2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Air ride seats

[bnelson]

Anyone out there with success installing air ride seats in a BR 3500 standard cab? I know I'll need an air compressor, etc. , I just need to know what fits thats out there. I lived in an 18-wheeler for 16 years; I know how good a nice air ride seat feels.



Thanks.

 

[JLinder]

I think I saw an ad in a 4x4 magazine once that showed some air-ride bucket seats with a smaller base to fit in pickups and what not. You might try a search on the internet.

 

[geusterman]

Now THAT would be a concept that might be an alternative to a Kelderman or whatever. I believe the big truck shop near my home may have just the thing it its show room. I will try to get by today. If they reclined as well--well, that would be perfect. You need that air for your lockers anyway! And your Rancho's and... ... George

 

[Dave Fleming]

this might be a start.



http://www.comfortride.com/products.html

 

[geusterman]

One of the issues is the height of the air seat is too tall for pickemups. However, the big truck shop I just came from suggested a "hand-pumped" seat from National Seating (which has big truck ones too) and the other names are Seats, Inc. and Knoedler Seats. I am going to search these myself. George

 

[JyRO]

been there...

I was a design engineer for National Seating. They did have a hand pump seat for those trucks without an air system. It worked real well. I know the guy (retired) that designed the hand pump. Sure the design was not rocket science, but the guy is a genius. Still talk to him from time to time.



But, I don't recall there being any base that would fit into a pick-up cab without there being an up and down travel issue. Unless you like your head whomping the headliner. The shortest seat/base that I recall National having was to fit the car hauling trucks that had shorter roofs so that they could haul a car above it. Even those had issues with head clearance.



- JyRO

 

[geusterman]

This situation may be an opportunity for the seat manufacturers to come up with some air ride buckets for our pickups or even a replacement base with suspension. George

 

[T-Ricky]

I have air ride seats in my 3500 reg cab. I bought the unit from my local Peterbuilt dealer. They came from Seats inc. up in WI. The air ride portion is designed for short floor to seat height. I can't find the part number yet, but I know that reciept is here somewhere. The base is designed for a flat floor, like an FL70 medium duty, so the install requires welding a mounting bracket that can be bolted to the floor. Then the air ride unit is bolted to this. I bought seats at the same time. These are just like you had in the 18 wheeler. They don't flip forward so getting behind the seat is a little more difficult. I just slide them forward. The center console is not as good for resting your arm on since you are moving and it's not. The real problem is getting the seat belts to function well. If you did not want a shoulder harness it would be slice of pie. I may take the center console out and build a nice storage and ham radio area in it's place. Then I'm going to want to buy new seat backs with arm rest. Anyway it works and smooths out the jolts. I already had air available from the air ride suspension and exhaust brake. This is to long.

Rick T.

 

[geusterman]

Was not too long for me Rick-T. Great thought on counsel not moving while you do. Been on the phone to an engineer with Nationwide Seating who works a branch of it called KAB seats. They have a module that works under seats. They are working on pickup applications (lot of Fed red tape) and we agreed to work on this together! They are serious as our market for them is huge. Within the next thirty days I should have a Beta unit for screwing with. It will be air assist to handle the differences in weight of drivers, a tiny pump underneath. Issues like space for electric seat motors are being decided. They will have product for all three big manufactures. Seats as well. Length of travel in our short cabs is the issue and it has to be worthwhile. My question to you Rick, Was the improvement so good that you would do it again and how much have you invested? Thanks, George

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Keep this thread going!



Great info!



Matt

 

[T-Ricky]

George,



I have about $500 and 30 hrs invested. I think air ride rear suspension is a better investment of time and money. It's around $2000 do it your self installation but the truck is always level it rides almost as good no load as with 2500 lbs of fifth wheel load. I look at this truck as another hobby so I don't always figure the cost benefit ratio correctly. I would do it again just for the chance to redesign something. It keeps me out of the bars, well most of the time. Since I bought the truck as a chassis/cab I have changed the rear bed design three times in two years just for fun, I think. Good luck on your project.



