Anybody *not* like torsion axles?

[houlster]

There's a few threads here on torsion vs leaf springs for trailer axles. Most responses are that they'll never go back to leaf springs.

I've read elsewhere that they sag, the rubber breaks down, the torsion arms bend easy, etc. Anybody here not like torsion axles for some reason? Or have bad experience with them?

What about a trailer that will see un-improved roads frequently? Where the wheels are constantly dropping into ruts, over rocks etc, and one axle has to carry more weight while doing so. Is there any difference in weight distribution with torsion vs leaf sprung tandems?

--Dan

[NIB-98TJ]

I ain't no expert. I thought I wanted torsion axles on my car hauler. That is until someone pointed out to me that there is no load equalizing/sharing between axles when the trailer is not perfectly level. For that one reason alone I'm glad I didn't get them. But, I'm sure they have their place.

NIB

[CJ Lagos]

I ain't no expert. I thought I wanted torsion axles on my car hauler. That is until someone pointed out to me that there is no load equalizing/sharing between axles when the trailer is not perfectly level. For that one reason alone I'm glad I didn't get them. But, I'm sure they have their place.

NIB

EXACTLY! Smooth highways are one thing, off-road in the woods to your camp site is another. What's wrong with leaves again? :flipoff2:

[ramv]

We had them on a work trailer, it would break the front axles if the load shifted or was too far forward. I'm sure we were overloaded, but the leaf sprung axles seemed to do better with load shifts. For anything you are running close to max GVWR, I would probably go with leaves.

[Trailer Guy]

I love torsion axles, but NOT for what we (wheelers) do with the trailers. For a trailer hauling a rig to the trail, they are not the best of ideas. NIB-98TJ is correct, there is no load equalizing between the two axles. And they do tend to bend easier when a slight side load in put on them, because of the pivot arm. If you had a super light buggy and used a single 7K axle, it might not be so bad. But when you turn sharp with a tandem axle, the tire scuff puts a lot of stress on those arms. Add in the fact that you are in dirt with uneven ground and maybe small rocks, you stand a good chance bending the arms. Just my .02.

[DanTheMan]

Just my .02

I think your input on this subject is worth more than $0.02. I would say your up close to $1. Thats just my $0.02.

:grinpimp:

[weedwacker]

I like them. I have 2 7k axles on a 30 ft gooseneck. They are lower than spring axles and you can mount the axles very close together ( until the tires scrub) negating the leverage put on the tires in a sharp turn. Mounting them close also help distribute the weight more evenly from axle to axle on an uneven surface. They don't bounce near as much as spring axles eighter. If you dont have time to insure the trailer will ride level by adjusting the tounge stick with springs.

[houlster]

Cool, this more or less answers my questions. I borrowed a Featherlite last month (AL w/ torsion axles) and it towed great, but it really left me wondering about using these axles on something other than smooth roads.

--Dan

[COXIE]

You pretty much figured it out. They are great for smooth roads but if you drop off the edge or "high point" one wheel and it carrys all the weight...You are buying a new axle as you can not sraighten the torsion axle.

In contrast if you should happen to bend a leaf sprung axle any good alignment hop can bend it back to specs. Notice how I did not say straighten because your axle won't look straight...But at least it won't wear tires.

[YellowSub1962]

just one more vote like teh rest.. no torsions for rig haulin, especially if you have more than one rig where teh balance points are different.


:usa:

[mondtster]

I like my torsion axle on my snowmobile trailer, but it is a single axle trailer. I have beat it and drug that trailer through a lot of stuff and it seems like it holds up well.

I would however agree with everyone else here. They have their place but your money would be better spent on leaf sprung axles. In addition, one thing I hate about the torsion axle I have is that I have had a hard time finding bearing seals for it. It doesn't use standard seals for the size of bearing it has so you have to go on a search when you want to find a new seal.

[Go2Guy]

I tow about 25k miles a yr racin. I've had 5 trailers since 01 (took me a while to settle on what i liked:)) but all but one had a full season on it.

I like to have a little margin with my axles, like 2 5200 lbs for 8k of axle weight, though two of my trailers were right on the edge- big trailers, 6 or 7 k axles. I've always run 2 axle.

IMHO, what we can do to them wheelin our trailers is NOTHING compared to a 48' race trailer with triple axles (triples are specifically not recommeneded by every torsion axle maker I know of), 20k weight pulling tight paved parking lot turns or tight traffic light turns. This is some ugly distortion, yet they live.

The pavement guys beat on them going over curbs, railroad tracks/humps, road or parking lot transition humps all the time. I've spoken with manufacturers and engineers and the axles are designed to take the occasional one corner sees all the weight thing.

I like them and run them, would own nothing else. smooth ride, handling etc. I've left a race with an empty drink can sitting on the fender of the trailer and had it still there when I got home 20 hrs later- I know it's not likely to happen every time but it's a good example.

[ChiScouter]

We have a 7k box trailer at work that we haul tools in. It bounces like a pogo stick going down the highway no matter if it is loaded near max or almost empty, or anywhere inbetween. It is towed behind a 1 ton crew cab so it doesn't really affect anything unless it really gets to bouncing, then it is annoying to feel the bounce through the truck. It has torsion axles, and because of my experience with it I am leary of them.

[Brutpwr]

I have never owned torsion axles but have towed a few and I too have noticed they bounce alot. For this reason alone I do not like them much.

Jason :)

[Go2Guy]

I never noticed a bounce myself, but I'm 4000 lbs empty. Any suspension rated for 10-12 k but carring 2k is going to bounce. to each their own I guess.