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Post Info TOPIC: Shock Absorbers as an "add-on"
Nomad1946


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Shock Absorbers as an "add-on"
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Hi,

if I said I was contemplating adding shock absorbers to our 1999 Jayco Masport Poptop what would you say?

??Waste of money      ?? Can't be done    ?? Good idea     

Reasoning:  recently whilst on "safari" I had an occasion to move our van about 20metres from under a tree when the wind picked up at a lunch stop ....  don't like parking under trees that she'd their bark.  My wife stayed in the 'van and later said she was surprised with the amount of movement within the van on this short "trip" and we discussed what it'd be like when in motion proper.  We have both since read an article suggesting that the addition of Shockies would reduce the "moving 'n' shakin'"

we would welcome thoughts and advice   

 



-- Edited by Nomad1946 on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 10:16:37 PM

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Building something like a caravan without shock absorbers is frankly ridiculous.
Take them off your car and see how you get along.

Cheers,
Peter

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Aus-Kiwi


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A lot of leaf Spring trailers don't have shocks .. But in a van ? I find it CRAZZY !! On roads out west following some vans on roads with ripples .. We can see the caravan suspension and body shacking big time .. Yet the driver has no idea what's going on behind ., if coil Spring ? They need good working shocks especially ..

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Aus-Kiwi


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Imo VERY good idea . Just make sure it well fabricated and strong where it attaches to frame ..

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Radar


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RE: Shock Absorbers as an "add-on"
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Having no real good answers apart from what I have read about leaf springs in various articles in caravan mags I would leave well enough alone.

The springs we have under our caravans are engineered to do a job.

Our van weighs in at sub 2000kgs rides on a single axle with leave springs, my wife rode around in it though a car park once, only once said it was the worst experience, never again. Just like your wife, my wife was suprised by the moving motion of the van.

Now out on the open road we never find anything disturbed indicating its rough to ride in. I feel at this point in time, the need to improve the ride will not rise. So I think trying to improve the ride is a waste of money.

We have never been shy about driving down a unsealed roads, we go where ever we feel like going.

Just drive to the conditions and enjoy.



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PeterD


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If leaf spring axles do not need shock absorbers then why are they now being fitted to trucks?

Read this article. That should be enough to convince you.



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Brownie2


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Our last van (2000 Coromal Offroad with independent leaf spring suspension) had no shockers. On the road across to Borroloola (Savanah Way - a "shocker" of a road!) we passed another van who immediately hopped on the UHF to tell me our shockers would have to checked at Borroloola as the wheels were just bouncing everywhere over the corrugations! I explained that it was designed without shockers. You know what, even though the wheels were doing a rumba, the van suffered no damage, it sat beautifully behind, and had nothing shake loose, even though the roads were the worst we have been on. I guess the designers got it right?? If your van was designed without them, I wouldn't change it. Looked at your biography Bob, and it looks like you have traveled some pretty rough roads too. Any van damage?
Cheers, Bob



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03_Troopy


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I have fitted shocks to a camper trailer. My van with leaf springs already had them fitted. Fitting shocks to the camper trailer made a bit of difference when hitting bumps and potholes, it didn't bounce all over the place and shake up the contents so much. The most difficult part is the mounts for the top end of the shockie, I had to fabricate a set. The bottom end you can get a mount that bolts over the fish plate from trailer parts places. Then you have to find a suitable shock absorber. You need to get one that has a bit more travel than your axle, and mount it so it sits about midway when the van/trailer is sitting with normal load on the flat. I found a Monroe gas shock the right size for mine. And yes I know I have override springs, but the trailer still bounced all over the place on rough roads at any speed.

mounted.JPGshockmounts01.jpgshockmounts02.jpgshockmounts03.jpg



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Brownie2


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Nice job Troopy!



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GerryP


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The main purpose of shocks is to prevent resonance. If you have rebound springs fitted (small inverted springs clamped to the top of the main pack), shocks are not necessary - some camper trailers have this system and it works well.

With dual axle and some single axle units, where leaf lengths are fairly short, resonance is much less likely. I've had 3 caravans and one camper with beam axles and no shocks and have dragged them through some of the worst roads this country has to offer, with no issues whatsoever. The one wind-up camper I've had with shocks, broke the chassis where the shock was attached!

Speaking with a good friend, who is also a caravan builder and repairer, his comment was that fitting shocks to a van that was not designed with them, usually leads to a very much harsher ride, increasing the risk of damage to the van and internal fittings. If you do fit aftermarket shocks, make sure they are quite soft.

Personally, I'd leave it alone and just drive sensibly and to conditions.



