Thoughts and ?? on air ride hitches

[Okie-Go]

I am looking pretty seriously about an air ride hitch for the 5er. I also bought a conversion kingpin so I can pull the gooseneck with the same hitch. They seem like it would really help the ride but have no idea as to which brand. Some replace just the head and some have the whole hitch, some are powder coated and some even hide the air lines so they are not visible. I would really like to make a trip with one to see if they are worth the money as I know they are very pricey. Your thoughts and insight to these would be very helpful. Thanks, Okie

 

[RustyJC]

Okie,



Good to see ya posting again!! It's been too long.



You know Grandpappy has an air-ride hitch now, right? You might give him a shout and ask him about it.



Rusty

 

[BGlidewell]

http://www.trailair.com/pinbox.asp

This came on my 5w as ordered from the factory. I dont have any other 5W experience other than what I hear from others without one stateing the hitch feels like it is being hammered sometimes. The system I have seems to do a lot of dampning while underway. There is a sticker on the front of the shock that marks the proper inflation for the unit. I use a small battery operated compressor to fill it if needed. Replacement parts are standard airbags from Firestone and shocks from Monroe/etc.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Okie-go,



If you'd like a "close up and personal" look at one of the EasyRider air hitches PM me and we'll set up a meet.



FWIW, I'm extremely happy with mine.

 

[wbrown02]

This is my third hitch and I think the last one..... No doubt the air ride hitches work as advertised, at least from my experience. . With a solid hitch first the truck hits the bump (and you feel it) the the trailer wheels hit the same bump and you feel it again through the hitch... with Air ride hitches you only feel it one one time and they really do "save your trailer"... . I can look in the rear view mirror and watch the thing work. Very pleased with mine! Hope this helps. Oo.

 

[RColston]

Recently had the TrailAir pin box as well as their CP 3 system installed on my 39' Teton. Really took a lot of the harshness out of the ride. Things that used to shift around inside the coach don't move at all now. I had my 5er lifted 3" to provide more over be clearance which made me raise my hitch about 2". I think that this change may have increased the motion fore and aft just a little. Also before the pin box change the heavy pin weight pinned my truck to the ground, which smoothed the ride of the truck. After the pin box the truck seems to ride a little rougher, but very little.

 

[Okie-Go]

Yes Rusty it has been a while. I am on the road a lot. I have seen Granpappy's and I know he likes it. Thanks guy! I need one that goes in the truck, not attaches to the trailer then I can use the same hitch on both trailers.

 

[Smarshall]

Recently had the TrailAir pin box as well as their CP 3 system installed on my 39' Teton. Really took a lot of the harshness out of the ride. Things that used to shift around inside the coach don't move at all now. I had my 5er lifted 3" to provide more over be clearance which made me raise my hitch about 2". I think that this change may have increased the motion fore and aft just a little. Also before the pin box change the heavy pin weight pinned my truck to the ground, which smoothed the ride of the truck. After the pin box the truck seems to ride a little rougher, but very little.

Sounds like the TrailAir works for you. I only have one trip since I put it on mine but it seems to smooth things out. Haven't gone to the pin box though. Am going to Alaska the first of June for 3 month and hope that it keeps things in the rear kitchen from turning over. 30' Westport 5th whl. Our 1st 5th whl was a rear lounge and liked it better than this rear kitchen but we bought the Westport in 95 when the rear kitachens were the thing. I have the "Going to Alaska "post in RV form.

Smith & Juanita Marshall in San Berdoo.

 

[RustyJC]

Am going to Alaska the first of June for 3 month and hope that it keeps things in the rear kitchen from turning over. 30' Westport 5th whl. Our 1st 5th whl was a rear lounge and liked it better than this rear kitchen but we bought the Westport in 95 when the rear kitachens were the thing.

Based on our experience, I think you'll find that your efforts to improve the trailer's suspension will be more productive. Our first 5th wheel was a rear kitchen, and it came without shocks on the Dexter suspension. Adding shocks helped some, but was not the entire solution. Our current 5th wheel, although not a rear kitchen model, has MorRyde equalizers and rides and tows better than any 5th wheel we've ever owned (this is our 3rd). We almost never find anything in the 5th wheel that has shifted in transit - and that's with a conventional pin box and hitch.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[Okie-Go]

I have found a tdr member that is willing to let me borrow his hitch on a trip if he is at home and not using it. I guess this will help make up my mind. Thnaks, Okie

 

[Turboman]

When I get my digital camera back I'll take a pic of mine. I have a B&W Companion hitch that I modified for airride. It pivots in front of the hitch and has two bags behind the hitch. The bags are the same ones as the Ride Rite system uses. The design allows for up and down movement as well as for and aft dampening. The differnce is tremendous. You can watch the front of the fiver bob up and down as you run down the road and when you cross a RR track, you feel the truck cross it but you can,t hardly feel the trailer wheels cross. I'll get some pictures soon.

 

[DHayden]

When I get my digital camera back I'll take a pic of mine. I have a B&W Companion hitch that I modified for airride. It pivots in front of the hitch and has two bags behind the hitch. The bags are the same ones as the Ride Rite system uses. The design allows for up and down movement as well as for and aft dampening. The differnce is tremendous. You can watch the front of the fiver bob up and down as you run down the road and when you cross a RR track, you feel the truck cross it but you can,t hardly feel the trailer wheels cross. I'll get some pictures soon.

I'm interested in this, I always thought it would be a great idea if B&W would come out with airride but figured it would never happen (since I have one). Can't wait to see what you did.