Torsion Bar Suspension or Leaf Spring?

[CalifCal]

Looking at a new Car Hauler found one I liked a 20 Foot Carson Racer Deluxe. It has 2 5200LB torsion bars. I have no experience with torsion bar suspension and I was wondering what the general consensus is....yay or nay????

[BPTS]

Most car haulers are going to have torsion bar setups, it lets it sit lower than a typical leaf spring setup.

[CecilD]

Torsion axles last longer as they do not have any metal to metal contact such as spring ends and shackles. No maintenance. Not repairable when they do go bad. Independent suspension, no equalization. Some say shocks aren't needed; I might differ. Dexter does not recommend them for triple axle trailers. Axles can serve as structural cross members when designing a trailer.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by CalifCal

. I have no experience with torsion bar suspension and I was wondering what the general consensus is....yay or nay????

Yay or yea! I have Dexter Torflex axles on my cargo trailer. Love them! I have normal springs & shackles on my other trailers including my TT. They're okay. I added shocks to my TT, and it needed them. No need for shocks on the Torflex asles.

[KanzKran]

One nice thing about torsion bar suspension with elastomeric 'rods' is that the spring rate is progressive. The more the rods get squished, the higher the effective spring rate. A lightly loaded trailer will experience softer spring rate than the same trailer loaded heavily. Like progressive leaf springs, which I haven't seen on small trailers, but are common on trucks, as are 'helper' springs.

Torsion axles are nice on boat trailers and others that travel light when unloaded.

Image from https://carlisuspension.com/product/...ng-packs-2013/

[CharlesinGA]

Only issue with torsion axles is that the trailer needs to be LEVEL, not close, but really level. If it is not the "lower" axle will be carrying more load. Thus tires wear more, blow more, etc. With leaf springs, sight nose up or down is compensated for by the equalizer beam between the front and rear springs.

I given a choice, would prefer torsion axles or some sort of independent suspension, but it requires attention to details.

Charles

[JollyCamper]

I would definitely go with the torsion setup on a car hauler! If you are actually hauling cars with it, you win in every way. It has a lower ride height, it pulls much nicer when empty, and less of your trailer capacity is ate up with spring/hanger/axle weight. But you do need to consider loading a little more than with traditional trailer suspension.