|
06-12-2013, 07:37 PM
|
#1
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,367
|
Surveyor Axle Question
Has Surveyor gone totally over to leaf spring axles nowadays? I was just looking at the features, specs, etc and it appears so. For awhile, it was the Sport models with leaf springs; Select models with torsion axles. Anyone know the current setup?
__________________
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
|
|
|
06-12-2013, 08:32 PM
|
#2
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,327
|
I checked the Surveyor on-line brochure and they indicate leaf springs and equa-flex on all four product lines.
Dave
__________________
Nights camped in 2013 - 55, 2014 - 105, 2015 - 63
|
|
|
06-12-2013, 10:02 PM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,367
|
That's what I got out of it too Dave. That is bad news from my perspective. Now they are going to sit higher; up in the wind; and my barn door clearance becomes a problem. Guess I'll have to keep the one I have!!
I wonder what drove that change . . . . it seems like an inferior setup to me. Must be cost.
__________________
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 10:56 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 630
|
I will check mine at lunch today, but I don't believe there are leaf springs under my sv305. I think it is just the torsion axle... I will verify this as I said after lunch! Mine doesn't sit terribly high though, especially compared with other models... The grey wold 26 dbh I had prior was only like 3-6" shorter...
__________________
TV- 2015 Ram 2500 CCLB 6.7 Cummins 3.42 gears
Camper - 2015 Saber 322BHTS
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 11:11 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Coquitlam, BC
Posts: 165
|
Here's a quote from the Equa-Flex website. Acadianbob said it, cost.
No need for torsion axles
Equa-Flex delivers a ride that is as smooth as a torsion axle, but is a fraction of the cost. Our patented system allows for the trailer to retain spring axle equalization benefits while offering the smooth ride characteristics of a torsion axle. With Equa-flex, you’re getting the best of both worlds.
If one of the differences is that it sits up higher, I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. Some of the Surveyor models with torsion axles sit really low, too low for me anyway, and I got mine raised at the factory with axle risers (about 3.5").
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 01:15 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 630
|
As I thought, mine, a 2013 sv305 is just the torsion axle bolted to the frame. Very nice axle, smooth and stable!
__________________
TV- 2015 Ram 2500 CCLB 6.7 Cummins 3.42 gears
Camper - 2015 Saber 322BHTS
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 01:30 PM
|
#7
|
Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
|
To me, the biggest drawback with springs is the maintenance required on the shackles, walking beam, etc. Like the torsion axles much better altho it was a lot harder to put shocks on them.
__________________
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 08:02 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,137
|
"Equa-Flex delivers a ride that is as smooth as a torsion axle"
Can't be true.
Torsion axles are true independent suspension.
On a solid axle, what happens to one end affects the other.
and... dampening is built in - no need for shocks.
It is a cost saving item, nothing more, yet it will be pushed as a high tech and superior replacement of that sad old low riding fossil called the Torsion axle.
__________________
FOR SALE 2014 BOSS 6.2L F350
2012 Surveyor SV264
NW Oregon
|
|
|
06-13-2013, 08:36 PM
|
#9
|
Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisty
"Equa-Flex delivers a ride that is as smooth as a torsion axle"
Can't be true.
Torsion axles are true independent suspension.
On a solid axle, what happens to one end affects the other.
and... dampening is built in - no need for shocks.
It is a cost saving item, nothing more, yet it will be pushed as a high tech and superior replacement of that sad old low riding fossil called the Torsion axle.
|
Agree with everything but "no need for shocks" Shocks made a good suspension superb. Stopped all the dolphining and everything in the rear kitchen stay on the counter. Would spend the labor and time to do it again in a heart beat. Both my wife and I love the difference it made in the way the truck rides as well as the 5er. IMO, if it has a suspension, it needs shocks.
__________________
|
|
|
06-16-2013, 09:57 PM
|
#10
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,367
|
The leaf springs making the trailer sit higher would be a problem for me on any new Surveyor. My barn door is only 10.5 feet high. Also, sitting higher raises the center of gravity for handling and puts the trailer further up into the air stream; I would think that that would affect fuel economy.
