Seeking a More Civilized Ride
Seeking a More Civilized Ride
man installing super spring system
Looking to upgrade your travel trailer or fifth wheel suspension from a system in use since the days of the Old West? Consider the plethora of aftermarket suspension upgrades that can smooth out the bumps and limit premature frame and body wear.
By Bob Livingston
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ulling a fifth wheel or travel trailer down the road is one of those “out of sight, out of mind” propositions. You’re riding in the tow vehicle, surrounded by luxury and quiet — but inside the trailer, the highway “wrecking ball” is having its way, overcoming a suspension that’s reminiscent of covered wagons. The overwhelming number of towables today are suspended by equipment that does little to control the bouncing and hammering shelled out by roads that have seen better days.

Leaf springs alone cannot prevent stored items from being disheveled or, worse, ejected from their cabinets. Frame damage over time is a constant fear, and the entire floor, wall and roof structure can be compromised by undulating pavement, potholes and damaged sections of the roadways.

Fortunately, the aftermarket (and some OEM components) can change the paradigm when it comes to suspension support and provide a smoother ride for trailers. You can opt for simple add-on springs and shocks or work your way up to a full-blown independent suspension. In just about all cases, any added component to control ride quality and/or handling will improve the ride and longevity of the structure, appliances and systems. Following are the various products that can be opted for in the aftermarket.

closeup of underpinnings being replaced
The MORryde IS replaces most of your trailer’s underpinnings and must be installed by a certified facility.
Let it Slip
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oadmaster, a company specializing in tow bar kits and suspension improvers for tow vehicles and motorhomes, also offers the Comfort Ride Slipper Springs (roadmasterinc.com) that makes short work out of rough roads. The concept has been around the trucking industry for a long time and Roadmaster’s refined components for travel trailers and fifth wheels are relatively easy to install and transform leaf springs into real suspension support. I’ve been running the Comfort Ride Slipper Springs on my fifth wheel for more than 62,000 miles and can attest to the ride improvement. Simply put, rarely will anything eject itself from compartments after a hard day on broken-down roads. With stock springs, the bumps and vibrations are transmitted to the frame and body as the tires respond to rough roads. Movement of the springs is confined to that of the equalizer as the energy is telegraphed between the front and rear axles. The Comfort Ride system allows the springs to move back and forth in response to road conditions without transferring the energy to the trailer, resulting in a much smoother ride.

Roadmaster Comfort Ride Slipper Springs Kit
Roadmaster Comfort Ride Slipper Springs Kit
Roadmaster Comfort Ride Gas Shock Absorber Kit
Roadmaster Comfort Ride Gas Shock Absorber Kit
The installation of the Comfort Ride Slipper Springs components requires that the original springs and equalizers are removed to make way for the new parts. A slipper spring box is installed where the equalizer once lived and new springs are mounted to the frame hangers and axles and fed into this box where the ends move on rollers. Kits are available for 5,000-, 7,000- and 8,000-pound tandem axles and there’s an add-on kit for a third axle for heavier fifth wheels. The slipper spring kits retail for $1,150 and $975 for the third axle slipper spring kit.

While the slipper springs provide a significant reduction in road vibrations, the addition of the company’s gas shocks ($750) will reduce the destructive forces that lead to premature damage even more dramatically. The shock mounts directly to the slipper spring box and axles, making the operation fast and easy. Kits for installation without the slipper springs are also available. Plus, these shocks are mounted in a more vertical position to provide better suspension rebound for maximum road absorption.

MORryde IS
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he grandaddy in this arena is the MORryde IS independent suspension (morryde.com). This system completely replaces the standard solid-axle and leaf-spring configuration with independently mounted rubber springs in shear. The rubber springs are attached to the metal axles at each wheel and control the ride independently, which means that each wheel will move in response to road conditions, smoothing out the ride dramatically.

