Anyone upgrade their springs from 7k to 8k

**lukskywalker** · 03-24-2024, 10:19 AM

Hello all,
I am noticing one side of my springs starting to go flat after 2 years which has 7k springs. Has anyone upgraded to 8k springs or is this not advisable? Just trying to get a idea on what people have done.

**Gronk1** · 03-24-2024, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by lukskywalker

Hello all,
I am noticing one side of my springs starting to go flat after 2 years which has 7k springs. Has anyone upgraded to 8k springs or is this not advisable? Just trying to get a idea on what people have done.

Yes. Going from 3500 to 4000 lb. springs seems to be the norm. I'll go that way when my springs go flat...surprised mine haven't gone that way yet.
Some folks go to E-Trailer, some full on custom built, some to a truck/trailer shop.
There are quite a few posts here on the subject.

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-24-2024, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by lukskywalker

Hello all,
I am noticing one side of my springs starting to go flat after 2 years which has 7k springs. Has anyone upgraded to 8k springs or is this not advisable? Just trying to get a idea on what people have done.

Just to clarify: you are talking about going from 3,500 lb. rated springs to 4,000 lb. rated springs, right? Or also changing to 8,000 lb. rated axles?

**Second Chance** · 03-24-2024, 11:19 AM

Thread moved to Axles, Brakes and Suspension.

Rob

**lukskywalker** · 03-24-2024, 12:20 PM

Neg, I have a Solitude 380FL with 7k axles and it has 6 springs which are (7k springs). What I am asking is "has anyone upgraded to a 7spring (8k) spring when they replaced or upgraded there springs. Hopefully this makes sense.

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-24-2024, 01:08 PM

I went from 3,500 lb. springs to 4,000 lb. springs on our Momentum. It's clearer when you refer to the rating of the individual springs, i.e. 3,500 lb., 4,000 lb., etc. rather than by axle weight rating. A 7,000 lb. rated axle will generally have two 3,500 lb. rated springs. That's what mine had, which I replaced when they were flat, with two, or four for both axles, 4,000 lb. springs. I've been very happy with the change, although, truth be told, I'm not sure I could really tell the difference.

But it does give me the warm fuzzies.

**Riverbug** · 03-24-2024, 05:05 PM

Mine has two 3500# axles. I just upgraded to 5000# springs (which are 2500# each). When you look them up on eTrailer the description lists them as 5000# but the detailed description shows they are 2500# each. Thus the confusion when people talk about spring ratings. Probably helps to state the axle rating and individual spring rating to avoid confusion. All this to say that as long as you can get a similar length spring, shouldn't be a problem to move up a step or two in the ratings.

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-24-2024, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Riverbug

Mine has two 3500# axles. I just upgraded to 5000# springs (which are 2500# each). When you look them up on eTrailer the description lists them as 5000# but the detailed description shows they are 2500# each. Thus the confusion when people talk about spring ratings. Probably helps to state the axle rating and individual spring rating to avoid confusion. All this to say that as long as you can get a similar length spring, shouldn't be a problem to move up a step or two in the ratings.

Completely agree, sometimes exact descriptions can save one from making an egregious error.

**kb0zke** · 03-24-2024, 06:12 PM

I got out the build sheet for our trailer and looked up the springs. Copied down the number and went to the Dexter site. Searched for that part number and got nothing. We have 5200 pound axles, so I'm guessing that the springs are probably 2500 pounds each. Since they are going flat I'm thinking that I ought to replace them with at least 3000 pounds each. That means that I'll be going from 5000 pounds per axle to 6000 pounds per axle. IF (and that may be a big IF) my guess is correct, the springs are currently the weak point in the suspension. The change I'm considering would make the axle the weaker point.

Any thoughts?

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-24-2024, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by kb0zke

I got out the build sheet for our trailer and looked up the springs. Copied down the number and went to the Dexter site. Searched for that part number and got nothing. We have 5200 pound axles, so I'm guessing that the springs are probably 2500 pounds each. Since they are going flat I'm thinking that I ought to replace them with at least 3000 pounds each. That means that I'll be going from 5000 pounds per axle to 6000 pounds per axle. IF (and that may be a big IF) my guess is correct, the springs are currently the weak point in the suspension. The change I'm considering would make the axle the weaker point.

Any thoughts?

Certainly sounds good to me. That was the reason I went from 3,500 lb. springs to 4,000 lb. springs: to keep them from flattening out so quickly. But, in all actuality, my 7,000 lb. of combined spring carrying capacity was insufficient for the amount of weight I'm carrying: 14,400 lbs. Hence the increase to 8,000 lb. combined spring capacity. Yeah, the axle is still 7,000 lb. capacity, but ya can't have everything.

As far as the springs being the weak point, that is a matter of some debate. Actual spring breakage is fairly rare, certainly not unheard of, but spring hanger breakage seems to be occurring more often.