Trailer Springs

[Rmarxmiller]

Ok - I have read all of the threads about spring failure, and never thought it would happen to me, well Sunday it did, right side spring snapped and resulted in severe trauma to the right side of my trailer, now I get to wait on the insurance company to see what they will cover. Fortunatly this happened before I was going very fast, or it could have been much worse. My question is how many of you have EZ Loader trailers that have had spring failures after they replaced the mono leaf spring to the multi leaf spring? When all is said and done looks like the safety devices will be installed on my trailer!

[Phil]

Wow! Ok what is the prevention for this and what can we all do to make sure it does not happen to us ??

Jigs

[Skeeterman]

Wow, I have the same trailer. That makes me want to check out that RMD system.

[Norv]

The Trailer Safety Device manufactured by RMD in Santa Clara will not prevent spring failure. But, should you suffer a spring failure the Trailer Safety Device instantly inflates an air bag and serves as temporary suspension to prevent an accident and trailer damage.

You can see their product by accessing their web site at http://www.researchmachinedevelopment.com/.

[nipples]

Does anyone know if it would be better to just go out and buy some good quality replacement springs? Seems like that might be a better solution, but what do I know.

Good fishing,

-Paul-

[Long Nguyen]

Robert,

Sorry to hear of your mishap.
The guys at Tackle Tour did a great write up on the RMD devices.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewrmdpreview.html
Check it out.

[Bassman35]

Hey bud Wheres the love. How about editting that in say that You called me after Fishing a tourny all day and saving your Butt. After being Beat around all day and thats the love you show. I should of stayed asleep.
Bryan Cox

[Rmarxmiller]

Thank you to Bassman35 for bringing tools and beer in my time of need, after being up all day getting his A$$ kicked in the wind at Melones!

P.S.

You need a net with a longer handle!

[Bassman35]

Thats all i wanted i can sleep in peace now. Hows the insurance claim going?
Bryan Cox

[Rmarxmiller]

S L O W The marine appraiser will look at it Friday.

[Cooch]

indeed had a replacement set of springs pop on one of my older trailers. After replacing that one a second time, the other side popped about 8 months later. As ESOX mentioned, the RMD's won't prevent spring failure, but it sure is nice to know I can make it home and will not be experieincing any further trailer damage due to these damn things popping when we least expect it.

In as much as I highly recommend these to guys, the other thing I'd also recommend, if you have a trailer spring pop on you, it really is best to have them both replaced at the same time. This way ya don't have an old and worn set, and a new set at the same time. That old and worn set, is likely ta go next.

Good luck with that insurance claim!

[Fishin' Dave]

...follow up to Cooch's idea, 2 new springs will leave you with one spare to throw in the back of the truck in case of future failure.

[Smile_n_Jax]

...follow up to Cooch's idea, 2 new springs will leave you with one spare to throw in the back of the truck in case of furure failure.

Good idea, Dave, but will I need to bring along a pit crew to change it?:D

[mark poulson]

I had one fail, and replaced both, along with new hangers and bolts.
The originals were rated for 750# each ( I have a Tracker 175), but I replaced them with springs rated at 1500# each. The trailer rides a little higher, about 4", but it handles even better. And it's easier to get the boat on and off the trailer, because the bunk boards are flatter since the rear is higher.
I really noticed the difference when I used my boat to cart all my crap up to a trailer for ten days. The pickup's bed was full of fire wood. Even with groceries, sleeping bags, lanterns, propane, charcoal, 2 ice chest with meat, perishables, and ice, two crates of bottled water, and three thirty packs of Bud Lite (ten days is a long time, especially with a couple of friends), the trailer handled fine.
And the peace of mind knowing the springs weren't working that hard was great.
To me, it's like getting a bigger motor in your truck. It doesn't work as hard, so it last a lot longer.
I think the whole deal, springs, hangers, and bolts, cost about $250. And it took me 1 hour to change both.
Cheap insurance.

[Cooch]

Leaf springs are as easy ta change, as a spare tire, pending yer axel is stall attached to the frame! That's where the TDS', are gonna save ya!

