The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Pickup box trailer ride height

I just made a trailer using some spare AD stuff I had around. The frame is a '54, the box is from a '55 1st and the axle came from a '53 GMC but is a later GM pickup 12 bolt.

All three of the donor trucks sat at about the same stock height. I feel like the trailer sits four or five inches higher compared to a stock pickup. Of course I don't have a stock pickup around here to compare it to...

Has anyone else made a trailer using this kind of stuff and had similar issues? Have a solution?

I mostly built this because I had the parts and knew it would be useful, plus I needed some practice welding. Now that its done I'm wishing I liked it better. I may have to buy some steel and make a frame that sits where I want the trailer to ride.

Most of the vehicles weight is gone, it's going to sit higher,
Scott

Steve,

There must be an obvious reason you didn't mention sticking lowering blocks in to drop the height of the box...I must not know what the reason is.

Stuart

Fill it full of rocks :whistle:

That's what I figured, but I don't want it to be the answer. I'm hoping for one I like better.

I suppose I can pull some leafs out, or shorten the spring mounts. I don't really want to use lowering blocks because I'd like to keep some ground clearance--even as I lower the trailer...

I am assuming from your comment about lowering blocks that the springs are under the axle?

How about putting a front axle with the steering disabled under it? That would lower it and retain the suspension travel.

This is a 1/2-ton AD, the springs are under the axle.

I though about using a front axle but mounting it became more complicated than I wanted to get into. This was supposed to be a one day project that ended up taking two and a half. Using a front axle likely would have turned it into a couple weeks...

Using lowering blocks to get it to the stock ride height would still give you stock suspension travel IMO. You now have much more than stock suspension travel, so it should be no problem. Removing springs to bring the height down would give you less weight capacity.

Its not suspension travel I'm concerned about. Its getting the springs that much closer to the ground. I plan to use this trailer in some rough territory where it might matter.

May have to remove the factory springs and install flatter trailer springs, like from a mobile home trailer. I bought a complete axle with springs and wheels and tires for $65.00.
It's worth a look,
Scott

The springs hanging and extra 3 inches below the axle shouldn't affect your ground clearance all that much. You're not going to go rock-crawling with it, are you? If you are, you need to rethink and keep the trailer tall.
This may sound goofy, but shorter tires will bring it down a little bit.
I'd buy some three-inch lowering blocks and bolt those in. Taking leaves out is not the answer. You're going to end up walking in the bed, and if you're springs are tired or soft, it's like walking in a canoe. I did the same thing with a '62 Ford box last year. Junk yard springs made it stable for walking in, and I mounted the housing up on top of the leaf springs (between the springs and the frame). It might sit a little high for my taste...but I'm not taking it to car shows.

-Brad