o one enjoys the jolting, jarring and bouncing that comes with trailer towing — but most of us have accepted it as part of the lifestyle and just deal with it.
Unlike the tow vehicle, which has a carefully engineered suspension system, most trailers have little more than leaf springs to smooth out the uneven terrain, a “technology” that actually dates back to horse-drawn carriages. The thinking behind this basic set-up is that, since no one rides in the trailer, a suspension system isn’t really necessary — but poor ride quality actually causes bigger problems for trailer owners than just a bumpy ride.
For example, repeated contact with potholes and bumps transmits forces to the structure that, over time, can loosen fasteners and seams. All that bouncing also reduces contact with the road surface, which can affect handling and braking performance. And finally, anyone who has ever towed for hundreds of miles has gotten used to picking their belongings up off the floor. A comprehensive suspension system can help solve all of these problems — and make towing more enjoyable as well.
Roadmaster Inc. of Vancouver, Wash., is well-known for its dinghy towing products — which range from baseplates and tow bars to auxiliary braking systems and more — but a few years ago the company introduced its Comfort Ride slipper spring and shock absorber kits for tandem-axle trailers, which can be purchased together or separately. The slipper spring kit is engineered to reduce bucking and bouncing by replacing the equalizer (that triangle-shaped component that the leaf springs connect to between the wheels) with a steel box structure that bolts to the equalizer bracket and to the trailer’s frame. The spring box incorporates rollers and wear plates, which are designed to accommodate the specially designed leaf springs in the kit.
At one end, the springs have a traditional “eye” that bolts to the spring hangers — but the ends that locate inside the spring box have open, curved ends. The curved ends locate over the rollers inside the box, while wear plates locate above these ends keep them properly positioned. As the spring compresses (flattens), the curved ends ride on the roller assemblies, which prevents them from transmitting forces to the chassis and to the adjacent leaf spring/axle. To a large extent, this allows each axle/spring assembly to operate independently of one another, instead of transmitting force to each other through the spring equalizer.
We were interested in experiencing the benefits the Comfort Ride system had to offer, so we visited Roadmaster and followed along as a complete system (slipper springs and shocks) was installed on a 2021 Grand Design travel trailer. But first, we drove the truck and trailer on a 5-mile loop that included large speed bumps and a few sections of rutted road in an industrial area. The results were as anticipated; the trailer bounced, bucked and swayed slightly over the large bumps and transmitted harsh vibration to the truck when crossing pockmarked pavement.
After the installation, the difference was dramatic: The same bumps and rough road were barely noticeable and the trailer felt more stable and connected to the road. Several weeks later, the owner of the trailer commented on another benefit that we hadn’t thought of: The trailer, he said, was now far more stable when encountering side winds and when being passed by trucks. With the smoother spring operation and shocks to damp side-to-side movement, the trailer chassis was better able to cope with side loads created by the wind, which made it easier to handle.
Installation for the complete kit took approximately three hours for a professional tech with air tools, but we estimate that a competent DIYer with hand tools could complete the same job in about twice that time, or 6-8 hours. That’s a chunk of time, we know, not to mention a significant investment: MSRP for the slipper springs kit is $1,014, while the shock kit will set you back $572. If you use your trailer for more than the occasional weekend outing, however, it’s tough to put a pricetag on the peace of mind that comes from better handling — and we haven’t touched on the potential savings from now-unbroken connections, components and kitchen crockery.
