What angle should leaf shackles be?
You want about 25-30°(angled forward from vertical) shackle angle. Since you don’t have the full weight, you can pull all but the main leaf from the spring pack.
How do you space a trailer axle?
The distance between the center of the axles should be between 33 and 35 inches. Hanger spacing is important, but you will also want to make sure that the axles are positioned so that 10 percent of the total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Where do spring hangers go on a trailer?
Once you have the spacing figured out you need to place the two hangers so that proper tongue weight is achieved. A general rule of thumb is that 60 percent of the total trailer weight should be forward of the center line of the axle or axles on the trailer.
How do trailer shackles work?
On single-axle suspension systems, the leaf spring is attached to the front hanger, which is welded to the frame of the trailer. The rear of the leaf spring is bolted to a spring shackle. A rear hanger connects the shackle to the frame. The spring shackle allows the spring to move rearward and upward as it compresses.
How tight should shackle bolts be?
There is no specific torque rating for shackle bolts. Basically for the middle bolt there should be enough free play in the shackles to allow them to move. The best thing to do when tightening down shackle bolts is to use lock nuts and tighten them until they are snug and then backed off 1/4 turn.
Are shackles supposed to move?
The shackles on suspension systems like part # TRSL350 are designed to be fairly loose because the equalizer on your trailer suspension needs to be able to move without binding. The best thing to do when tightening down shackle bolts is to use lock nuts, tighten them until they are snug, then back them off 1/4 turn.
Where should the axles be on a trailer?
On a traditional trailer, the heaviest items are loaded at the front, but with a boat the majority of the weight is at the back of the trailer, meaning the axle needs to be further away from the tongue for the trailer to have the appropriate tongue weight.
Where do you put axles on a trailer?
Simply mount the axles where the center of the assembly matches the 40 percent mark on the trailer frame. On a three-axle placement, for example, this would mean the center of the middle axle was at a point 40 percent in from the rear of the trailer.