[christover1]

Finaly got around to shocking the trailer.
Lots of opinions as to are they needed, but time will tell.

You'll all be glad to know I used zook parts entirely
Top shock mount is a slightly trimmed zook engine mount bracket.
Bottom is a redrilled zook axle plate.
Was almost same hole to hole, just needed redrilling larger on 2 holes, and 2 new holes.
I kept the original trailer U bolt plate, as it had a better locating hole, and the zook plate hit the springs without hit.
They are stock rear Sierra shocks.
Can't comment on handling, yet, as 1 shock is siezed and the other has no oil in it
Will chase up some better ones later.

Now for a laugh at my expense.
After making up, and being happy with, the mounts on one side, I made up another set for other side.
They didn't work, had all sorts of clearance issues on that side.
After 2 hours of measuring trailer and shox, looking for my mistakes, I noticed 1 tyre was wider than the other..problem solved

[lump_a_charcoal]

Will they work on such an angle?

[Damo]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

Will they work on such an angle?

They should still work, but their damping will be reducing. I'm guessing that the whole thing is fairly light (look at the springs) and he didn't want to stiffen it up too much.

[Hybrid]

I've loved this tadpole since you first started building it. I've been keeping tabs on the camper tops on ebay hoping to pick one up cheap as you did. I'm just going to cut down my old box trailer though. I think the full custom thing would do my head in. Great work Chris!

[Damo]

Hybrid wrote:

I've loved this tadpole since you first started building it. I've been keeping tabs on the camper tops on ebay hoping to pick one up cheap as you did. I'm just going to cut down my old box trailer though. I think the full custom thing would do my head in. Great work Chris!

Some of the trailer places do 'kits' with all the panels and stuff like that. I reckon that'd take all the hard work out of it, but cutting down an existing trailer would probably still be easier.

[christover1]

The raking back of the shox was mainly to keep the them soft.
Springs are 1 and a half leaves, thus rebound damper spring is removed.
My estimation is 500kg load rating per pair (They were 750kg in original 2 and a half leaf state)
The trailer weighs 220kg empty, and around 260kg with tent on. Plus I estimate 100kg of camping gear.
Also shock follows the path of the spring, as it moves back under compression. (Forward facing would have negated any shock effect.)
And I needed a firm mounting point for the top mount, and chassis was only place strong enuff.
I don't have the skills to make shock hoops or towers.

christover

[christover1]

Hybrid wrote:

I've loved this tadpole since you first started building it. I've been keeping tabs on the camper tops on ebay hoping to pick one up cheap as you did. I'm just going to cut down my old box trailer though. I think the full custom thing would do my head in. Great work Chris!

That was my original plan, but couldn't find a good trailer in my price range. It would be way easier, and thats what I'd do if I did it again.

[Built4thrashing]

hey chriss if ya need some shocks i got some stock sierra ones here ya can have. shoot me a pm and let me know when ya wanna come get them. im only in dande nth

[christover1]

Built4thrashing wrote:

hey chriss if ya need some shocks i got some stock sierra ones here ya can have. shoot me a pm and let me know when ya wanna come get them. im only in dande nth

pm sent,
cheers
christover

[christover1]

Built4thrashing wrote:

hey chriss if ya need some shocks i got some stock sierra ones here ya can have. shoot me a pm and let me know when ya wanna come get them. im only in dande nth

Thanx B4T, shox are great.
Ya bloods worth bottling

[suzukikid]

Your in Jase.......

[christover1]

I just fiited them this morn, now to do the Fathers day run up the mountain, should be a good test. I'm intetrested to see the differences.

[Built4thrashing]

never thought of bottling my blood but as a kid i did bottle a few farts for later use.

[christover1]

Built4thrashing wrote:

never thought of bottling my blood but as a kid i did bottle a few farts for later use.