__________________
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 12:16 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Coquitlam, BC
Posts: 165
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acadianbob
The leaf springs making the trailer sit higher would be a problem for me on any new Surveyor. My barn door is only 10.5 feet high. Also, sitting higher raises the center of gravity for handling and puts the trailer further up into the air stream; I would think that that would affect fuel economy.
|
I agree in therory there should be a small difference. In my experience, I've towed my SV264 with and without axle risers installed, which make a 3.5" difference in overall height. Other than having to adjust my hitch height to compensate, I haven't noticed any difference in handling or fuel milage. This includes travelling a significantly twisty coastal highway at about 80km/hr, wind gusts, passing trucks, etc. My barn door reacts pretty much the same as my barn door + 3.5". Now to be fair, when I adjusted for the hitch height, at the same time, I also increased my WD to throw more weight forward since I knew I needed to do this based on my last scale weighing and it was the perfect opportunity when the head was taken appart. I did that for weight distribution, not trailer stability, but could this have also compensated for some negative effect of raising the trailer? can't say, but in the end I don't notice any significant differnce from the trailer before or after all these adjustments.
I'm not sure how much height difference a leaf spring vs torsion axle makes, but it's likely in the same ballpark as my axle risers.
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 12:25 PM
|
#12
|
daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
|
When we looked at a 2013 SV305 this was a significant selling point in my opinion. I liked the idea of torsion axles on that trailer. Yet the trailer did not sit any lower than other leaf sprung trailers. For example, FR lists the SV305 height as 11'3"; yet Coachmen lists my 320 BHDS height as 10'11".
For the record, my 320 is taller than that.
__________________
2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 12:30 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 630
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeeplj8
When we looked at a 2013 SV305 this was a significant selling point in my opinion. I liked the idea of torsion axles on that trailer. Yet the trailer did not sit any lower than other leaf sprung trailers. For example, FR lists the SV305 height as 11'3"; yet Coachmen lists my 320 BHDS height as 10'11".
For the record, my 320 is taller than that.
|
Not to be an ***** but my sv305 stands 10'9" at the top of the AC when leveled... The brochure also says the 301,303 and 305 all stand this tall.
not that it really matters, especially only 4" of diff.
__________________
TV- 2015 Ram 2500 CCLB 6.7 Cummins 3.42 gears
Camper - 2015 Saber 322BHTS
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 12:34 PM
|
#14
|
daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by avolnek
Not to be an ***** but my sv305 stands 10'9" at the top of the AC when leveled... The brochure also says the 301,303 and 305 all stand this tall.
not that it really matters, especially only 4" of diff.
|
hmm...going by the info here for the 305:
Surveyor Travel Trailer by Forest River
If yours is 10'9" to the top of the A/C then yours is definately shorter than mine...
not to be *****...
__________________
2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 12:44 PM
|
#16
|
daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by avolnek
|
Crazy - so on the specs (from the green menu on the right hand side of the page) FR lists it at 11"3', but in their own brochure they list it 10'9".
And people wonder why we tell them the numbers from the factory are complete BS.
Now if the specs have been updated for 2014 that would suggest the new trailers are going to be 4 inches taller. yeah - that is a bummer for OP and his barn door.
I am actually thinking of lowering our trailer.
__________________
2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 01:03 PM
|
#17
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acadianbob
Guess I'll have to keep the one I have!!
|
Yeppers, I am going to have to keep my SV 263, too. Love the torsion axles. It just seem to float going down the road.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 06:22 PM
|
#18
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,367
|
All I know is that our 235RKS is 8.5 feet at the roof line plus air conditioner. It sits less than 10 feet tall. The new 235RKS is apparently nearly a foot taller. Guess we'll be keeping our current trailer for quite some time!
__________________
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 06:53 PM
|
#19
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
|
Our 263 is 9'10" to the top of the AC. It rides low to the ground, but that is probably 1 reason that it tows so well.....along with the torsion axles. I gotta be careful getting in and out of some gas stations......I take the dips at an angle. I have only rubbed the skid bars 1 time..........probably took a chunk out of the pavement of that gas station.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
|
|
|
06-19-2013, 04:39 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 977
|
Definitely a cost-saving move... I wonder how much they dropped the retail price... hehe...
__________________
J & D in Lovely Weatherford, TX
2016 Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH TT
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4X4 6.7L Cummins
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|