Last summer, I acquired a fixer-upper 1984 Arndt 2H BP, no DR. Floor was good, little rust; it needed a paint job, new tires, a little welding work, and new brakes. I ended up replacing almost all of the mechanicals on top of that (rewired the entire thing, new drums/rotors); it's basically a new trailer. The only thing I DIDN'T do last summer, which I think needs to be done, is to replace the leaf springs. The rear leaf springs seem to be weak, particularly when loaded; the trailer rides low, to the point where the tires almost touch the wheel wells, worse on the rear axle than the front. (The guy I bought it from only used it 2x in 3 years, but he would move it to mow around it... I'm pretty sure he kept it perpetually jacked up in "wheelie-mode" so it would reach his truck's too-high hitch ball, and never bothered to drop it back to level when he was finished, thus keeping the rear springs continually stressed.) The trailer rides low to begin with-- I had to get an 8" drop ball mount for my truck, which is NOT an unusually high truck! So anyway, we pulled the wheels today to measure for replacement parts. The current leaf springs are 5-leaf springs, 1 3/4" wide and 25 1/4" from eye to eye. The center stabilizer measures 6 1/4" from eye to eye and 4 1/4" high. The center hanger is 3 5/8" high, and the front and rear hangers are 1 3/4" high. Axle is round, 2 1/2" diameter. My question is, how much "wiggle room" do I have with measurements for replacement parts? The company I've bought most of my trailer parts from sells "suspension kits" which include the hangers, center stabilizers, shackle straps, and hardware; however, the dimensions are not exactly what I currently have. No problem getting the same size leaf springs, as 25 1/4" seems standard... But 7 3/4" seems to be the standard width for the center stabilizers. Also, the closest measurements for the suspension kit has 4 1/2" center hangers, and 2 1/2" front/rear hangers.So... Is it possible that I can go with the above-described suspension kit, which is about 3/4" taller than my existing hangers? What about the width difference in the center stabilizer?
Posted 2014-01-04 11:04 PM (#156673 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
A well equipped suspension shop can make or supply almost any component you will need, for the load capacity and ride height you want. The hangers, suspension blocks and springs can be specifically tailored to your trailer. The shop will know what you need, how to install the pieces, and probably have them in stock, or the ability to fabricate the exact parts you require.
You can also change the ride heights and fender clearances by different profile tires.
Posted 2014-01-05 6:48 AM (#156675 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Member
Posts: 23
I'm sure I can have parts fabricated, but this is a 30-year old trailer, and an unfancy little 2H at that; it's not worth sinking a bunch of $$$ into custom parts. We're also hoping to DIY it-- I know I could take it into a suspension shop and have them do it, but that kind of defeats the purpose of keeping costs down, lol...
Posted 2014-01-05 7:52 AM (#156677 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Location: Texas
Why not buy just the springs and re-use your original hangers, shackles, etc. ? If you need more height, just buy longer shackles. Maybe I'm missing something.
Posted 2014-01-05 9:45 AM (#156679 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Member
Posts: 23
Good point, I guess I could use the existing hangers at least. I figured since I was replacing the springs, I might as well replace the associated hardware while I was at it, especially since the bolts are all pretty corroded. I could probably get away with just replacing the shackle straps and springs, if I had to.
Posted 2014-01-05 11:07 AM (#156681 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Your idea of replacing 30 year old hardware is spot on. Worn out, rusted fasteners, are not a bargain at highway speeds, with lives depending upon a safe passage.
Posted 2014-01-05 6:28 PM (#156691 - in reply to #156671) Subject: RE: Trailer suspension questions
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Might be part of your problem... When I took apart the suspension of my old trailer, I found elongated holes in the hanger plates. Similar wear might be letting your axles hang too high. The pins and plates are cheap to replace.
Trailer suspension questions
The only thing I DIDN'T do last summer, which I think needs to be done, is to replace the leaf springs. The rear leaf springs seem to be weak, particularly when loaded; the trailer rides low, to the point where the tires almost touch the wheel wells, worse on the rear axle than the front. (The guy I bought it from only used it 2x in 3 years, but he would move it to mow around it... I'm pretty sure he kept it perpetually jacked up in "wheelie-mode" so it would reach his truck's too-high hitch ball, and never bothered to drop it back to level when he was finished, thus keeping the rear springs continually stressed.) The trailer rides low to begin with-- I had to get an 8" drop ball mount for my truck, which is NOT an unusually high truck! So anyway, we pulled the wheels today to measure for replacement parts. The current leaf springs are 5-leaf springs, 1 3/4" wide and 25 1/4" from eye to eye. The center stabilizer measures 6 1/4" from eye to eye and 4 1/4" high. The center hanger is 3 5/8" high, and the front and rear hangers are 1 3/4" high. Axle is round, 2 1/2" diameter. My question is, how much "wiggle room" do I have with measurements for replacement parts? The company I've bought most of my trailer parts from sells "suspension kits" which include the hangers, center stabilizers, shackle straps, and hardware; however, the dimensions are not exactly what I currently have. No problem getting the same size leaf springs, as 25 1/4" seems standard... But 7 3/4" seems to be the standard width for the center stabilizers. Also, the closest measurements for the suspension kit has 4 1/2" center hangers, and 2 1/2" front/rear hangers.So... Is it possible that I can go with the above-described suspension kit, which is about 3/4" taller than my existing hangers? What about the width difference in the center stabilizer? 
