Air Ride Pin Box

[RCone]

Is it worth it? Bout $800, made by Trailair. I tow heavy, 11,500K 5ver MT, plus another 2K payload. This is the 3rd 5ver I have owned and the nicest, and I would like to keep it that way (364Q quad slide Everest). I am tired of always shaking everything around in it.

 

[yogibear]

If you really want your 5er to ride nice, have the Kelderman Air Ride installed on the trl. I tow sometimes for Haddads out of Pittsburgh Pa. , and they have about 40 of their trls. with the KAR on them, and they pull great, they even make your trk. ride better. They claim their trls. are lasting 3 to 4 times longer because of the smoother ride. They lease trls. to movie sets, and get towed all over the country, and overseas. I have no idea what this costs, but give Kelderman a call, don't cost anything to find out. 1-800-334-6150.



I'm not affiliated with Kelderman in any way!!



Larry

 

[RustyJC]

Our new 5ver (see signature) has the Mor-Ryde suspension. I've noticed more improvement in the ride inside the trailer (nothing shifts or moves) as well as inside the truck (typical 5ver pitching and bucking are almost gone) with this new 5ver than any of our previous 5vers exhibited.



Rusty

 

[BPINE]

I have the Trailair on my rig and did noitce a diffeance and I do have air ride on the trailer allready, I think it is well worth it but so is the air ride.

 

[RCone]

Thanks all. Actually Blair, I did do a search after the fact (I know, I should've done it prior to the posting) and read with interest your questions. I am really quite concerned with the additional problem of hooking up at nite or whatever. With my rig being as long as it is, sometimes I get into really quite tight situations and have to come at it in angles etc.



I did cancel my order with Camping World this date and not wanting to be penny-wise and pound-foolish now am getting information on the Kelderman Air Ride for the 5ver itself. I guess I should have explored more options initially, but at this stage of the game leastways I am out no dollars yet. I called Kelderman and actually their unit isn't that much more expensive. However, I was told by their chief installer that a first-time install could be expected to take in the neighborhood of 8-12 hours (he can do it in 5-7). Anyhow, thanks for the responses and if others have additional thoughts, please share.



Roger

 

[Turboman]

I use a B&W Companion hitch and have been looking for a way to smooth the jerks coming from the trailer. I looked at the Trailair but I decided to modify my Companion hitch with an airride setup, I am almost done with it, Will post some pics ASAP.

 

[ghostrider20]

I have a perspective on the Trailair most people don’t want to hear. I drive a 2004. 5 3500 long bed dually 2X4 pulling approx. 13000lb Discover America 31. 5 Quad. I have a 20. 5 Pullrite super5th hitch. I installed the Trailair pin box hitch and it created sever bucking or porpoising. Tim Kilday at Trailair worked with me and sent me a different balloon however it caused a very hard jerking action between the vehicles. Trailair told me they had no further options and requested I return the Trailair hitch. I was reimbursed for the hitch but ended up paying the shipping both directions about $100. In addition I was out several hours of labor and went through several weeks of frustration and aggravation.



I ended up installing the Firestone rite ride air bags on my truck and now have a ride like I had expected using the Trailair.

 

[RustyJC]

Just an old engineer's observation - one common factor of many of the posts on this (and other) threads has been that improvements in the trailer's suspension (whether going to air ride, Mor-Ryde, etc. ) yields as much or more improvement as trying to isolate a bouncing, surging trailer from the tow vehicle with an air ride hitch.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[zari]

Curious

Kelderman being in Iowa and all that (abt 3 hours from me... )



I checked out the web site, and it appears as if their kit is about $1,200 for my 5er. They quote $1,000 or so for installation - I presume the totel cost would then be in the $2,200 range, or am I misreading?



Also, they say something about "autoleveling"... Does that mean I can use that to level the trailer (side-to-side) when camping? Or is that 'just' a 'leveling' feature when hooked to the truck?



What are the advantages of this vs. adding same to the truck's rear suspension instead, or vs. using an 'air ride hitch'?



-zari

 

[BPINE]

Thanks all. Actually Blair, I did do a search after the fact (I know, I should've done it prior to the posting) and read with interest your questions. I am really quite concerned with the additional problem of hooking up at nite or whatever. With my rig being as long as it is, sometimes I get into really quite tight situations and have to come at it in angles etc.



I did cancel my order with Camping World this date and not wanting to be penny-wise and pound-foolish now am getting information on the Kelderman Air Ride for the 5ver itself. I guess I should have explored more options initially, but at this stage of the game leastways I am out no dollars yet. I called Kelderman and actually their unit isn't that much more expensive. However, I was told by their chief installer that a first-time install could be expected to take in the neighborhood of 8-12 hours (he can do it in 5-7). Anyhow, thanks for the responses and if others have additional thoughts, please share.



Roger

I believe trailair was going to produce an air ride for the coach as well did you ask them? I didn't have any towing problems when I got the trailair it just seemed like a good idea. I must admit I didn't pay for mine as I helped with the development but I still stand behind the fact that it does help especially when going over big bumps or overpasses.

 

[yogibear]

The Trailair helps the trk. ride more than the trl. ride. I've towed a few with it, and it helps a little, but I sure wouldn't spend the $ on one.

Zari, the auto leveler keeps the trl. the same height off the ground no matter how heavy you load it, and I'm sure it will compensate for any lean you have for wind. I have the auto leveler valves on my trk. , I adjust the height I want the trk. to set off the ground, and I can put 5 or 6K# in the back, and it will automatically air up to that setting. It helps me more than it would most RVers, because I never know what I will be towing next, a 30' or 40' TT or 5th wheel. The air compressor mounts on the trl. , and runs off the trl. batt. , as long as the batts. are kept charged, it will keep the trl. bags aired up. I have a switch in the cab so I can shut off the compressor so it doesn't come on when I start the trk. The Oasis comp. I have draws about 190 amps. , so I don't want to run it and the starter at the same time. I have a 12 ton air/hyd. jack and imp. wrench that really comes in handy when I need them.

If I can help any more, just let me know.



Larry

 

[tgrfan2]

Ghostrider20, sounds like you had the same problem my friend has with his 2003 3500. His pin wgt is 2700#and the overloads barely touch. On some roads and dips he gets a big rebound off the overloads. Love those airbags!