hitch air bag

[WaynesWorld]

Guys,



Has anyone used an air bag hitch?

Shocker Hitch - Air Suspension Trailer Hitches



WAYNES WORLD

 

[Prairie Dog]

I can't figure out what it's supposed to do for you?

 

[WaynesWorld]

I can't figure out what it's supposed to do for you?

It is allegedly going to take the bounce out of the trailer----#@$%!



WAYNES WORLD

 

[RVTRKN]

If your rig is correct, why is it needed? Seems like a waste of money.

 

[WaynesWorld]

RVTRKN,



They explained that it works to improve the ride as the equalizers did. In fact it can be used with them to take that hard bounce out of the ride. It can't be as good as an air bag system on your truck suspension but it helps.

What do you think?



WAYNES WORLD

 

[Silver Ratler]

I have an air ride 5th wheel hitch that I use for a 12k trailer and it definitely takes stress off the truck and trailer..... I don't think the set up on regular tow would have the same benefits.



Get names and numbers of previous customers and check with them, or surf some of the RV web sites to see if anyone is using this set up.



Just ideas off the top of my head... ... could be all wrong, maybe I'll learn something right along with you!



Travel Safe!

 

[BGlidewell]

I have an air ride 5th wheel hitch that I use for a 12k trailer and it definitely takes stress off the truck and trailer..... I don't think the set up on regular tow would have the same benefits.

Get names and numbers of previous customers and check with them, or surf some of the RV web sites to see if anyone is using this set up.

Just ideas off the top of my head... ... could be all wrong, maybe I'll learn something right along with you!

Travel Safe!

I have the same set up and was thinking the same as you. This looks like a gimmick to me. I have airbags on my mobile suite axles and on the king-pin hitch. The one over the king pin is "mahoosive" compared to the one in the article referenced here though. It looks so small as to be useless.

 

[RVTRKN]

RVTRKN,



They explained that it works to improve the ride as the equalizers did. In fact it can be used with them to take that hard bounce out of the ride. It can't be as good as an air bag system on your truck suspension but it helps.

What do you think?



WAYNES WORLD

Don't know what to think, I just know I won't purchase one. My boat is small enough not to need any contraption like that, but I can't give an opinion on the system with a heavy trailer connected. My B&W companion 5ver hitch is tight on the hitch pin and have no need for a air system. But air bags for my Arctic Fox is an upgrade worth thinking about.

 

[DMorris]

Interesting. Being a full time RV'r and work camper I get to talk to a lot of people with trail airs on their 5th wheels. All seem to love them. But recently (few days ago) I as talking to a service guy at the RV place I was at for some repairs and he said: "they seem to help but Lippert will void your frame warrantee if you have one on" - and they even make them ? Humm, I found that interesting. He felt they took some strain off the truck but added it to the pin box. My opinion was, more moving parts equals more things to wear out, but then again I do like having suspension on my truck-and that has moving parts so I guess I am torn on what to think about them. The one thing I can say is that on a 5er every one seems to love them, I have yet to see one on a tag trailer.

 

[Silver Ratler]

Find a New RV Repair

Interesting. Being a full time RV'r and work camper I get to talk to a lot of people with trail airs on their 5th wheels. All seem to love them. But recently (few days ago) I as talking to a service guy at the RV place I was at for some repairs and he said: "they seem to help but Lippert will void your frame warrantee if you have one on" - and they even make them ? Humm, I found that interesting. He felt they took some strain off the truck but added it to the pin box. My opinion was, more moving parts equals more things to wear out, but then again I do like having suspension on my truck-and that has moving parts so I guess I am torn on what to think about them. The one thing I can say is that on a 5er every one seems to love them, I have yet to see one on a tag trailer.

I don't believe this RV tech has any real knowledge of the mechanics of an air hitch or the air pin box. On another forum someone used this analogy " Have him slam his fist on a table... . then put a pillow on it and do the same thing... ... . Which way hurt the most?" The air ride systems on fifth wheels are very simple and are quite effective in reducing stress and strain to the tow vehicle, the trailer and the passengers. Yes they have some moving parts... ... mainly air bags or shocks.



In my opinion this individual has limited knowledge and is giving out advice that is not based in facts. Find a new RV service tech!!



The statement about Lippert voiding the warranty is also wrong... ...

