Replacement Leaf Springs for Triple Axle Boat Trailer with 3500-lb Axles

Question:

I have a Nextrail triple axle aluminum boat trailer. C channel frame. Axles are 3500 lbs. Suspension is leaf spring. Time to replace springs as they are rusted and 1 axle leaf is broken. Will the Timbren Heavy-Duty Axle-Less Trailer Suspension work on this trailer? It does go in salt water.

asked by: Kendall

Expert Reply:

The Timbren axle-less suspension systems like # ASR35HDS02 cannot be used in triple-axle configurations so they would not work for you.

The linked page displays double-eye leaf springs for 3500-lb axles. These are available in three eye-to-eye lengths, 23-1/8, 25-1/8 and 27-inches. Please note that a well-worn spring tends to elongate, so when you remove the two leaf springs from the axle to measure them keep in mind that those springs, when they were new, could have been shorter than they measure now. Let's say for example that you measure the eye-to-eye length as 25-3/4-inches. Chances are good that this spring when new was actually a 25-1/8-inch spring like # e54SR. Springs do not get shorter with age and use but they can get longer.

It is generally best to replace all leaf springs at the same time. This helps avoid suspension alignment and trailer tracking issues. You may care to refer to the linked article on double-eye trailer suspensions for more information.

expert reply by: Adam R