Normally, solid axles tied to leaf springs provide maybe 2 inches of movement in concert to road conditions. If the road surface requires more movement, the shock is transmitted to the frame and trailer structure. Over time this hammering effect can damage components and, at the very least, toss around stuff inside the trailer with impunity. The MORryde IS system has up to 5 1/2 inches of travel, which is more than enough to control bad bumps in the highway, speeds bumps and other uneven surfaces such as when traveling off-grid to a primitive campsite.

MORryde CRE3000 Equalizer
AllTrek4000 Equalizer
MORryde CRE3000 Equalizer and AllTrek4000 Equalizer
MORryde X-Factor Crossmember
view of MORryde X-Factor Crossmember installed
MORryde X-Factor Crossmember
Installation requires that the entire stock suspension be removed and the IS components attached to the chassis. This is not a job for Saturday mechanics; MORryde and a few certified shops must install this system in their facilities. Figure on two to three days for the installation; cost for the tandem-axle trailer with 7,000 or 8,000-pound-rated axles is $5,300 and $6,100, respectively. While you’re at it, you can save some money by having the optional disc brakes installed at the same time. That will raise the prices to $8,000 and $8,900, respectively. Triple-axle conversions are also available.
MORryde IS Tandem-Axle Conversion with Disc Brake Option
MORryde IS Tandem-Axle Conversion with Disc Brake Option
If the independent suspension transformation is not in your budget, MORryde has a few other solutions to help control the ride. Its replacement equalizers — the part in the middle that suspends the leaf springs — offer noticeable improvement in ride and handling by using rubber to cushion the movement of the axles/springs when negotiating rough roads.

The CRE3000 is commonly used by trailer- and fifth-wheel manufacturers as a benefit to improve ride and control, and can easily be retrofitted by owners or repair shops. Like the stock equalizer, which distributes the movement between the wheels and axles, the CRE3000 has a travel slot that allows for 3 inches of suspension travel and will smooth out the bumps/road shock via the rubber cushion versus the metal-to-metal movement of the stock equalizers. Owners will benefit from a smoother ride and a more stout equalizer that will outlast the stock version dramatically. The company’s Heavy-Duty Shackle Kit ($131.99-$195.99, depending on number axles) is designed to eliminate elongated holes from the bolt friction — which can lead to suspension failure.

Additional suspension travel can be realized with the installation of the AllTrek 4000 equalizer replacement kit. This equalizer also provides better weight distribution of the springs/axles while adding another inch of travel. It’s the same concept as the CRE3000, but with 40% more rubber to control.

A newer product from MORryde, the X-Factor Crossmember provides lateral support between the equalizer frame hangers, which is said to reduce suspension stress up to 94%. It’s a simple bolt-on job requiring no drilling and when installed the additional support helps with travel over rough roads and tight cornering. The steel crossmember is steel and is adjustable; it sells for $164.99.

Riding on Air
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ippert (lippert.com), a primary supplier of chassis to the towable segment of the industry, offers an air-ride suspension system under the Center Point banner that can be installed by the do-it-yourselfer. The kit is designed for tandem or triple axles rated up to 8,000 pounds and includes all the necessary components and installation hardware.

Lippert Center Point Air-Suspension System
Lippert Center Point Air-Suspension System
Lippert Road Armor Equalizer
Lippert Road Armor Equalizer
Dual air bags on each side absorb the shock between the axles as the trailer negotiates rough roads. The heavy-duty component is installed where the old equalizer was mounted and the springs are attached to strong steel shackles that have a Zerk fitting for adding grease. Air lines are routed to provide a central air-bag fill station (usually mounted in a storage compartment) that has a gauge to monitor air pressure. Tandem kits sell retail for $2,115.95; triple-axle kits are $4,098.95.
Lippert Gas Shock Absorber Kit
Lippert Gas Shock Absorber Kit
For those looking to reduce road shock at a lower price point, Lippert offers two affordable alternative products that replace standard equalizers. The Road Armor Shock Absorbing Trailer Equalizer is rated for axles rated from 3,500 to 8,000 pounds and retails for $419, while the Equa-Flex Rubberized Equalizer is designed for axles from 4,000-6,000 pounds and has a $329.95 retail price. Both of these components replace the stock equalizer and are easy for DIYers to install with common hand tools.