[L.Hackney]

Ok - I have read all of the threads about spring failure, and never thought it would happen to me, well Sunday it did, right side spring snapped and resulted in severe trauma to the right side of my trailer, now I get to wait on the insurance company to see what they will cover. Fortunatly this happened before I was going very fast, or it could have been much worse. My question is how many of you have EZ Loader trailers that have had spring failures after they replaced the mono leaf spring to the multi leaf spring? When all is said and done looks like the safety devices will be installed on my trailer!

Just wondering, how old was your trailer ? Iv'e wondered about this happening to me but my boat and trailer are only Three years old. Should I be concerned already ?

[Rmarxmiller]

The trailer is a 2001 EZ Loader Custom, that came with a 2001 Champion 196, I spoke with the warranty guy at EZ Loader because they had a spring recall on my trailer replacing a single leaf with a three leaf, and he said they have not had many complaints about the new heavy springs failing, but I know it is more common than he is likely to admit. That is why I was interested to hear about anyone who has had the three leaf springs fail. Yes Cooch - I plan on replacing the entire suspension with a quality domestically made products, not the cheap import stuff that most small trailer manufacturers are using, fortunatly I have expirience with this as I am the buyer for a large trailer manufacturer, and buy millions of dollars in suspensions each year, so I plan on having some of my suspension vendors as well as our engineering department look at the spring to determin why it failed.
Dave, it would be great to have an extra spring, but you also need a floor jack, and jack stands ( for safety ) as the typical car jack that comes with your tow vehicle does not jack the boat up high enough to make the repairs!! This was an eye opening expirience, and everyone should be ready for it, again I was lucky it did not happen at full speed!

[mark poulson]

Would it do any good to put grease or some type of lubricant between the leaves periodically to cut down on the friction/heat buildup while driving, or is the failure more of a paper clip-type repetitive bending problem?

[rich]

The RMD trailer saver is pure insurance.Carrying a set of springs will do you no good when your spring breaks at 55 mph and your axle rips through your fender.You stand to lose a tire and your boat.

[MIKE TREMONT]

I have the same year/make trailer. One of the sigle leafs failed when I crawled over the tracks in Lincoln!
The replacements seem to be doing fine. I would be interested if you find some domestic replacements. My trailer is a dual set up, so four leafs shouldn't be to bad.
Although I think the RMD device is a great idea and form of insurance, but I still can't justify the cost, that's what I my insurance premiums for.

[Cooch]

asked myself the same thing, "Can I justify the cost?" Here's what I deducted.

Insurance is all about gambling. If ya don't buy it, yer gambling yer never gonna need it. You buy it, with the security that if you gambled right, you'll be able to cover the costs of getting what ever it is ya insured repaired or replaced. But what doesn't come into consideration here, and which swayed me to install the RMDs, if I have a catastrofic failure, and my trailer and/or boat are damaged and out of commission fer 2-8 months, my fishing is gonna suffer. And even though I do have my boat and trailer insured, I've also got a $500 deductable, which I will be out anyhow if I have a severe incident, down time not withstanding.

So in my mind, with the RMD's installed, I have the comfort in knowing, my boat and trailer are gonna be protected when I have a leafspring failure, I'm on the water right away, no down time. AND, at a cost of $600, it's really only a $100 investment to insure I'm back on the water right away, since I won't be giving away any deductable.

We all have a choice, and which ever choice we make, we'll have to live with it. Hopefully, nobody ever has a leaf spring break, then there's really no need at all. I chose to install them, good luck with your gambles.

[upriverLMB]

Bert
Did you say you were having your engineering department look into it?

You would be better served installing a new set of springs every three years (for your single axle trailer) giving you 18 years of worry free service for under $600

[russell w]

I have a set of TSD's on my trailer. I love the peace of mind that it gives me. I broke a leaf spring last year on the way to berryessa, bad news with no where to pull off the road. RMD's customer service is top notch, George really knows what he is talking about and he is a bass fisherman as well. RMD has a happy customer for life

[rmd]

Yes you should be concern about your leaf spring because we have leaf springs that are two week old and that have broken,you can call olandi trailers in san jose and ask them how many springs are breaking

[Rmarxmiller]

LMB - That is funny isn't it!!

[rmd]

Hey Robert
what was the outcome your insurance for your trailer, did they decide to total it? Tell me again what the damage was? I believe you stated that the damage was extensive. You also stated that you had pictures, can you forward them to me?
Thank you,
George @ RMD