ROFL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKLcIT2RCe4

[christover1]

So far so good.
Shocks seem to be a good thing.
The 3 bounces I was getting, is now only one bounce per bump.
Trailer is still empty, and no camper top on.
Its not too stiff or soft, I believe it will be ok when loaded.
Trailer is quieter now, too. Springs are not clunking on extension.
Rotation on bushes is almost negligible.
Nothing is coming unscrewed.
I guess we now need the test of time.
Thanks for everyones help, and imput.

christover

[christover1]

I decided the slipper springs needed throwing away.
See last pic for part of the reason.
Also they had sagged, more weight carried than expected, and a bit too weak.
The slippers were binding on the mounts, causing jamming.
They were also bent from a little woops into a crash barrier, when T-case siezed.

The decision to go shackle springs was partly so I could UP the carrying capacity, without loss of free movement.
Now 3 leaf, and 8mm instead of the cheapy 6mm originals.
Seems to have worked out OK.
Happy with the empty towing, but have yet to load it up fully.

I have gained a bit of height, too.
I am considering bump stops, just in case.
I can see where tyres were hitting guards, with old springs, even tho I doubt they will hit now.
May go one size down on tyres, yet, to give better clearance to shox, and less rolling resistance causing strain getting of the mark.

[Damo]

Is that a trailer spring Chris?

[christover1]

Damo wrote:

Is that a trailer spring Chris?

yes.
From The Trailer Factory. Vic.
Originally 5 leaf rated at 1000kg a pair.
Took bottom two small leaves off.
2 and 3 leaf style trailer shackle springs do exist, just wasn't any in stock around here.

[Damo]

christover1 wrote:

Damo wrote:

Is that a trailer spring Chris?

yes.
From The Trailer Factory. Vic.
Originally 5 leaf rated at 1000kg a pair.
Took bottom two small leaves off.
2 and 3 leaf style trailer shackle springs do exist, just wasn't any in stock around here.

They looked like trailer parts. I was kinda expecting zook parts! How long are the springs you have compare to front or rear zook springs?

[christover1]

trailer springs eye to eye roughly 700mm

zook fronts approx 900mm

zook rears around 1000mm

The width of zook springs didn't match chassis width.
And they would be too heavy duty and mounted to fresh air, as they'd stick out the back too far

[christover1]

Front zook bumpstops would be easier to fit, but I have broken and used up all my spares.
The rears were a dime a dozen, rarely worn out, and had 2 kicking around.
If it don't last, is easy enuff to change to a different type later.

[christover1]

Took a few loads of garden refuse to the tip, one load being 140kg.
Trailer was very well behaved, and very quiet.
Plenty of travel left when loaded now, too.
Loving the shackle springs.
I'm pleased so far.

Definately need to get the tyres away from the shox, as there is more lateral movement now.
I will either fit smaller tyres, to match the rims, or larger rims, to match the tyres.
This could solve the shake and shimmer from tyres movements.
(10.50 tyres on 5.5 rims leaves a lot of billowing of sidewalls, and I believe correct rims should straighten up sidewalls, getting them away from shox and make tyres more stable, etc)
I could be wrong, tho, it can happen

christover

[Hybrid]

Hey Chris. I'm thinking xmas is as good a time as any to chop my trailer up. What was your reasoning behind having a slightly bigger track width on the trailer than the standard sierra track? I'm building my trailer to run eactly the same camper top as yours. If your axle were the same width as the sierra do you think 9 inch wide tyres would scrub? I'd love to get away with an equal track width or slightly smaller.

[christover1]

Hybrid wrote:

Hey Chris. I'm thinking xmas is as good a time as any to chop my trailer up. What was your reasoning behind having a slightly bigger track width on the trailer than the standard sierra track? I'm building my trailer to run eactly the same camper top as yours. If your axle were the same width as the sierra do you think 9 inch wide tyres would scrub? I'd love to get away with an equal track width or slightly smaller.

G'day.
My track width was a function of available and affordable parts.
I got a good deal on axle, springs etc off ebay.
I used vitara rims to get track width as close to zook as possible.
That is as close to mine as possible, not stock width.

Aim for exact track width is what I reckon is best, if achievable.
Makes for easier off roading, judging tyre position, and better aerodynamics.
You can have custom axle widths made, with choice of stud patterns.

I used 4wd guards from a trailer shop, they were 12" wide, leaving plenty of room for a 9" tyre.
Mine is tight cos I put shox in, and used some free over sized tyres

Merry Xmas and happy Zookin

christover