air shocks

[sherry loving o]

hello,
I just thought I'd see if anyone else has air shocks on their scamp? I needed a new axle so, my dad who has a custom machine shop decided he could fix it.....he put air shocks on it after making finding out he couldn't flip the axle. He made the mounts and added the shocks. It now sits approximately 4" higher than it did. We'll see how she works now.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I needed a new axle so, my dad who has a custom machine shop decided he could fix it.....he put air shocks on it after making finding out he couldn't flip the axle.

I've heard of putting air shocks on the tow vehicle, but not on the trailer...
Got pictures of the installation?

[james kent]

Interresting idea. Floating along on a cloud.

[sherry loving o]

I've heard of putting air shocks on the tow vehicle, but not on the trailer...
Got pictures of the installation?

I don't have any as of now but, I'll take some and post them after we return from our trip....I haven't heard of it either but, It works great and raised it to the correct height. It was a project but only cost $100. It was alot easier and cheaper than trying to buy a new axle.

[Tom and Colleen]

I don't have any as of now but, I'll take some and post them after we return from our trip....I haven't heard of it either but, It works great and raised it to the correct height. It was a project but only cost $100. It was alot easier and cheaper than trying to buy a new axle.

Looking forward to the pics too!

[sherry loving o]

Looking forward to the pics too!

I'll be posting the pic's soon....I just got back and will be getting some pic's ready to post.

[JoeR]

I'll be posting the pic's soon....I just got back and will be getting some pic's ready to post.

Any luck on those pics?

[Pete Dumbleton]

I'm guessing that what he has really done is installed the air shocks as air springs to make up for the lack of rubber spring in the torsion axle. That's a new one as far as I know (Some Scamp 5W owners have installed shocks as shocks to their axles) and indeed is less expensive than replacing the entire axle -- Clever!

[james kent]

Ok, But don't you still have a bad axle, with good shocks, when your finished?

[Pete Dumbleton]

Yes, depending on how one defines bad. If the air shocks replace the lost springing action of the axle, then the 'bad' axle doesn't matter.

However, it wouldn't make economic sense to put on something like a set of Firestone Ride-Rite air springs because the cost would be getting close to that of a new axle...

[sherry loving o]

Any luck on those pics?

I was never able to get the pic's since the tires would have to be removed to see it. I wasn't able to do that since my father is too busy with his shop to help. I waited for him to find some free time but, never did ask again. He's so busy and w/ all he's done for me, I didn't want to ask another favor. I would've love to have been able to post pic's but, it didn't work out. I didn't think about it when he had up on the fork lift 10' or so up.
He made mounts for the shocks on his EDM machine then welded them onto the frame which was in great condition. I only spent about $100 for the shocks and of course the labor involved which would have been the same as installing a whole new axle. But, I honestly didn't have the money to invest in a new axle w/ delivery it was over $400 or so. It was a lot less $$$ to just replace the shocks. The height was adjustable and it was nice to pull. It worked for me.

[sherry loving o]

Any luck on those pics?

I was never able to get the pic's since the tires would have to be removed to see it. I wasn't able to do that since my father is too busy with his shop to help. I waited for him to find some free time but, never did ask again. He's so busy and w/ all he's done for me, I didn't want to ask another favor. I would've love to have been able to post pic's but, it didn't work out. I didn't think about it when he had up on the fork lift 10' or so up.
He made mounts for the shocks on his EDM machine then welded them onto the frame which was in great condition. I only spent about $100 for the shocks and of course the labor involved which would have been the same as installing a whole new axle. But, I honestly didn't have the money to invest in a new axle w/ delivery it was over $400 or so. It was a lot less $$$ to just replace the shocks. The height was adjustable and it was nice to pull. It worked for me.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I received a PM that pointed out that the deteriorated (flattened) rubber rods in the bad axle may affect alignment of the wheels -- It would be a good idea to keep a close eye on the tread wear of the tires to see if this is happening.