This was very informative Darryl. I was looking at Timbrens as a potential upgrade to my chassis, but I'm now quite content with my very good leaf spring setup. It's never let me down..
Great and very instructive video! I would like to know your opinion about the classic torsion rubber axles, like Al-ko's. Would you recommend this kind for an off road camper trailer? Greetings from Chile
I've used the Al-ko's on a boat trailer previously and they were great. Notice they have offroad versions now suitable up to 2.5t. Look, if its onroad and light dirt road use can't see an issue. Remote touring with heavy corrugations? I'd prefer either Leaf or full independent for simplicity, and less to go wrong.
Thank you for an interesting and informative video! I would have been very interested to hear your thoughts on the Knee Suspension, 'semi off-road' used on many Coromal caravans and campers. I have a 2014 Navigator and I'm debating whether to upgrade the suspension and if so whether to upgrade the leaf springs and add a damper or whether to go for a Cruise Master system.
great video. I like the Simplicity Smart Coil with Variable Rate Spring from simplicity axles - just a shame they only start at 1400kg. need a 1000-1600kg option
Sure, but much higher-performance off-road vehicles don't need dual shock absorbers per wheel. If heat dissipation is a serious concern, external-reservoir shocks would be suitable. I'm sure that the dual shocks are mostly for marketing appeal.
@@brianb-p6586 wow, I put this up 4 months ago. So I went with Rancho RS900 XL for my overland trailer I am building. I did leave room open to add a second shock but only went with a pair of shocks for now. Let's see how long they last and if dual shocks are needed. At the time I wrote on here I was in the deep dive of finding the best way to do shocks for the style of offroad camping I am doing.
@@smidee1 Yes, people using CZcams routinely come across videos and comments months or years after they are first posted. 🙂 Starting with the one shock which is needed and leaving space for a second "just in case" makes sense to me.
The distinction made in this video between Timbren's _Axle-Less_ suspension and a "full independent" suspension is strange. The Timbren system is cheaply constructed, non-adjustable in toe, and uses rubber for both springing and damping, but it's still fully independent.
Thanks for debunking a lot of marketing fluff! I have been researching for years about a trailer and now I know what I am going to do! Thanks for all these instructional videos
@@DarrylSheather I am loving your process of figuring out as you go. That’s what I do with all my projects and I absolutely love that process. I will build my trailer pretty much like yours, I like the shape, the design and it looks fabulous. The stance is perfect as well. My Lexus LX470 (UZJ100) is quite tall and wide and I think your stance is perfect. Material in the US are not quite as perfect as in Australia I think and limited funds are pushing me to look for recycled material as well but there again I like the idea of being frugal and figuring out how to build on a trainable budget. Thanks so much for the great series. I’ll be doing my own series and give you proper credits.
Awesome overview and level of details! What are your thoughts on rubber-torsion suspension axels used in the US on light off road trailers as a proposed upgrade over leaf springs?
You touch on several important points, but don't explain any of them. I understand the difference between the good suspension and the Timbren suspension in the early section, but you don't actually explain that the good one moves with the bumps and that the Timbren does not because it is too stiff. You correctly say that a suspension designed with excessive capacity won't work well, but don't explain that the problem is that with excessively high spring rate the suspension won't move with the bumps. You warn that leaf spring geometry should not allow the shackle to invert under full droop (a valuable tip), but you don't explain what it means to invert and you don't say how that is avoided. And so on...
Thanks!! Really really clear your explanation. Very very well. Question: I need to upgrade my RV suspension because I love to ride extreme roads. In patagonia there are famous destroy routes 😂. What would be your opinion? Thanks in advance.
Is there someplace we can purchase that last (orange) suspension for a self build camper trailer? If so can you please link it? I really wish I could acquire the independent axles that BlackSeries uses on theirs but it's proprietary.
Great coverage of the whole range of suspension for a campers Darryl, thanks mate. I have eye to eye leaf springs but no military curved bits at the end (bugger!) and I want to add shocks to it. Do you or any of your viewers have ideas where I can look for a bolt on kit for it?