Rubber is used to absorb road shock, minimizing fore-and-aft movement that can lead to chucking. Both products have bronze bushings and the Road Armor version has Zerk fittings for adding grease. The Road Armor kit is more robust, offering additional travel while transferring shock and vibrations to the rubber shock absorbers.

Lippert also offers a shock absorber kit for trailers with 2 3/8 or 3-inch axle tubes that retails for $226.95 or $270.95 respectively. These kits, which include gas shock absorbers, come with all the hardware and fasteners necessary for self-installation.
More Rubber Equalizer Action
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exter (dexteraxle.com) is also a household name in the trailer axle, brake and suspension arena and it offers its version of a more stout, rubberized equalizer, the E-Z Flex. The Dexter equalizer is easy to install in place of the standard parts and uses a rubber insert to damp road shock. While on the road, the E-Z Flex equalizer pivots and compresses to isolate the frame and trailer body.

Dexter Axle Heavy-Duty Shackle Kit
Dexter Axle Heavy-Duty Shackle Kit
Dexter Axle E-Z Flex Equalizer
Dexter Axle E-Z Flex Equalizer
The E-Z Flex is said to provide an 80% reduction in damaging forces on the chassis over stock equalizers and comes with a five-year warranty. It’s available for tandem- or triple-axle configurations with 33- and 35-inch spacing. When combined with the company’s heavy-duty shackle links, owners can expect an improved ride, which relates to less strain on the chassis and body components.

These Heavy-Duty Shackle Kits are stout, durable and protect the shackles from elongating, which will lead to complete failure. They are light years stronger than stock and feature ½-inch links and bronze bushings. Greaseable bolts extend life dramatically. Figure on spending around $400 for the tandem E-Z Flex kit and $100 for each Heavy-Duty Shackle Kit for each side.

A Different Approach
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f you’re looking for a simple way to decrease G-force and help with sway, highway hop while isolating vibrations, SuperSprings (superspringsinternational.com) has a solution with its Trailer SumoSprings. The company has devised a system that’s super simple to install, using brackets and micro-cellular polyurethane springs that is said to reduce G-forces an average of 68%.

SuperSprings Trailer SumoSprings Over Axle Kit
SuperSprings Trailer SumoSprings Over Axle Kit
SuperSprings Trailer SumoSprings Under Axle Kit
SuperSprings Trailer SumoSprings Under Axle Kit
The polyurethane springs are designed to mount between the leaf springs and trailer frame and, once on, there’s no further maintenance. Kits are available for axles rated from 3,000 to 8,000 pounds and are available in spring-under and spring-over configurations. These springs are progressive and provide constant load support while reducing vertical movement between the springs and frame. They are easy to install with hand tools and the job can be accomplished by DIYers. The retail price of the 3,000-5,000-pound-rated springs (blue in color) is $267.99; the heavier springs (black) go for $294.99. Trailer SumoSprings are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Running Silently
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lesser-known product from Timbren (www.timbren.com), a company that markets unique rubber springs for vehicles, the Silent-Ride Trailer Suspension replaces the leaf springs and equalizer with a walking beam system. The axles ride on a single pivot point as the system fully equalizes the load between the wheels/axles at all times.

man using Timbren Silent Ride Conversion
Timbren Silent Ride Conversion
Timbren Silent Ride Conversion
Timbren uses Aeon springs, which are made of pure natural rubber and are designed to last a very long time with no deterioration. These rubber springs provide a progressive rate of support; as more weight is applied, they work even harder to level the stance while traveling over rough roads. The result is less road shock and a smoother ride — and the rubber springs have been tested to withstand hot and cold weather extremes. Operation is quiet and there’s zero maintenance.

Although the entire package looks ominous (since it requires removing all the factory suspension components), it can actually be installed by DIYers, according to the company. The Silent-Ride is available for single axles rated to 3,500 pounds and tandem trailers with up to 7,000-pound axle ratings. The company is based in Canada; retail price for the SR14K tandem kit, for example, is $2,164 (U.S. funds).