How to Install Radflo Remote Reservoir Shocks on a Black Series HQ

If your Black Series HQ camper bottoms out on washboard roads or fades after a long downhill stretch of corrugations, your factory shocks are working harder than they should. Upgrading to Radflo remote reservoir shocks gives your trailer more oil volume, better heat dissipation, and adjustable damping that keeps the ride controlled when the going gets rough. The job is well within reach for a competent DIY owner with basic hand tools and a safe way to lift the trailer. This guide walks through the full process, from prep to the first test tow.

Why Remote Reservoir Shocks Make Sense on an Off-Road Trailer

A standard shock absorber stores all its oil and nitrogen charge inside a single body. On sustained rough roads, that oil heats up fast, thins out, and the shock loses its ability to control the spring. That is shock fade, and it shows up as a bouncy, unpredictable trailer that wanders behind your tow vehicle.

Radflo remote reservoir shocks move the nitrogen charge and a large volume of extra oil into a separate canister connected by a braided hose. More oil means more thermal mass, so the shock runs cooler and stays consistent over hours of corrugations. The remote reservoir also makes room for a compression adjuster, letting you dial the damping firmer for heavy loads or softer for a plush ride. For a heavy off-road camper like the Black Series HQ range, that extra capacity is exactly what keeps the suspension composed on the trails these trailers are built for. If you are weighing the upgrade, our companion article on remote reservoir shocks versus standard shocks covers the trade-offs in more detail.

Tools and Parts You Will Need

Before you start, gather everything so you are not crawling out from under the trailer mid-job. You will need a set of metric sockets and combination wrenches (most Black Series hardware is metric), a torque wrench, a breaker bar for the factory bolts, penetrating oil, a wire brush, and thread locker. You will also need a way to safely support the trailer: a pair of rated jack stands plus wheel chocks at minimum, or a hydraulic lift if you have one.

On the parts side, confirm you have the correct Radflo shocks for your specific HQ model and axle configuration, all four mounting bushings and sleeves (these often come in the kit but verify), fresh mounting bolts if yours are corroded, and the reservoir clamps or brackets supplied with the shocks. Black Series trailers vary across the HQ15, HQ17, HQ19, and HQ21, so match the shock part number to your Black Series model before ordering. If anything is missing, sort it out before you lift the trailer.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Park, chock, and lift safely. Set up on firm, level ground. Chock the wheels you are not lifting, then raise one side of the trailer and support the frame on rated jack stands. Never work under a trailer held up only by a jack. Let the axle hang so the suspension is at full droop, which takes tension off the shock mounts.

2. Soak and remove the old shocks. Spray penetrating oil on the upper and lower shock bolts and give it ten minutes. Hold the bolt head with one wrench and back off the nut with another. Corroded hardware may need a breaker bar or heat. Once both bolts are out, remove the old shock and compare it side by side with the new Radflo unit to confirm the eyelet spacing and bushing sizes match.

3. Fit the bushings and mount the shock body. Press the supplied bushings and sleeves into the new shock eyelets if they are not preinstalled. Lift the Radflo shock into position, start the lower bolt by hand, then the upper. Starting both bolts by hand before tightening either one prevents cross-threading and makes alignment easy. Do not fully torque yet.

4. Mount the remote reservoir. This is the step that separates a clean install from a rattly one. Route the braided hose so it has no kinks, no sharp bends, and clears the tire at full lock and full suspension travel. Clamp the reservoir to a solid frame member, vertical or near vertical with the valve at the top, where it is protected from rock strikes and trail debris. Use the rubber-lined clamps from the kit so the canister cannot chafe against the frame.

5. Torque everything to spec and add thread locker. With the shock and reservoir mounted, apply medium-strength thread locker to the mounting bolts and torque them to the manufacturer's specification. Under-torqued shock bolts loosen on corrugations and elongate the mounts; over-torqued bolts crush the bushings. A torque wrench is not optional here.

6. Repeat on the other side and lower the trailer. Do the opposite side the same way. Lower the trailer, remove the stands, and do a final walk-around to confirm hose routing and tire clearance with the suspension loaded.

Setting Damping and Bedding In

If your Radflo shocks have compression adjusters, start in the middle of the range. Load the trailer the way you normally tow it, water tanks and gear included, since a loaded HQ behaves very differently from an empty one. Take a short test tow on a road you know, including some rough surface if you can find it safely. If the ride feels harsh and skittish over small bumps, back the compression off a couple of clicks. If the trailer wallows or bottoms on bigger hits, add compression. Make one change at a time and note the setting so you can repeat it.

After the first proper trip, re-check every mounting bolt with the torque wrench. New installations almost always settle slightly, and a five-minute re-torque now prevents a loose shock later. Inspect the reservoir hose for any sign of rubbing and confirm the canister clamps are still tight.

Maintenance and What to Watch For

Remote reservoir shocks are rebuildable, which is part of their value, but they still need attention. After dusty or muddy trips, wipe down the shaft and reservoir so grit does not get dragged past the seals. Check for oil weeping around the shaft seal, which signals it is time for a rebuild before performance drops off. Keep an eye on the hose fittings for seepage and the clamps for tightness. Inspect these every time you do a general off-road trailer suspension check, and the shocks will deliver consistent damping for years.

The Practical Takeaway

Installing Radflo remote reservoir shocks on a Black Series HQ is a straightforward bolt-on upgrade that pays off the first time you hit a long stretch of washboard. The keys to getting it right are working safely on rated stands, routing the reservoir hose so it cannot kink or chafe, torquing every bolt to spec with thread locker, and re-checking that hardware after your first trip. Tune the compression to how you actually load and tow the trailer, keep the shocks clean, and rebuild them when the seals start to weep. Do that, and you will have a trailer that tracks straight and stays composed long after factory shocks would have faded. Browse the full range of Radflo shocks and matching Black Series parts to get the right kit for your model.