carringb
Corvallis, OR
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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I'm not sure I'd blame it just on thesprings. I think it's just a poor design. I've seen others with pretty much brand new WWs that had dents in the frame from the axles.
Whichever fix you go with for the clearance issue, make sure you also repair the dented section frame. That is now a weak point. A plate welded over the dent would probably be an acceptable fix.
Bryan
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Had: Weekend Warrior 41' FSW (still looking for its replacement)
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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dodge guy wrote:It may very well have weak springs! but that looks like a very lousy setup to begin with.
It only looks like a lousy setup because of the weak springs. The eyelets of the springs should be 6" closer to each other, which would raise the trailer about 2", maybe more.
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mapguy
Puget Sound
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carringb wrote:I'm not sure I'd blame it just on thesprings. I think it's just a poor design. I've seen others with pretty much brand new WWs that had dents in the frame from the axles.
Whichever fix you go with for the clearance issue, make sure you also repair the dented section frame. That is now a weak point. A plate welded over the dent would probably be an acceptable fix.
Bryan is right - especially this model WW -it has a history of payload capacity issues as designed/built.
Best bet is to do axle flip or add spacers between spring/equalizer hangers to gain additional clearance for axle to frame. New springs will help but as they wear the frame to axle clearance issue will return if additional clearance is not added...
Map Guy
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dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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One other thing to consider. sure the axles are rated at 7k lbs. (or 6k depending on which post you read!  ), but are the springs rated for the same amount?
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mapguy
Puget Sound
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dodge guy wrote:One other thing to consider. sure the axles are rated at 7k lbs. (or 6k depending on which post you read! ), but are the springs rated for the same amount?
No way to know for sure -a good guess can be made by measuring the leaf thickness and quantity plus get the free air measure of length and arch..
What size tire does the Federal weight sticker on the outside left front lower area call out? Also, might want to investigate the metal tag on the axle to verify capacity. Tag shoud be wrapped around axle near the right hand side u-bolts.......of both axles.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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As a general rule:
5 lugs per wheel = 3500lb axles
6 lugs per wheel = 5000lb axles
8 lugs per wheel = 7000lb axles
I seem to recall reading earlier in this thread that the springs were 3000lb rated, and the axles 7000lb rated... Hmmm, two 3000lb springs = 6000lbs. That ain't gonna hold up to the full 7000lbs that the axles can handle.
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carringb
Corvallis, OR
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WW used 6k axles on all the wide body trailer (including the FSC) unless 7k were custom ordered.
Besides... 2x 6k = over trailer GVWR. With most trailers, I usulaly feel ok running over GVWR as long as I'm under axle ratings. In fact, almost every 1 of my miles I was over the printed GVWR (WW told me to just go by axles instead, since it was short on payload).
But... those frames aren't really that strong compared to similar sized toy haulers, so running over GVWR does add the risk of frame failure. When I hit a guardrail in some freezing rain, my WW's frame snapped. I was about 4k over trailer GVWR but 1000 under the 3x 6000.
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mapguy
Puget Sound
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mkirsch wrote:As a general rule:
5 lugs per wheel = 3500lb axles
6 lugs per wheel = 5000lb axles
8 lugs per wheel = 7000lb axles
I seem to recall reading earlier in this thread that the springs were 3000lb rated, and the axles 7000lb rated... Hmmm, two 3000lb springs = 6000lbs. That ain't gonna hold up to the full 7000lbs that the axles can handle.
Poor rule and a generalization used by many that are not familar with specifing a trailer axle package.
Alko 5.2, 6 or 7K axles can freely interchange 6 or 8 lug hubs/drums.
Dexter 5.5 to 7K can too.
It is cheaper to specify a 6 bolt hub in these applications....
Map Guy
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Looks to me like the trailer needs to go to a spring shop for a set of new, heavier spring packs, with the axle re-located to below the springs when it is all re-assembled.
Imagine that... a Weekend Warrior with a design flaw. Who ever would have thought... LMAO
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Yes, except that will result in a roughly 6" increase in height, which the OP does not want.
I'm going to stand by my previous assertion: Simply replacing the damaged stock springs with ones that are properly curved will lift the trailer by the desired 2-3" amount.
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