Rick T.

 

[Fast 1]

In 1998 I bought a salvaged low profile air ride truck seat. I tossed the old truck seat away and mounted the low profile air ride box under my factory seat with a couple pieces of heavy angle. This went in my 97 3500 that I hotshotted in for over 300,000 miles. It was the best $60 bucks I ever spent on the truck. That was my cost on an old air ride truck seat from a salvage yard. I plumbed up an air chuck to add air if needed, but once it was set it stayed just fine. I have always wanted to make a lower profile air ride for these trucks but I'm busy enough allready. The new tonka ford is supposed to have an command seat ( air ride). All heavier trucks should have air ride seats. and Fast Coolers HEHE



Fast Coolers



Verlyn Fast

 

[geusterman]

T-Ricky--are you referring to a Kelderman air ride rear? Do you have that now? George

 

[T-Ricky]

George,

My suspension is Comfort Ride by Fleetco in AZ. I'll PM you with numbers.

Rick T.

 

[geusterman]

Ricky--another new one to me. Fleetco replaces the whole spring assembly like Neway with an arm and bags. Kelderman adds bags to the rear springs and Velvet Shackle and Mor/ryde add rubber to the rear of the OEM springs. My concern is that the bags, when needed for a heavy load are pumped up, that the ride would get brittle (like what happened to Bill on the EarthRoamer) and suspension limited. Some camper carriers have bagged the add-on bags for heavier overload springs (or Roadmaster coil overloads) and done fine. I am curious about the empty to heavy loads the Neway/Fleetco Comfort Ride handle and what they are like under both extremes. Also, anybody out there with Mor/rydes? George



PS--This is still an air ride string! Seats still included!

 

[geusterman]

Verlyn Fast--good post there (free ad included!). Would you take a look at that air ride base you have and tell us what make and model it is? We know it fits a Dodge. Thanks. George Eusterman

 

[geusterman]

Ricky--windy tonight--sorry, I realize in re-reading that you said your truck ran almost as nice empty as with 2500 pounds. Does the airbag have a pistion inside? Is it really nice empty compared to sprung? I can't figure out how they can act like a spring. GE

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Hrmm... used low-profile air-ride seat.....



I know just the place that would have one... .



I think it's the jounce and not the seat that is uncomfortable... . so using just the air-ride part might be the ticket as others have suggested.



Matt

 

[Fast 1]

The air box I used was a national seating low profile air box. Thier @ www.nationalseating.com. I know many truck salvage yards have national seats for sale but they have to be the low profile one, this one will still leave your seat about an inch higher than normal.



Fast Coolers



Verlyn Fast

 

[bnelson]

I appreciate all the discussion and comments. It sounds like the wrecking yard scrounge is the cheapest solution for air ride seats since it will take some fabrication to make anything fit anyway.



About air-ride suspensions: The air ride suspensions in 18-wheelers all have a height adjustment valve. Properly set (And it doesen't take a rocket scientist to adjust it), It will maintain ride height no matter what the load, up to the weight capacity of the unit. There is no reason why the components won't work on our Dodges; and wrecking yard pieces should do just fine. Only thing is; you'll need an on board air compressor since the air springs will be adding and releasing air all the time to maintain the ride height set. In fact you can get "Trick" and put on two ride height valves, and an "Either/or" switch to give you a "Low" and a "High" ride height. Let's see now, if I removed spring leaves except two or three to control axle placement, maybe add a traction bar to control axle wrap, then put on the air bag that fits, and the pair of height control valves to give myself a pair of altitudes--YES, it's project time!! Adjusted to maintain the same ride height the comfort level of the ride should be very nice, either loaded or empty. Add weight, and the system adds air to maintain the desired height. Remove weight and the system releases air to give you back the empty soft ride. Oo. Now to dig out my "Mad Inventor" hat and head for the boneyard at daybreak--