 

[DMorris]

I don't believe this RV tech has any real knowledge of the mechanics of an air hitch or the air pin box. On another forum someone used this analogy " Have him slam his fist on a table... . then put a pillow on it and do the same thing... ... . Which way hurt the most?" The air ride systems on fifth wheels are very simple and are quite effective in reducing stress and strain to the tow vehicle, the trailer and the passengers. Yes they have some moving parts... ... mainly air bags or shocks.



In my opinion this individual has limited knowledge and is giving out advice that is not based in facts. Find a new RV service tech!!



The statement about Lippert voiding the warranty is also wrong... ...

No disrespect- but you are the expert how ? You are in the industry as a service writer? Or is it your tech is smarter then my tech talk ? A lot of inaccurate information is handed out then spread around through forums and the internet. I didnt say "this is the fact" I stated what I was told by someone who is much more up to speed on the subject then I am. I also said that all I had heard was good from the people who have them.

You may be correct, but then back it up if you are going to say that I am incorrect, otherwise your "opinion" is exactly that.

And along with your opinion on the moving parts being the airbag and shock, that is correct, but you did not mention a pivot or hinge point, one that is getting worked pretty hard. Now dont cast your opinion that I dont think they work. I do, but still wonder why they are not factory options ?

I dont have one and dont really feel a need for one. I would love to try one on my RV before I dish out a grand plus to put one on.

Also I think your pillow talk is exactly that. Why ? Because the pin box is connected to the fifth wheel not being slammed into it. The pillow example is good: but not that good Some of the bucking from the trailer is lateral not up and down and to my knowledge (And I may be wrong) the air hitch only pivots up and down.



Nuff said- :-{} -on this any how, I think the original post was talking about a tag trailer.

 

[RVTRKN]

I could of used a pillow on my tail gate this weekend, I guess I have to get new perscription glasses. :{

 

[HBarlow]

Interesting. Being a full time RV'r and work camper I get to talk to a lot of people with trail airs on their 5th wheels. All seem to love them. But recently (few days ago) I as talking to a service guy at the RV place I was at for some repairs and he said: "they seem to help but Lippert will void your frame warrantee if you have one on" - and they even make them ? Humm, I found that interesting. He felt they took some strain off the truck but added it to the pin box. My opinion was, more moving parts equals more things to wear out, but then again I do like having suspension on my truck-and that has moving parts so I guess I am torn on what to think about them. The one thing I can say is that on a 5er every one seems to love them, I have yet to see one on a tag trailer.

I agree completely and also with RVTrkn's opinions and with the service tech. The service tech is clearly older, experienced, and wiser.

IMO about 50% to 75% of aftermarket products for cars, trucks, and RVs are unneeded, provide no measurable benefit, and in some cases cause damage and even catastrophic failures of the product they are installed on.

I have pulled RVs hundreds of thousands of miles as a private individual since 1972 and as an RV transporter for three years. I pulled a couple of trailers equipped with that or a similar device and observed no difference.

The rear suspension of a Ram truck when carrying the weight of a heavy kingpin flexes very little over normal highways. The springs are compressed by the load. The only time severe up and down movement occurs is when transiting some unfortunately severe highway dips. The truck instantly drops into the dip momentarily removing the kingpin weight then bucking it upward when it comes out of the dip. Goofy airbags and shock arrangements are not going to do much if anything to prevent or dampen that sudden and dramatic movement.

Any kingpin assembly that extends the lever action applied to the frame, that is changes the torque applied to the frame, can cause frame damage and some RV manufacturers will definitely void the warranty if frame cracking or weld failures result.

I own and use a C&C with a flatbed body and gooseneck ball permanently mounted in a recessed pocket under the bed deck. I considered adding a gooseneck adapter to the Demco hitch assembly so I would not have to use a fifth wheel hitch whwn pulling my HitchHiker fiver. I called NuWa to ask their opinion. An engineer contacted me and said NuWa trailers built on a Young's frame could handle it so it was okay with them HOWEVER, my trailer and most HitchHikers from 2006 or 2007 to the present were factory equipped with Demco Glide Ride hitches. He said the increased stress placed on the Demco hitch would probably damage and would void the warranty on my Demco. I shelved that idea.

As DMorris said, the RV parks and internet websites are literally filled with bad opinions, wrong information, and self serving testimony. Few owners will ever acknowledge to themselves let alone to another member that the expensive product they spent significant money on is useless or even harmful.

Reading the endless internet testimony we see here and everywhere "I have towed one and it pulls great" drives me nuts. The owner never has any scientific measurement or evidence to support his opinion.

In summary, my advice is to forget the unnecessarily complex and expensive device you inquired about.