Do I really need a air ride trailer?

I pulled some new Wabash spring rides when Crete switched back to spring ride trailers. They actually ride pretty well. I had no real complaint about the ride. With the air-rides, some rode well and some rode rough. And on a few occasions I had to go to the shop to get the trailer air-ride fixed. From what I heard , the new spring rides have a composite spring. Also, I noticed the new trailers were about 600 lbs lighter. I don't know if all the weight savings were in the suspension. I may need to buy a dry van in the future and I will most likely get air-ride because some shippers require it . And it would be convenient to have an air gauge on the trailer to measure weight. And I think having air-ride would make it easier to sell the trailer when I am done with it. Otherwise, I would be satisfied with the springs for less weight and less potential maintenance issues . Btw, I noticed some shippers/receivers wanted the trailer tandems to the rear for loading/unloading to reduce the up and down bouncing of the trailer when the forklift was going in and out of the trailer. But on a few occasions I was told I only needed to slide my tandems to the rear if it was an air-ride trailer. So a spring-ride would be good on that rare occasion and might make the forklift driver happy.

 

Tire wear is also a issue with spring ride.

 

Will the mega fleet's be going to spring ride tractor's next?

 

You want a good ride. Go with a spread axle. Everything else rides sub par. I know your talking about dry vans

 

There is a difference when a sits 3 out of 7 days vs running most of the time. Those air bags sitting MT break down fast than when they are used. Can't tell you how many airbags I have replaced in the first month after buying a used trailer.

I will say that I am skeptical but the data supports the move to spring ride. They are much different than the older ones that I pulled and actually lighter.

What is funny is since I learned about the move in the industry toward spring ride I have had to resist trying to look under trailers on the road to see who is running spring ride.

 

I get that time is an enemy of airbags but I don't understand how sitting empty has any effect on overall service life?

 

Air bag is designed to be filled with air. When it is MT it is sitting folded in half. It is at the fold that it starts to break down. An air bag that has deteriorated is going to start leaking in three places - top, bottom and middle. All 3 places that are bent or folded into positions that place additional stress compared to running.

I wish I could draw a picture.

 

i get it triple B...........

I have pulled both..Spring and air over the years and it really dont matter to me personally.......


What HAS improved are the Screws............. Rear Pigs are so much more 'Heavy Duty' now as opposed the the early mid 70's trucks.....We Twisted Yokes and Broke Ring gears all the Time.....The Housing were smaller than a 9'" Ford rear end it seemed.

 

an airbag is always folded unless it is fully extended which really shortens service life think of an airbag like a biasply tire best storage is with little or no pressure

 

Dry rot might have some thing to do with it,I replaced all 4 on the trailer 2 years ago and no problems since.At one time I carried a spare one just in case .