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08-28-2018, 09:12 AM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,114
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Adding shock absorbers?
On this forum, many of us have mentioned the pounding taken by a TM, especially if tire pressure is high. Has anyone ever considered the feasibility of adding automotive-style shock absorbers to a TM axle? I'm getting tired of finding loose screws rolling around on the floor when we arrive, and the stove grate bounced out onto the counter. I think shocks would reduce this.
Dexter has a shock kit (K71-175-01), but it is apparently intended only for installation on leaf springs. For the Torflex Axle, the Dexter Axle website doesn't say anything useful, limiting their comments to generic stuff like
"Less transfer of road shock"
and
"Shock absorption provided by the natural hysteresis of rubber"
I think shocks would be a wonderful upgrade if someone with appropriate knowledge and experience thought it through. Padgett?
Bill
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08-28-2018, 11:46 AM
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#2
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 893
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Your rubber torsion axle is a shock absorber. Not necessarily a very good one. The alternative is a Timbren axle-less suspension, but those also use rubber components rather than springs and shock absorbers. There might not be room for a conventional shock absorber. Your car probably has strut towers under the hood, the Trailmanor would need the same.
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08-28-2018, 11:57 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 239
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I like your idea bill. Searching the web a bit and I found this: http://perfectcasita.com/cashabkit.html
Seems like a bolt-on fix for at least some Dexter axles. Maybe it would work.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
TM: 2005 2720SL -- lift kit, 15" Maxxis, LEDs, Husky ejack, GenPro soft start, 2300W gen, "H-Bridge", 1.44 cf Edgestar frig/freezer, 2xGC2, 1KW Inverter w/auto xfer switch, Trimetric Batt Monitor, 300W Solar (1 glass & 2 flex panels), EP Solar MPPT, Thetford Curve
TV: 2021 F-150 PowerBoost XLT Hybrid -- 7.2 kW Onboard Generator Option
Previous TV: 2012 Traverse -- "Stockton" 24V Boost Device
Map of where we've camped in our TM:
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08-28-2018, 01:47 PM
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#4
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, OH
Posts: 1,868
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My airstream had shock from the factory mounted on airstreamss torsion type axle that are the same design as the tm axle. I still has screws working loss.
It never figured out why they installed them? Oher then.
for added them for control. Or may be for marketing?
I thought shocks were ment to keep the tires on the road. Resulting in harsher bumps but less bouncing followup from the bump?
PS if you have a wdh, the hitch transfers some of the tv shocks effects to the trailer.
__________________
Art & Joyce
Current camper: Motor Home
Previous: 2009, 3023-QB and 2003 2720
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08-28-2018, 02:40 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,114
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Thanks, klpauba. That looks very interesting, especially since Casita uses the same axle as TM. I will have to eyeball the clearance in the wheel well to see if it might fit.
I asked the rep at Dexter if they make a shock kit for the Tor-Flex axle. He said no, and that you would have to fabricate new brackets to fit. But he also said that Airstream has done it. I'm off to the Airstream site, hoping to get some information.
Bill
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08-28-2018, 03:42 PM
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#6
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, OH
Posts: 1,868
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I not sure the AS shock kit will work if memory serves me right. The shock was mounted almost horizontal, and was between the tire and frame. It was maybe at a 5 or 10 degree slope. The AS axle did not have much or zero angle on the arm. Very near level. All of the arm movement was above level.
__________________
Art & Joyce
Current camper: Motor Home
Previous: 2009, 3023-QB and 2003 2720
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08-28-2018, 06:01 PM
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#7
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Sunny Arizona
Posts: 751
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I winder if some sort of "air bag" would work
__________________
Craig
One of the unknown ex-presidents
2008 2720SD
2008 Toyota Sienna XLE
2015 Prius v the money saver
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08-29-2018, 01:07 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Craigrrr
I winder if some sort of "air bag" would work
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An air bag acts like a spring, but a spring is not a shock. A shock actually absorbs and dissipates some of the energy of a quick wheel movement - and it is sensitive to the speed of the movement. A spring simply stores the energy of the movement, and then rebounds the energy back into the system.
The springs on the TM Dexter Tor-Flex axle are pretty good springs - but it is the shock absorber that is missing.
Bill
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08-29-2018, 05:49 PM
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#9
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, OH
Posts: 1,868
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Bill let us know what you find.
I did look under our TM. It looks like there is room for the AS shock kit. You would need to make an adjust where you connect to the frame for the different angle of the arm. Mabe a standoff on the frame for frame to shock clearence.
__________________
Art & Joyce
Current camper: Motor Home
Previous: 2009, 3023-QB and 2003 2720
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10-21-2018, 12:27 PM
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#10
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,838
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Saw this on the latest edition of Trailer Life magazine, thought you might be interested...
__________________
2007/21 TM 3326 (Pride of the Fleet)
2000 2720SL (Rebuild Project)
2002 2619 (Parts TM)
SMARTER THAN GOOGLE!
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