Attention: TDR Forum Junkies So I decided to break in the credit card and ordered a system for my truck. In the trucks first life it was a contractor tuck, normally hauling around a bumper pull trailer at about 26k lbs. It worked great, but now the truck is a my 5th wheel trailer hauler.
So my 5th wheel isn’t big which is fine but I live in the Seattle area and we have lots and lots of bridges with expansion joints. So as you’re driving across an expansion joint the truck would hit the bump and then the overloads would hit and take up the jolt because my pin weight was just shy of hitting the overloads perches while sitting still. I can’t say it was a horrible experience – ride but the ride wasn’t all that great, and when you travel a few hundred miles and your beat up at your destination well you get the idea.
Ordering.
I already have an on board air compressor so I started off trying to order a system without air, but wasn’t able to find a seller that would order – sell all the parts – the air setup. So I purchased a complete system with plans to sell the compressor later.
My shipment arrived a few weeks after. Lots of boxes, 2 large springs and a wife with a puzzled look on her face as I didn’t get approval and wanted to know what I got… Love you dear.
Removal.
Did I mention there were a lot of boxes. So most of boxes and parts were fairly explanatory and setup well for what was inside. Air springs in 1 box, shocks in another, air system parts in one and a few boxes with a bunch of adapter plates. I didn’t have a lift available so out came my really big jack stands and jacks. I have to say the removal of the stock parts was fairly easy and don’t recall any hiccups or gotchas. Well the only thing that might be a gotcha is the fact that some of these parts are heavy and having a second had is helpful
Installation
Install direction that come in the box…. SUCK. Even the ones on the internet are just a little too vague, I was able to install the setup but there was a few occasions I was siting in the lazy boy reviewing photos online, photos in the directions. As a side note most of the parts have a R and L in their number to help dictate what side they are built for. For some reason I started working on the passenger side first I was kind of under the impression that was the side to start with so that did make it a bit harder on the install as I had to reverse the photos in my mind. The fuel tank does need to be dropped so don’t fill it up. There are plates that wrap around the frame to setup the front spring hanger, these things are funny looking, and at first really had no idea how on earth they would fit on the truck then I turned them around. Once installed and tightened these plates fit better than a glove on your hand. That’s when I knew that this system really was designed for each truck. Again lots of the parts are heavy and a second hand would be good. I did find that I was missing a few bolts that were a bit of an odd ball size in grade 8 but my local hardware store hooked me up.
Gotchas and or issues to pay attention to.
Air valves, in the air valve box it says to rotate the arm a bunch of times before installing it… wish I knew that before I put it on the truck.
If I had to do the airlines again I would use black line VS the red line provided in the system.
Air bag perch on the driver’s side had to have a little grinding on it as the truck had some tabs on the frame that blocked it from sitting correctly.
If you have a Powersteps by Amp research or some other electric steps you won’t be able to install the air tank in the location they have designed, I’m not entirely sure if the air compressor will or not as I had my own setup already.
The setup works well and has no issues with the B&W turnover ball.
Use
Well sitting still it looks like every other truck until you look under or flip the dump switch and you watch the rear of the truck drop about 4 inches. Hitching up the 5th wheel now can be very interesting I have 2 options. Drop the jack and dump the bags, if I do it right and the angle is just right I can unhook and not even use the jacks on the trailer. The other option that I have done is to drop the jacks and raise the trailer just a bit, basically the jacks start to take a load. In this situation I can drive away and the truck instantly keeps the truck level as I pull out from under the weight, remember I still have 1000+ lbs of pin weight. No clunk no out of control jumping around as I basically just dropped the weight.
Driving empty.
This isn’t going to make your truck a Cadillac its still a truck, but the harsh bumps, potholes, expansion joints, are a lot mellower and the truck rolls with them. Gravel roads, pothole laden streets are way smother and not so jarring on you or the truck.
Loaded with the 5th wheel the truck is really smooth, you know you have driven over an expansion joint but the BAM and head shaking event is fairly gone.
My seat ometer says it’s a decent upgrade, maybe larger bags with a few more inches of travel would help.
Wife actually says she can really tell the difference and enjoys the ride a lot better than before. In fact she just completed a 500 mile round trip driving hauling the 5th wheel and this year she wasn't nearly as tired or worn out as last year before the change.
