Timbren Axle-less Suspension on Acorn ???

[NancyS]

Hi: We will be replacing the axle on our 13 foot 1979 Acorn and we're wondering if anyone has ever used a Timbren Axle-less suspension System on their Scamp or Acorn. We talked to Scamp and they said that they knew of people who have used the Timbren System with no problems. We were wondering if anyone has any personal experience with this system. Opinions? Advice? Preferences, Etc. Thanks!

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by NancyS

Hi: We will be replacing the axle on our 13 foot 1979 Acorn and we're wondering if anyone has ever used a Timbren Axle-less suspension System on their Scamp or Acorn. We talked to Scamp and they said that they knew of people who have used the Timbren System with no problems. We were wondering if anyone has any personal experience with this system. Opinions? Advice? Preferences, Etc. Thanks!

Would you be doing the work yourself? With the two separate axle halves it would be more difficult to assure correct alignment and wheel camber. Also not sure if this system comes with brakes, but this is an ideal time to add them. Would Scamp install an axle for you?

Edit:
I see brakes are available over 2000# . The biggest hurdle I see is reinforcing the frame so it wouldn't twist in reaction to bumps.

[NancyS]

Nope, we'll have it installed by our local (trusted) mechanic. We'd love to take it up to Scamp, but it's about a 1,000 mile trip there and back.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by NancyS

Nope, we'll have it installed by our local (trusted) mechanic. We'd love to take it up to Scamp, but it's about a 1,000 mile trip there and back.

Too bad, that might be the least expensive option. What attracts you to this axle as opposed to ordering a Dexter or similar torsion axle?

[Brian B-P]

I don't think Scamp (actually Eveland's, the company) would necessarily be a great option for installation - they are not known for willingness to change, and this is not their normal axle. When they switched brands from Dexter to Al-Ko, they messed up a lot of trailers with structurally unsound installations, so I wouldn't count on the people doing the work to understand what they're doing when it is not exactly like the last one.

The alignment issue is significant, especially with the light Boler/Scamp 13' frame, and the easiest solution is to run a 2" square tube across the trailer through the suspension units. One challenge would be clearance; the original leading-axle setup was done by Boler (and thus copied for the Scamp/Acorn) to get around the dropped floor section, and perhaps a 1979 Acorn still has this configuration. The dropped floor could interfere with the square tube (depending on mounting height), but also with the suspension units themselves which are much wider than a Torflex or Al-Ko mounting bracket.

The previous major discussion of this Timbren product is http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ren-58071.html.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

I don't think Scamp (actually Eveland's, the company) would necessarily be a great option for installation - they are not known for willingness to change, and this is not their normal axle.,.........

I wasn't clear. I was thinking Scamp could install new axle like the original, but with brakes.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

I was thinking Scamp could install new axle like the original, but with brakes.

Ah... in that case, I agree. If a design change is not desired, the Scamp factory has the right part, knows how to do this, and does it at a reasonable price according to reports in this forum.

[NancyS]

Thanks so much for your input. We crawled around and took a good look under the Acorn this afternoon. My husband had already decided that the Timbren system would not work because of exactly what was noted above, so we'll be going with the standard Dexter torsion axle or equivalent. The trip to Minnesota is still a possibility . . . we want to make sure that the correct parts are installed correctly (not to be redundant)

Thanks again!