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Bass


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Ordered our van (19' roller rocker ) with shockers, has done the strez, onadatt, through warri gate and a lot more dirt and have so far no problems at all. Van was designed with shocks and works a treat, you do however still have to drive to conditions.
Cheers bass

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Radar


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RE: Shock Absorbers as an "add-on"
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PeterD wrote:

If leaf spring axles do not need shock absorbers then why are they now being fitted to trucks?

Myself up until late drove late model Macks and Kenworths both using on the front long pabolic style spring needing shocks, the drive was air bags suspended needing shocks but of yester year had on the front short spring packs, no shocks. The back henderickson a very large spring pack between the bogie drive, no shocks.

Read this article. That should be enough to convince you. No it didn't

 No it didn't. We now have one engineer saying yes against multitude of others saying no.



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Aus-Kiwi


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Weight and money saving ..if they are fitted PROPERLY with correct shock it righ length travel etc all good .. But you can't just got shocks on std frame . There's. Plenty of cars and trucks that have cracking issues too !! In sever conditions . We find it quite entertaining watching vans vibrate like crazy as they pass ! It must be doing hell to frame and insides of van .. With or without shocks . Springs sag leaving very little travel which doesn't help plus the added water some possibly carry ??

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PeterD


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03_Troopy wrote:

The most difficult part is the mounts for the top end of the shockie, I had to fabricate a set. The bottom end you can get a mount that bolts over the fish plate from trailer parts places. Then you have to find a suitable shock absorber.

These ones come with the necessary brackets. They are what I have had fitted to the van.



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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 
PeterD


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Radar wrote:
 No it didn't. We now have one engineer saying yes against multitude of others saying no.

 This is the only reply where the person writing the paper claims to be an engineer. That engineer has been employed in work examining the effect of shock absorbers with leaf springs. No other reply author has claimed to be an engineer.



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PeterD
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03_Troopy


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PeterD wrote:
03_Troopy wrote:

The most difficult part is the mounts for the top end of the shockie, I had to fabricate a set. The bottom end you can get a mount that bolts over the fish plate from trailer parts places. Then you have to find a suitable shock absorber.

These ones come with the necessary brackets. They are what I have had fitted to the van.

 Peter, I can't see the ones you are trying to link to. I think your link is incorrect. It shows as "http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/p/reply/shockmounts03.jpg"

Cheers.

Bob



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PeterD


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Guilty as charged, again I did not test the link late at night. Try this one.



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PeterD
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03_Troopy


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PeterD wrote:

Guilty as charged, again I did not test the link late at night. Try this one.

 OK.. can see the ones you mean now biggrin

Although mine are a "tad" over engineered LOL, I wanted to spread the load bearing area, because the wall thickness of the cross beams is only about 2.5mm. That's why the 6mm angle with a backing plate, to clamp the beam rather than just a bolt through mount. The camper trailer used to get some pretty rough treatment over some corrugated roads, and it held up very well.



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PeterD


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Which ever way you added the shockers you will now probably have less problems with your camper. Good work.

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Nomad1946


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RE: Shock Absorbers as an "add-on"
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H Brownie,  until 2014 when we bought the current 'van all our travels mostly included tent accomodation ... We have covered and seen a lot of beautiful country Outback, and experienced the toughness also .. it can be unforgiving at tines .....

what we experienced then makes me think that some of those tracks are definitely not for caravans without some major modifications. Some of the "off-road" vans we've looked at at various shows made us both smile .... There's a difference between off-road and Off-road ....

Had no problems with a'van on the Oodnadatta, the Strezlecki, nor the Birdsville ... but naturally one drives to the conditions, expect ally across the gibber.

only "problems" with the Jayco Westport we have had was a broken arm on the awning (my fault - didn't follow instructions ... lesson learned.

Cheers,

    Bob



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Hylife


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Nomad1946 wrote:

Hi,

if I said I was contemplating adding shock absorbers to our 1999 Jayco Masport Poptop what would you say?

??Waste of money      ?? Can't be done    ?? Good idea     

Reasoning:  recently whilst on "safari" I had an occasion to move our van about 20metres from under a tree when the wind picked up at a lunch stop ....  don't like parking under trees that she'd their bark.  My wife stayed in the 'van and later said she was surprised with the amount of movement within the van on this short "trip" and we discussed what it'd be like when in motion proper.  We have both since read an article suggesting that the addition of Shockies would reduce the "moving 'n' shakin'"

we would welcome thoughts and advice   

 



-- Edited by Nomad1946 on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 10:16:37 PM

I have a 1996 Jayco Westport Poptop and have shocks fitted. Much more stable ride and truer tracking without bounce behind tug.

WP_20160414_002.jpg WP_20160414_004.jpg



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Aus-Kiwi


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Sheesh some rust, chassis protection under some of these vans !! Under coat and paint .. Some oil / grease on springs ..

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