So in closing I think the system is worth it, If you have any question let me know.
So my 5th wheel isn’t big which is fine but I live in the Seattle area and we have lots and lots of bridges with expansion joints. So as you’re driving across an expansion joint the truck would hit the bump and then the overloads would hit and take up the jolt because my pin weight was just shy of hitting the overloads perches while sitting still. I can’t say it was a horrible experience – ride but the ride wasn’t all that great, and when you travel a few hundred miles and your beat up at your destination well you get the idea.
Ordering.
I already have an on board air compressor so I started off trying to order a system without air, but wasn’t able to find a seller that would order – sell all the parts – the air setup. So I purchased a complete system with plans to sell the compressor later.
My shipment arrived a few weeks after. Lots of boxes, 2 large springs and a wife with a puzzled look on her face as I didn’t get approval and wanted to know what I got… Love you dear.
Removal.
Did I mention there were a lot of boxes. So most of boxes and parts were fairly explanatory and setup well for what was inside. Air springs in 1 box, shocks in another, air system parts in one and a few boxes with a bunch of adapter plates. I didn’t have a lift available so out came my really big jack stands and jacks. I have to say the removal of the stock parts was fairly easy and don’t recall any hiccups or gotchas. Well the only thing that might be a gotcha is the fact that some of these parts are heavy and having a second had is helpful
Installation
Install direction that come in the box…. SUCK. Even the ones on the internet are just a little too vague, I was able to install the setup but there was a few occasions I was siting in the lazy boy reviewing photos online, photos in the directions. As a side note most of the parts have a R and L in their number to help dictate what side they are built for. For some reason I started working on the passenger side first I was kind of under the impression that was the side to start with so that did make it a bit harder on the install as I had to reverse the photos in my mind. The fuel tank does need to be dropped so don’t fill it up. There are plates that wrap around the frame to setup the front spring hanger, these things are funny looking, and at first really had no idea how on earth they would fit on the truck then I turned them around. Once installed and tightened these plates fit better than a glove on your hand. That’s when I knew that this system really was designed for each truck. Again lots of the parts are heavy and a second hand would be good. I did find that I was missing a few bolts that were a bit of an odd ball size in grade 8 but my local hardware store hooked me up.
Gotchas and or issues to pay attention to.
Air valves, in the air valve box it says to rotate the arm a bunch of times before installing it… wish I knew that before I put it on the truck.
If I had to do the airlines again I would use black line VS the red line provided in the system.
Air bag perch on the driver’s side had to have a little grinding on it as the truck had some tabs on the frame that blocked it from sitting correctly.
If you have a Powersteps by Amp research or some other electric steps you won’t be able to install the air tank in the location they have designed, I’m not entirely sure if the air compressor will or not as I had my own setup already.
The setup works well and has no issues with the B&W turnover ball.
Use
Well sitting still it looks like every other truck until you look under or flip the dump switch and you watch the rear of the truck drop about 4 inches. Hitching up the 5th wheel now can be very interesting I have 2 options. Drop the jack and dump the bags, if I do it right and the angle is just right I can unhook and not even use the jacks on the trailer. The other option that I have done is to drop the jacks and raise the trailer just a bit, basically the jacks start to take a load. In this situation I can drive away and the truck instantly keeps the truck level as I pull out from under the weight, remember I still have 1000+ lbs of pin weight. No clunk no out of control jumping around as I basically just dropped the weight.
Driving empty.
This isn’t going to make your truck a Cadillac its still a truck, but the harsh bumps, potholes, expansion joints, are a lot mellower and the truck rolls with them. Gravel roads, pothole laden streets are way smother and not so jarring on you or the truck.
Loaded with the 5th wheel the truck is really smooth, you know you have driven over an expansion joint but the BAM and head shaking event is fairly gone.
My seat ometer says it’s a decent upgrade, maybe larger bags with a few more inches of travel would help.
Wife actually says she can really tell the difference and enjoys the ride a lot better than before. In fact she just completed a 500 mile round trip driving hauling the 5th wheel and this year she wasn't nearly as tired or worn out as last year before the change.
So in closing I think the system is worth it, If you have any question let me know.
