walking beam

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Hi, I'd like to build a small trailer for my ATV for woods use. I have some ideas about the body, but I'm a bit stumped about the walking beam assembly. I can't find any locally to steal ideas from and the commericial sites on the web seem to hide the details well. Any direction or experiences in this area would be a great help, also any source for spidles for ATV type wheels. Canadian source would be  super. Is that demanding enough? Cheers K.
Reply:http://www.championtrailers.com/UTIL...AILER_KITS.HTMThey arent plans, but they give you all the details you need to get started.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Keltic I am in Canada also and find Princess Auto  the best source for trailer parts and spindles real reasonable also.Might check the web underhttp://www.princessauto.comNobody moves nobody gets hurt(safety first)millematic passportmiller 375 plasmacutter
Reply:walking beam?
Reply:I get the impression that walking beam ~= Cross member.  BTW, on the link I put in above...you will have to scroll down to see the pictures/drawings.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Here's the itty bitty bit I know about wlking beam suspensions/trailers.A walking beam has both spindles/wheels/tires on one side connected together via some large beam between them or semi triangular plate or some such item connection. There may or may not be an axle from a spindle on one side the the spindle on the other depending on load requirements.  These two on one side that are connected together will then swivel up and downward on a single pivot point. In the simplest form, like a barn yard trailer there could be no spring type cushioning just these pivot points on each side with two tires each side. From there, there are numerous types of cushion/absorbing suspension systems from simple coils front and rear of the swivel point to torsion bars to leaf springs to air shock and many combinations of. Here's a very ruff descrition of some of the heavy heavy truck/trailer types.http://www.hendrickson-intl.com/pdfs...45745_104d.pdf
Reply:oooooh!  I always heard those called "load levelers."  I guess there are actually lots of variants on that theme.  That's really good info there Sandy.  I'm gonna put that one in my file for future reference.  I have never seen some of the designs shown in that pdf.  I never actually made these parts...I just bought them from the tractor supply company cause they are pretty cheap or used parts from another trailer for suspensions.Last edited by smithboy; 02-01-2006 at 12:03 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:ahhhhhhh.... got tya.  Thinking back to dually trailers I can picture the walking beam in my head now.  Not sure others that responded here know what one was either. http://ridewellcorp.com/trailer204206300newssi.shtm
Reply:oooooh! I always heard those called "load levelers." I guess there are actually lots of variants on that theme.
Reply:Sway reduction, possibly...I think the main benefit would be to keep SOME weight on each tire, so if you are on uneven terrain, the entire load doesnt get shifted to a single tire or axle.  On a traditional leaf spring suspension, you are much more likely to see a wheel rise off the ground and provide no support for the load at all.  I put these on all trailers that might carry close to the rated axle weight.  If you have 2 3500 lb axles on a trailer carrying 6000 lbs, having one axle rise off the ground would quickly shift all 6000 lbs to the remaining axle...not a good practice even in a limited situation.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I should have said that I put load levelers on all multi-axle trailers that may carry close to the rated axle weight.  After reading back over my post, I realized it didnt say what I meant.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Princess Auto is the best place for this sort of thing.  They will have everything you need, for a real good price.  If you "GOOGLE" atv accesorries, you will see many pictures, for reference.Good luck
Reply:I am pretty sure this is what he means by a walking beam suspention:I didnt add shocks yet... the only real downfall to this design is that there is alot of stress at the main hinge bushingin all reality I would get a pair of torsion stub axles and be done with italso a source of trailer parts is www.rigidhitch.com I get most of my parts from them @ good prices
Reply:Thanks for all your responses, very helpful, that last one from BigNate hits the nail on the head. The central pivot point is the tricky bit, some sort of greasable bushing would be best. The problem is getting it strong enough, I guess the thing is to dive in and figure it out as I go along! Thanks again!