Surveyor Axle Question

[acadianbob]

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?

[Dave_Monica]

I checked the Surveyor on-line brochure and they indicate leaf springs and equa-flex on all four product lines.

Dave

[acadianbob]

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.

[avolnek]

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...

[SCOC]

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").

[avolnek]

As I thought, mine, a 2013 sv305 is just the torsion axle bolted to the frame. Very nice axle, smooth and stable!

[OldCoot]

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.

[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.

[OldCoot]

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.

[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.

[SCOC]

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.

[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.

[avolnek]

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.

[jeeplj8]

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 *****...

[avolnek]

That's funny actually... I wonder if that's not for the 2014 model...

I will see you 1 site and raise you two!

Surveyor Travel Trailers by Forest River

you'll have to open the brochure on that one...

New 2013 Forest River RV Surveyor Select SV 305 Travel Trailers at AC Nelsen RV Omaha Nebraska AC Nelsen RV


too much time to read and research will drive a guy absolutely nuts!

[jeeplj8]

Originally Posted by avolnek

That's funny actually... I wonder if that's not for the 2014 model...

I will see you 1 site and raise you two!

Surveyor Travel Trailers by Forest River

you'll have to open the brochure on that one...

New 2013 Forest River RV Surveyor Select SV 305 Travel Trailers at AC Nelsen RV Omaha Nebraska AC Nelsen RV


too much time to read and research will drive a guy absolutely nuts!

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.

[MtnGuy]

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.

[acadianbob]

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!

[MtnGuy]

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.

[schrederman]

Definitely a cost-saving move... I wonder how much they dropped the retail price... hehe...