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Torsion

Independent Trailer Suspension – Are You Being Taken For A Ride?

March 11, 2023August 17, 2022 by Mechanic
Independent Trailer Suspension?

I see a lot of comments on websites and hear references once in a while about the wonders of independent trailer suspension.  What do you think?  Does it deliver on the hype?  Or is it a sales hoax?  We will look at some video

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Categories Adventures Tags Analysis, Axle, Force, Spring, Tandem, Torsion, Trailer, Triple 2 Comments

Torsion Axle Conversion Plans

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 by Mechanic
Torsion Axle Conversion Plans

By far, the most common trailer suspension is leaf springs.  They’re cheap, straightforward, easy to repair and a bunch of other things.  That said, there are definitely benefits in other suspension styles, too.  Torsion is the 2nd most common

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Axle, Conversion, Engineering, Torsion, Trailer Leave a comment

Can I Use An Axle-Less Suspension

February 6, 2023February 2, 2022 by Mechanic
Compare Axle-Less

Axle-Less trailers.  Yes, that’s a thing, and we get a lot of questions about this unique suspension.  Some people ask if it’s any good?  Other’s ask if it will work with our trailer plans?  Still others ask about using them for tandems?  We even get questions about using it

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Categories Adventures, Plans Info Tags Axle, Fixture, Force, Stability, Torsion 2 Comments

Low Profile Trailer Suspension

June 12, 2021April 2, 2021 by Mechanic
Low & Lean Trailer Suspension

Every once in a while something unique catches my eye.  This time it’s a low profile trailer suspension that does much the same as torsion axles — but in a way to allow tandem axle load sharing.  As I’ve looked at it more, there are some really interesting advantages

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Categories Adventures Tags Axle, Force, Spring, Suspension, Tandem, Torsion Leave a comment

More Trailer Plans For Torsion Axles

February 19, 2022March 14, 2020 by Mechanic
More Trailer Plans for Torsion Axles

More New Product Announcements:  The Mechanical Elements line of DIY Trailer Blueprints has just expanded – AGAIN – with more trailer plans for torsion axles.  These new trailer plans fill

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Axle, Online, Plans, Torsion, Trailer Leave a comment

Why Shouldn’t I Use Torsion Axles In Tandem Or Triple?

February 11, 2023August 12, 2019 by Mechanic
Study of Torsion Axles In Triple

Torsion axles are awesome, so Why not use torsion axles in tandem?  It’s a frequent question, along with the corollary “Why shouldn’t I have torsion axles in triple?” Good questions, especially in light of all the misinformation

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Analysis, Axle, Spring, Tire, Torsion, Video 29 Comments

Making Changes To The Plans

February 19, 2022July 20, 2019 by Mechanic
Custom Changes To The Plans

I can’t find quite the right plans for the trailer I want to build.  Can I make changes to the plans at Mechanical Elements to fit my needs?

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Categories Plans Info Tags Aluminum, Customize, Deck-Over, DIY, Plans, Torsion Leave a comment

Trailer Axles 101 – What You Need To Know

October 5, 2022November 21, 2018 by Mechanic
Trailer Axles - Springs - Wheels - and Tires

I’ll just drop by the parts store and grab an axle . . . . Well, trailer axles are not quite that simple, but knowing a few important details, we can certainly get the right one.  Here’s a quick guide to trailer axles

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Calculation, Spring, Strength, Tire, Torsion, Trailer 14 Comments

The Walking Beam Trailer Suspension For Smaller Trailers

October 6, 2022October 18, 2018 by Mechanic
Walking Beam Trailer Suspension With Twin Torsion Axles

Plans are now available for the Twin Torsion Axle Walking Beam Trailer Suspension.  This was introduced on a build early in 2018, with posts about the trailer including a video of the suspension in action.

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Axle, Build, Plans, Tandem, Torsion, Video Leave a comment

Value & Pitfalls Of Low Trailer Deck Height

November 1, 2022October 10, 2018 by Mechanic
Plus and Minus of Low Trailer Deck Height

To some people a low trailer deck height really matters, to others not so much.  Yet you read about it in trailer descriptions a lot.  So, what are the trade-offs for a low deck?  And how do you achieve it?  Is it even worth it?

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Tiny House, Tire, Torsion, Trailer 2 Comments

Axle-Less Trailer Suspension

February 19, 2022September 18, 2018 by Mechanic
Timbren Axle-Less Trailer Suspension

Customer Question:  “What do you think about the Axle-Less trailer suspension?  Is it good?”  Can I use it with the Mechanical Elements trailer plans?  . . .  You ask (actually a few of you are asking) and pointing to

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Analysis, Axle, Strength, Torsion 6 Comments

New Torsion Axle Trailer Plans

February 19, 2022August 28, 2018 by Mechanic
Build it with Torsion Axle Trailer Plans

New Product Announcement:  The Mechanical Elements line of DIY Trailer Blueprints has just expanded with some new sizes for Torsion Axle Trailer Plans.  You ask, then we work to deliver.

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Axle, Online, Plans, Torsion, Trailer 5 Comments

How To Stop Utility Trailer Bounce

June 26, 2021May 1, 2018 by Mechanic
How To Stop Utility Trailer Bounce

If you pull an empty (or nearly empty) utility trailer, you probably know the feeling of utility trailer bounce.  It’s that bumpy jolting extra bouncing you feel in the tow vehicle as you drive.  Sometimes it feels like the trailer is just bouncing away

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Spring, Torsion, Trailer 18 Comments

New – Smooth Action Tandem Torsion Axles

November 23, 2022April 20, 2018 by Mechanic
Tandem Torsion Walking Beam

Over and over we recommend:  “Don’t use torsion axles in tandem because they don’t load-share”.  Well, What if we make them share?  Here’s a new design that brings the benefits of a torsion axle to the tandem axle party

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Categories Adventures, Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Build, Cost, Tandem, Torsion, Trailer 7 Comments

Video – Trailer Test Ride!

June 19, 2021March 5, 2018 by Mechanic
New Trailer Test Ride

When the rubber meets the road, that’s when the feeling of real accomplishment kicks in.  This is the first on-road trailer test with (with video) of our new frame and funky walking beam suspension design.

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Categories Customer Stories, News Tags Axle, Build, Testing, Torsion, Trailer Leave a comment

Choosing Tandem Axles (and Triples)

October 6, 2022March 6, 2017 by Mechanic
Wire Routing and Covering for Trailer Tandem Axle Brakes

It all rides on the trailer axles, so get them right.  Here are some common technologies (and misnomers) for tandem axles and other multi-axle trailers.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Spring, Tandem, Torsion, Trailer, Triple 10 Comments

Trailer Axles: Use Springs? Or Torsion Axle

February 11, 2023March 2, 2017 by Mechanic
Trailer Axle Choices

In the discussion of trailer axle leaf springs versus a torsion axle, let’s put some engineering behind the debate.  I don’t want to change opinions, but I would like to offer a practical perspective.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Analysis, Axle, Spring, Torsion, Trailer 26 Comments
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