Shock absorbers

[JohnP]

Hi All , I have a Passport 199 ml and was thinking of putting on some shock absorbers to smooth out the ride for the trailer and contents. Question: Do I need to install 4 shocks or 2 ?? It is a tandem axle trailer.

[GlasNav]

Consider a Morryde CRE suspension upgrade with new shackles and wet bolts, or the Lippert knock off of the same system. This option is a direct bolt on upgrade where shocks requires modifications as the suspension isn't configured for shocks.

[chuckster57]

If you do decide on shocks you’ll need 4 on a tandem axle trailer.

[NH_Bulldog]

With the light frame on the Passport, I would strongly discourage a suspension modification like adding shocks. The spring hangers are thin and weak and the frame is only strengthened at specific points.

We have had several hangers snap on our travels that required emergency welding to get us on our way. I had the MorRyde CRE kit with new shackles and wet bolts in my “cart” as well as X-Factor cross braces, but before I could pull the trigger, my wife said to let the next owner deal with it, and we ordered a new Cougar which comes stock with the Road Armor cushioned equalizers.

If you look into costs, the shocks are about the same cost as the replacement equalizers and don’t address the root of the problem, only mask the symptoms.

[Dipstick]

I'd think shocks would be a good idea.

[GlasNav]

If your 2018 has a lot of miles on it, by now you might be steel to steel with the suspension bolts and the springs as well as the shackle hangers. This is because the units were originally assembled with cheap plastic sleeves as bushings. Shocks are great, but when the stamped out thin suspension shackle side plates fail, the entire assembly will collapse. Address what you already have before adding more components!!!!

[cougar23]

I installed Roadmaster shocks on my 2023 Cougar 23MLE. Tandem axles require 4 shocks. I believe that shocks will help prevent shackles from breaking. If you plan on keeping the camper shocks and the wet bolt system would be a good investment.

[JRTJH]

I'm not sure if you've done any "troubleshooting" on your perception of an existing rough ride condition or if you're just "postulating upgrades for a future date", but:

If you haven't yet done a good, thorough analysis of your current trailer suspension status, I'd urge you to start there.

First, are the tires a "quality brand, properly balanced, round and not aged out?

Next, are the spring hangers, shackles spring bolts and bushings in good repair?

Third, is the suspension properly aligned, no signs of tire wear and are the bearings/hubs properly serviced and "true" ?

As Robert stated in Post #6, the factory OEM spring hangers, shackles, spring bolts and bushings are the "weakest link" in your suspension. If your trailer has "wide track suspension" (and I believe it does) then just simply backing your trailer into a campsite puts more lateral stress on the tires/axles because of the wider spacing between the axles.

Before potentially masking a problem with the current suspension, go through what's currently on the trailer and make sure it is "properly serviced, up to date and has no problems that could cause a "rough ride" before you attempt to "make the ride nicer without addressing a current cause of the problem"...

[JohnP]

Thanks for all the tips. I presently don't have any problems and service the wheels / brakes etc. every spring. I am always looking to improve / upgrade where I thought logical. My trailer tows well but was thinking about rough roads encountered at times and thought shocks would just be better in general and didn't think it would cause any grief.

[sourdough]

Your trailer has the basic equalizer between the axles - zero shock absorption - it just equalizes the jouncing between the axles and is a very weak point if worried about a smooth ride. Shocks, IMO, will just be an effort to cover up an existing weak point and give minimal improvement...maybe. The MorRyde suspension upgrade has been mentioned and is the very first thing I would do if I was worried about a rough ride in the trailer. I've owned the standard equalizers as you have, MorRyde CRE 3000, MorRyde SRE4000 and RoadArmor. The MorRydes are the best compared to any of them I've tried. When adding the MorRyde system be sure and install wet bolts as well. Cheap, easy and effective.

[rlh1957]

With two axles you would need 4 shocks.
RoadMaster has what you need.