Yes, I used the Alko shock kit on mine. www.couplemate.com.au/caravan-shock-absorbers/caravan-shock-absorbers-plus-hanger-kit/?Google+Shopping&GoogleMerchant3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjIKYBhC6ARIsAGEds-KPNgqRGyPw1rxg1wnhrG9cqM_A4WGvvnFK3Y00PIMexcSSjaAiD0gaAkVkEALw_wcB
I have a Bushwacker HD 10 and it weighs approximately 1300 pounds, and I’m towing it with a jeep 392 which has lots of horsepower it’s all built up with a lift kit etc. I just bought the trailer and now I’m learning but because I bought it I feel like I bought the wrong trailer wondering if I can upgrade it suspension wise for off roading, I don’t know really who to call to fabricate some thing I know I can make a little better I thought about lifting it maybe 2 inches and putting a little bit taller tire on it and then air down which will create a little bit of suspension I’m also on a 2 inch ball hitch which I’ve learned you can get a swivel instead but that’s going to take some fabricating I wish I knew all this before I purchased mine but it’s brand new I guess I should at least try it out before I sell it and buy something better, if you have any suggestions or ideas to make it more off-road worthy let me know thank you, I’m here in the United States northern California I just don’t know who to call the trailer dealers know nothing about modifications etc. Thank you!!!
Congrats on the Jeep, I'd kill to have a 392! I'd just go out and use the camper, it's the only way to really experience the good and bad about them. Then at least you're making an informed decision when you decide to upgrade the camper.
Hi mate, great video, I have a standard 5ft x 8ft trailer, I’m considering building a camper trailer on this frame. Once built do I need to get it inspected and registered under a different category?
If the camper is removable like a ute type camper, no as its the load in the trailer. If its a new body that's not removable, yes it's a change of classification done through an automotive engineer. You can also upgrade the axle and therefore load carrying again through an engineer. It's quite a common thing these guys do.
From what I've seen of the Timbren bolt-on system on US diy channels, it could hardly have any more travel than 50 or 60 mm. 'Scuse my ignorance, but surely this would be barely worth the effort. It'd be cheaper and easier to weld the axle to the chassis and run the trailer on low-inflated tyres!!!
I just adjusted the toe and camber on our Timbren. It wasn't that difficult. Was was pretty tough was replacing the poly bushings. Here it is, if someone's interested. czcams.com/video/4DyV2_5sdT4/video.html
This was very informative Darryl. I was looking at Timbrens as a potential upgrade to my chassis, but I'm now quite content with my very good leaf spring setup. It's never let me down..
Great and very instructive video! I would like to know your opinion about the classic torsion rubber axles, like Al-ko's. Would you recommend this kind for an off road camper trailer? Greetings from Chile
I've used the Al-ko's on a boat trailer previously and they were great. Notice they have offroad versions now suitable up to 2.5t. Look, if its onroad and light dirt road use can't see an issue. Remote touring with heavy corrugations? I'd prefer either Leaf or full independent for simplicity, and less to go wrong.
Your video was game changer for me. Thanks for sharing your point of view. Cheers from Brazil
Glad it was helpful!
I've been looking at trailers the past couple of days and this video was super helpful
Great to hear, thank you!
Rocking the best off-road channel tshirt 🤘
Thank you for an interesting and informative video! I would have been very interested to hear your thoughts on the Knee Suspension, 'semi off-road' used on many Coromal caravans and campers. I have a 2014 Navigator and I'm debating whether to upgrade the suspension and if so whether to upgrade the leaf springs and add a damper or whether to go for a Cruise Master system.
great video. I like the Simplicity Smart Coil with Variable Rate Spring from simplicity axles - just a shame they only start at 1400kg. need a 1000-1600kg option
Excellent coverage on suspension mods and glad you’re recovering from CV-19.
Thank you!
The dual shocks setup is to low the heat in the shocks, which prolongs the life the shock.
Sure, but much higher-performance off-road vehicles don't need dual shock absorbers per wheel. If heat dissipation is a serious concern, external-reservoir shocks would be suitable.
I'm sure that the dual shocks are mostly for marketing appeal.
@@brianb-p6586 wow, I put this up 4 months ago. So I went with Rancho RS900 XL for my overland trailer I am building. I did leave room open to add a second shock but only went with a pair of shocks for now. Let's see how long they last and if dual shocks are needed. At the time I wrote on here I was in the deep dive of finding the best way to do shocks for the style of offroad camping I am doing.
@@smidee1 Yes, people using CZcams routinely come across videos and comments months or years after they are first posted. 🙂
Starting with the one shock which is needed and leaving space for a second "just in case" makes sense to me.
There are trailer manufacturers that use a torsion axle setup so im wondering why this was. Ot discussed?
That was a really good wrap up of axel types!
Thank you 🙏
The distinction made in this video between Timbren's _Axle-Less_ suspension and a "full independent" suspension is strange. The Timbren system is cheaply constructed, non-adjustable in toe, and uses rubber for both springing and damping, but it's still fully independent.
