Air ride gooseneck trailer

[Okie-Go]

Does anyone know of a gn trailer mfgr. that makes air ride trailers? I am talking true air ride like the semis. Found and talked to a dealer in Houston. (PJ)Nice setup but a bit pricey. Would like to look at some more just to keep this guy honest. I have had to turn down several loads because they request air ride trailer. I know they are pricey but don't want to overpay. Looking at a 32ft with 2 10k. This is with Quality axles, I king of like Dexter. Any ideas or help?

 

[JFought]

Call
C&s trailer world in Fort Worth tx
Pretty large lot and been around awhile

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Kelderman Air Ride They make a good system. .



This is another one. Ultimate Trailer Axle



You can retrofit any trailer with these

 

[Powder Extreme]

You get what you pay for when buying trailers. Been there, done that. Since you are hauling commercially, do you really want to take a chance buying a cheap trailer? Some manufacturers still use scotch locks for their lights. With the wires and scotch locks exposed to the weather and road grime, how many miles do you suppose it takes before that causes a problem? 1 season is all it took for my snowmobile trailer.

I have owned two PJ goosenecks, 1 was a 30' triple axle with Quality axles, didn't have any problems with it at all. My current trailer is a 34' triple axle that started out with Quality axles. The brakes didn't work worth beans, the dealer tried numerous things to get them to work, no luck. Finally PJ replaced all 3 axles with Dexters under warranty, the brakes work great now. I have the standard leaf spring suspension, I looked into air ride, but it's definitely pricey, especially for a triple axle. However, if I was running commercially using my trailer every week, I would have purchased air ride and never looked back. I would have air ride on my truck as well. I do have a Cody Cushion Air Ride hitch that makes a pretty significant difference. If you're thinking of going air ride, I highly recommend the hitch.

I just got back from a trip that was from MT to MD and back, had 9,000lbs on the trailer on the way out and 14,000lbs on the way back. After slamming and banging over the **** poor roads out east, I can ABSOLUTELY see the value in full air ride.
When I got home I had a back ache like you wouldn't believe.

I used to drive those roads all the time in a semi what was the typical full air ride (truck & trailer air ride, truck cab air ride, air ride seat, leaf spring front axle) it never beat me up even remotely close to what the pickup and gooseneck did.

Cheers!

 

[Ross]

My LQ horsetrailer is equipped with Dexter air-ride axles and I love it. When I spec'd the trailer and realized how expensive the interior was, I thought softening the ride would be a good investment, since I drive on some of the worst roads in the southwest (New Mexico roads are junk). I didn't want to destroy my oak cabinets and corian countertops.

The other day I pulled my daughter's smaller Sundowner LQ trailer with torq-flex axles. Wow! I couldn't wait to get back under my trailer. Even though her trailer is much lighter and smaller, it pulled rougher, was bouncy, and seemed to jerk my truck more.

I don't know how hard it would be for you to retro fit your trailer with the Air-Flex, but if I ever buy another large LQ trailer, it WILL have air ride axles. EDIT: My trailer was made in 2004. I looked on the Dexter website and they show an "Air-Flex". My axles are not Air-flex (a hybrid rubber torsion/air bag suspension). My axles are 100% independent air suspension. I couldn't find anything on the website that looks like my axles. I'll keep looking and try to post a link if found.

 

[JBlackwell]

I looked at a true air ride gooseneck in the past. I am a dealer for XL Specialized trailer ou of Manchester, IA. They build specialty heavy haul trailers. I ask them one time will they build a gooseneck and they said they have done it for the locals and they said they would build it on 17. 5" tires, air ride w/ leveling valve, and even can do an air lift axle when empty. Only thing is they can't compete with the major utility manufacturers' prices and are several months out on a completion date.



But it is doable

 

[Gonzo 1066]

The Kelderman setup is about $4000. But it is a very nice looking bit of manufacturing.

 

[Nyoest]

What kind of loads do they request air ride?

In a former life I worked at American freightways loading trailers. We had SEVEN hours of training on how to load a trailer. They had video of the cargo while going down the road You would be amazed at how rough/much stuff moves around in the back of those box trailers.

 

[Okie-Go]

One thing is the big turbines and electrical unit control units for some of the refinerys and electric sub-stations. Had to turn a load down the other day, it was a jet engine.