For horse trailer owners...and those who just feel like reading - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MikeTangas · #1 08-18-2003, 04:02 AM

Today I was doing a quick preflight on the horse trailer as I was getting ready to move it to hard ground so I could get it up on stands (new tires coming from Tirerack) when I noticed it was sitting a little funny. The tires on the rear axle were a little low on pressure so I felt that was the source of the peculiar angle.

Once I got the trailer up on stands (not an easy task for the uninitiated) I started pulling the wheels. When I got to the right rear I noticed I could almost move the whole assembly freely up and down. Thought to myself "great, now I need new bearings on the braking axle". Once I got the wheel off I found out how wrong I was.

The right rear leaf spring had broken. The main leaf broke about 6 inches from the eye, with the break conveniently hidden under the strap.

I've heard of broken springs on horse trailers before, never seen one though until today. Always assumed it was one of those things that happen to the trailers that spend plenty of time offroad. For those who don't know, horse urine is fairly caustic, causes lots of rust problems on steel trailers, but the springs are sort of protected.

Fortunately replacement springs are inexpensive on the net, only problem is that I haven't been able to locate the proper size yet. Finding the right dimensions and weight, but incorrect number of leaves. Will have to start making calls in the AM, that or just see if the spring shop about 30 miles south can replace just the broken leaf for less than the cost of new.

The springs are one of the yearly "check" items. For all you trailer owners out there if you haven't checked your springs, or had them checked, do it now. Pay attention to the way your trailer sits empty and loaded, and if it doesn't look right find out why. No sense killing yourself or your horses becasue of a broken spring.