Any interest in a Shock absorber kit for Scamps?

[WizWid]

This is a follow on from John's post about adding shock absorbers to his Scamp using some parts he got from us.
John's original thread is here: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post483545

This naturally brings up a question for you Scampers.
If we were to produce a weld-on kit for adding shock absorbers to Scamp 19's (and/or 16's?)- would anyone buy one?

Kit would include

1. 2 wheel plates + locknuts
2. 2 Monroe 555003 shocks
3. 2 Trimmed lower mount bolt + washer/nut
4. 2 Weld on towers using trimmed shoulder bolt + washers/nut

Price would probably be just under 2 Benjamins.
Is it worth us pursuing this idea?

We are really a Casita house so dont know much about Scamps.
Where do all the Scampers hang out to ask this question - if not here?

We will be at the Pineknot rally next month (TX) and hope to be able to crawl under a few Scamps there.

Please reply if you might be interested in adding shocks to your Scamp.

Thanks,

Jim

[SilverGhost]

I am interested, but I have an EggCamper with 3500lb Dexter. At this point I'm looking at doing the same John and making your Casita brackets work.

Jason

[MC1]

We have shocks on our trailer as original equipment. Anyone without them should be interested in this low cost mod. What a deal.

[lijMichael]

Yes, I have a 1995 19' Scamp Deluxe.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[David Tilston]

Would it be possible to adapt your kit to a Trillium?

[redbarron55]

I would like to purchase a kit as well for my 16' Scamp.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Have I been mislead? I thought rubber torsion axles provided the same effects as shock absorbers. If that's the case what the purpose of add shocks, isn't that like adding additional shocks to auto?

[redbarron55]

The european AL-KO axles have provisions to very easily install their shock kit to them.
Hers is a video of their installation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRTKqlbVo8o

Here is a cut sheet:
https://www.trailertek.com/acatalog/info_AX206.html
These attach in a forged slot in the bottom of the trailing arm and attach to the trailer frame in the other.
I have thought of fabricating a braclet to add to the inner side of the arm fastened through the center line of the arm with two bolts and shaped to put the shock lower end in the same location. The rest would be like the factory.
(the US AL-KO does not have the slot for mounting the kit)
The bolt holes drilled and tapped into the forged arm along the centerline would not weaken the arm and would give a good attachment point.
If AL-KO provides the shocks in europe then they think it is worthwile.
It would help to dampen the chassis and reduce the swaying tendency.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by redbarron55

The european AL-KO axles have provisions to very easily install their shock kit to them.
Hers is a video of their installation:

Here is a cut sheet:
https://www.trailertek.com/acatalog/info_AX206.html
These attach in a forged slot in the bottom of the trailing arm and attach to the trailer frame in the other.
I have thought of fabricating a braclet to add to the inner side of the arm fastened through the center line of the arm with two bolts and shaped to put the shock lower end in the same location. The rest would be like the factory.
(the US AL-KO does not have the slot for mounting the kit)
The bolt holes drilled and tapped into the forged arm along the centerline would not weaken the arm and would give a good attachment point.
If AL-KO provides the shocks in europe then they think it is worthwile.
It would help to dampen the chassis and reduce the swaying tendency.

This European argument is tired and old. It makes no reasonable sense at all. UK drives on the left so we should too. They use a circle with a number to indicate maximum speed, so we should too. Tow rating on their diesel vehicles are different the US ratings on the gas powered vehicles so we should adopt the same rating, etc., etc., etc.

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Have I been mislead? I thought rubber torsion axles provided the same effects as shock absorbers.....

How can they? - they dont know the difference between 'up' and 'down'.
Shock absorbers allow the 'up' relatively unimpeded but slow down the 'down'

Jim

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by widgetwizard

How can they? - they dont know the difference between 'up' and 'down'.
Shock absorbers allow the 'up' relatively unimpeded but slow down the 'down'

Jim

I just wrote to Dexter Axles. I'll post what they say if they respond. I realize that you're response is directly tied to commerce.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Have I been mislead? I thought rubber torsion axles provided the same effects as shock absorbers. If that's the case what the purpose of add shocks, isn't that like adding additional shocks to auto?

Our trailer has torsion axles and shocks. You really notice how the technology works when you are on rough, bumpy roads.

[Byron Kinnaman]

"Thanks for contacting Dexter Axle, I hope to be of assistance. Dexter does not have an official position on adding shocks to the Torflex axles nor do we offer any type of shock kit for Torflex axles. We do have one customer that requests a special bracket welded to the torsion arm of their axles for the purpose of mounting a shock. Adding a shock to the torsion arm of the axle will not increase the axles capacity or spring rate of the suspension however some may argue that shocks offer a smoother ride. Dexter does not have any data that suggests adding shocks is of benefit to the axle suspension."

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by MC1

Our trailer has torsion axles and shocks. You really notice how the technology works when you are on rough, bumpy roads.

Wayne you're comparing apples and oranges. Airstream trailers are know to the among the heaviest in the RV industry, if not the heaviest. Fiberglass trailers are the lightest in the industry.

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

"Thanks for contacting Dexter Axle, I hope to be of assistance. Dexter does not have an official position on adding shocks to the Torflex axles nor do we offer any type of shock kit for Torflex axles. We do have one customer that requests a special bracket welded to the torsion arm of their axles for the purpose of mounting a shock. Adding a shock to the torsion arm of the axle will not increase the axles capacity or spring rate of the suspension however some may argue that shocks offer a smoother ride. Dexter does not have any data that suggests adding shocks is of benefit to the axle suspension."

Excellent. So we are in agreement then.
Can we now return this thread to the question I originally asked?

Jim

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by widgetwizard

Excellent. So we are in agreement then.
Can we now return this thread to the question I originally asked?

Jim

Wrong, we're not in agreement. Now to answer your original question. NO!!! I see adding shocks as an additional cost and another unnecessary additional source of potential problems.

[David Tilston]

Then don't add them to your trailer Byron.

[MC1]

True Byron, the newer ones are very heavy. The vintage ones are light by today's standards. Our 23' dual axle has a dry weight of 3,500lbs. The same trailer with a single axle is only 3,000lbs. Not that much more than the road ready larger glass eggs. Thinking that any egg with a torsion axle and shocks is going to be a very sweet tow.

PS.. Years ago my buddy built a leaf spring utility trailer. I always recalled his comments about how nice it towed after installing shocks and how it was bouncing all over the road before.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Then don't add them to your trailer Byron.

OK, I wont.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by MC1

True Byron, the newer ones are very heavy. The vintage ones are light by today's standards. Our 23' dual axle has a dry weight of 3,500lbs. The same trailer with a single axle is only 3,000lbs. Not that much more than the road ready larger glass eggs. Thinking that any egg with a torsion axle and shocks is going to be a very sweet tow.

PS.. Years ago my buddy built a leaf spring utility trailer. I always recalled his comments about how nice it towed after installing shocks and how it was bouncing all over the road before.

Once again there's that apples and oranges thing. Leaf springs and rubber torsion axles are totally different things.