New Torsion Axle Trailer Plans
New Product Announcement: The Mechanical Elements line of DIY Trailer Blueprints has just expanded with some brand new Torsion Axle Trailer Plans. You ask, and we work to deliver.
Our goal is to serve you, our customer. These new plans are one more piece in the chain. While we try, unfortunately we can’t accommodate everything immediately, but here’s one more that you ask for. Please let us know if you have a particular size you’ve been dying to build.
Update: Even more plans are now available!
What’s The Big Deal?
We have said a lot about selecting axles and about differences in design for torsion axles versus leaf springs. We talk about the benefits of rubber suspension, and now we give you the trailer plans to build.
These are excellent changes. We now have some light duty utility and off-road, torsion axle trailer blueprints in the plans store. These offer some excellent advantages with deck height and ride.
There are not a lot of sizes yet, but there are more to come. Please be patient as we expand the plan offerings.
Torsion Axle Engineering Analysis W/O Design Optimization. Our New Designs Do Much Better.DIY blueprints at Mechanical Elements are fully engineered so you know the trailer you build is sound. Most of our plans use leaf spring axles because they spread the load more, and for DIY’ers, they are a lot less expensive. However, that does NOT mean we think less of torsions — they are just different. Check out the article on Trailer Axles 101 for a lot more on axles, parameters, and differences. There is also a section on how to buy the different types of axles.
Torsion suspension applies load to the frame differently, so our new blueprints include design enhancements for proper stress distribution. We have examples in the post about choosing axles.
Are you ready to purchase an axle? Get a ton of information about axles including torsion axles in the article Trailer Axles 101 – What You Need To Know. From there you can follow links to other reading.
If you compare trailer plans, please check to see that other authors discuss the way that torsion stresses apply in the design. Just like our other blueprints, these new torsion axle trailer plans include all the needed engineering. They are ready for you to build.
Torsion Axle Trailer Plans
Mechanical Elements is introducing DIY blueprints for new trailers with a torsion axle. These new plans have all the robust strength and stability of our other trailer, but with a design specific for torsion axles.
All of the new plans are based around the very popular Dexter Torflex line of products for consistency (though other axle brands will also work). Select the product you like, then see the last sheet of the drawings to know exactly what to order.
We say many times that the ideal place for torsion axle technology is with lighter capacity trailers. To support that, our newest torsion axle trailer plans are the 4′ x 6′ and the 4′ x 8′ utility trailers — both at 2000 pounds capacity. Also, our new Off Road Trailer at 4′ x 6.5′. All the plans come with lots of options for customization, including axle choices.
Just because the max capacity is 2000#, does not mean that’s what you must use. For instance, to haul your luxury HD motorcycle, a 1500# axle might give a smoother ride. It’s perfectly fine to substitute that axle instead of the specified 2000# one. Options like this are easily available. It’s one of the ways to customize your new trailer exactly to your specific needs.
Benefits With Mechanical Elements
One big benefit with trailer plans from Mechanical Elements is just that . . . . we design for, and encourage customization. We give lots of options and reasons you might choose one option or another. That is just as true for our new torsion axle trailer plans. Build it great, and build it the way you want it. And, it’s features like this you don’t get with Free Trailer Plans.
Torsion Axle Trailer Plans are available for download now. Click on the links just above, or just follow the shop links in the header to look at all the utility trailers we offer. For even more info, check out the trailer design articles at Synthesis. Get your trailer plans today, and start building.
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June 18, 2020 @ 3:24 PM
Folks,
Yesterday I bought plans for your 4×6 torsion axle utility trailer. I have a couple of questions, but first I thought you might find my project interesting. The purpose for the trailer will be as a mobile test stand for an R2800 aircraft engine I own. Specs here: https://store.rotecaerosport.com/r2800-radial-engine-10-deposit
The engine weighs about 250 lb, incl. oil and a bit of fuel. I intend to mount it facing the rear, so that the tow vehicle acts as an anchor during operation. It swings a 68″ long prop, so the choice is either mount the engine all the way in the rear of the trailer, such that the prop clears the tail and the deck height allows extra prop clearance from the ground, allowing the engine to be mounted somewhat lower, or mount the engine further forward and high enough such that the prop clears the deck.
Here is a YouTube vid of this type of engine mounted at the rear of an ATV trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu2yYoIpEJc
Unlike the YouTube example, I’d like my test stand (complete with mounted engine) to be roadable. Obviously, mounting all the way to the rear (such as in the video) creates challenges for load distribution and axle placement on the trailer. Alternatively, mounting the engine further forward requires the prop center to be at least 36″ (34″ + at least 2″ clearance) above the deck. The higher mounting is of course more top-heavy.
Any thoughts?
Also, 2000# is far more GVWR than I need, and the stiffer ride wouldn’t be as smooth as I would like. Your torsion axle commentary mentions 1,500# axle as being equally well suited to this trailer size, but I don’t see Dexter offering that size: nothing between 1,000# and 2,000#. 1,000# axle is probably sufficient for my purposes, but that begs the question if I can use lighter building materials?
I recognize that it would be asking too much to look for a re-engineering of your plans to suit my project, but any comments you might offer would be most appreciated.
Thanks!
June 18, 2020 @ 5:33 PM
Oops, sorry!
The prop length is 74″, so clearing the deck would require a stand with the hub about 39″ above the deck. This being a round engine, that is also roughly where its CG would be located. The weight of the stand itself would naturally lower the combined CG somewhat.
Is 64″ hub face – to hub face likely to be a wide enough stance for this set up to be stable?
June 19, 2020 @ 9:15 AM
Sounds to me like the load is less weight than the trailer. I’d put the motor on the back and move the axle back to accommodate. https://mechanicalelements.com/calculating-axle-position/ Don’t forget other things that will be on the trailer — fuel, toolbox, etc..
June 19, 2020 @ 1:29 PM
The plans suggest that the axle can be moved forward or back 3″. Is this the limit, or given that the load is indeed less than the trailer, and ideally would be fixed close to the tail, can I move the axle more than 3″ back? Thanks
June 19, 2020 @ 4:11 PM
For a standard application, the point given in the plans is the way to go. For most people, a minor adjustment of 3″ fore or aft is a modification to meet typical needs. For yours, it’s totally different because of what you need to do. You can move the axle back to where the balance is correct using the calculations for where the axle should go on your trailer. You will need to measure loads and centers to figure it out, but it will be fine. Also, you may need to shorten the spring mount bar if you move it back a long way.