Thanks for debunking a lot of marketing fluff! I have been researching for years about a trailer and now I know what I am going to do! Thanks for all these instructional videos
Glad it was helpful!
@@DarrylSheather I am loving your process of figuring out as you go. That’s what I do with all my projects and I absolutely love that process. I will build my trailer pretty much like yours, I like the shape, the design and it looks fabulous. The stance is perfect as well. My Lexus LX470 (UZJ100) is quite tall and wide and I think your stance is perfect. Material in the US are not quite as perfect as in Australia I think and limited funds are pushing me to look for recycled material as well but there again I like the idea of being frugal and figuring out how to build on a trainable budget. Thanks so much for the great series. I’ll be doing my own series and give you proper credits.
Awesome overview and level of details! What are your thoughts on rubber-torsion suspension axels used in the US on light off road trailers as a proposed upgrade over leaf springs?
You touch on several important points, but don't explain any of them. I understand the difference between the good suspension and the Timbren suspension in the early section, but you don't actually explain that the good one moves with the bumps and that the Timbren does not because it is too stiff. You correctly say that a suspension designed with excessive capacity won't work well, but don't explain that the problem is that with excessively high spring rate the suspension won't move with the bumps. You warn that leaf spring geometry should not allow the shackle to invert under full droop (a valuable tip), but you don't explain what it means to invert and you don't say how that is avoided. And so on...
Thanks!! Really really clear your explanation. Very very well.
Question: I need to upgrade my RV suspension because I love to ride extreme roads. In patagonia there are famous destroy routes 😂. What would be your opinion? Thanks in advance.
Is there someplace we can purchase that last (orange) suspension for a self build camper trailer? If so can you please link it? I really wish I could acquire the independent axles that BlackSeries uses on theirs but it's proprietary.
Great coverage of the whole range of suspension for a campers Darryl, thanks mate.
I have eye to eye leaf springs but no military curved bits at the end (bugger!) and I want to add shocks to it. Do you or any of your viewers have ideas where I can look for a bolt on kit for it?
Yes, I used the Alko shock kit on mine. www.couplemate.com.au/caravan-shock-absorbers/caravan-shock-absorbers-plus-hanger-kit/?Google+Shopping&GoogleMerchant3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjIKYBhC6ARIsAGEds-KPNgqRGyPw1rxg1wnhrG9cqM_A4WGvvnFK3Y00PIMexcSSjaAiD0gaAkVkEALw_wcB
I have a Bushwacker HD 10 and it weighs approximately 1300 pounds, and I’m towing it with a jeep 392 which has lots of horsepower it’s all built up with a lift kit etc. I just bought the trailer and now I’m learning but because I bought it I feel like I bought the wrong trailer wondering if I can upgrade it suspension wise for off roading, I don’t know really who to call to fabricate some thing I know I can make a little better I thought about lifting it maybe 2 inches and putting a little bit taller tire on it and then air down which will create a little bit of suspension I’m also on a 2 inch ball hitch which I’ve learned you can get a swivel instead but that’s going to take some fabricating I wish I knew all this before I purchased mine but it’s brand new I guess I should at least try it out before I sell it and buy something better, if you have any suggestions or ideas to make it more off-road worthy let me know thank you, I’m here in the United States northern California I just don’t know who to call the trailer dealers know nothing about modifications etc. Thank you!!!
Congrats on the Jeep, I'd kill to have a 392! I'd just go out and use the camper, it's the only way to really experience the good and bad about them. Then at least you're making an informed decision when you decide to upgrade the camper.
You put your own spring on it
Ok i found the website. Do you buy chance know if they ship to the U.S.?
Cruisemaster would ship to the USA, best to contact them direct.
Hi mate, great video, I have a standard 5ft x 8ft trailer, I’m considering building a camper trailer on this frame. Once built do I need to get it inspected and registered under a different category?
If the camper is removable like a ute type camper, no as its the load in the trailer. If its a new body that's not removable, yes it's a change of classification done through an automotive engineer. You can also upgrade the axle and therefore load carrying again through an engineer. It's quite a common thing these guys do.
From what I've seen of the Timbren bolt-on system on US diy channels, it could hardly have any more travel than 50 or 60 mm. 'Scuse my ignorance, but surely this would be barely worth the effort. It'd be cheaper and easier to weld the axle to the chassis and run the trailer on low-inflated tyres!!!
Better to have suspension, and frankly 50-60mm is probably ok for road based use.
I just adjusted the toe and camber on our Timbren. It wasn't that difficult. Was was pretty tough was replacing the poly bushings. Here it is, if someone's interested. czcams.com/video/4DyV2_5sdT4/video.html
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