will make he choice then.

Good to hear you are happy with them, what brand? on vehicles they are certainly a step up compared to leaf springs.

cheers fnq

I wouldn't say they are definitely superior to all leaf springs in all respects, but for my particular use, they do ride alot better and have lasted alot longer than the last set of springs that were fitted.

I will chase up the brand name tomorrow if I can. From memory they were about $90 a pair (4-5 years ago).

Like you said in your post there is plenty of info on google about the benefits of fitting them to 4WDs such as the older Landrovers etc.

Cheers,
Roo.

[tin can marlin]

Great therd and should be more talk about trailers as it is a massive safety issue it is a credit to you keep up the good work.