AIR RIDE FRONT AXLE?

My 2021 567 has the Paccar dual air bag front air ride.
I would probably consider your main weather location, and what your main freight is. If you're going to be in ice and below zero, salted roads for 8 months out of the year, I'd go with the simple system, leaf spring.
If you're going to be off the interstates and out in nowhere gravel roads and through hay fields more than on the interstates, the simple leaf spring system may be the better spec.
But for miles on the interstates, even with a lowbed, the Paccar air ride front axle is a nice system. Your truck will stay level, which, should make for better tire wear and alignment. You will of course have more air lines and another valve that can need repair or maintenance down the line. But it is a nicely engineered system IMO.

 

Buses have used air ride steer for years. IDK, seems like a hassle coupled to a bother. I have a lot of miles on springs, aside from some grease in the hangers, a simple setup, and well proven, like 100 years! Like all these gee-gaws, nice when new, but down the line, you may regret it. "Oh, yeah, sorry, that "front air bag" is on the slow boat from China",,,

 

I’d definitely reconsider. The AirGlide 380 is the KW version of the Pete FlexAir, which is the best rear suspension I’ve ever ridden in front of. When you’re driving down the road and you see a KW or Pete coming around you, pay attention to the rear suspension as it goes by and watch how it reacts over bumps and bridges. You’ll know it’s the one I’m talking about, because it has a big loop sticking out forward of the axle and is easily seen in front of the drive tires. The brilliance of this design is the axles can move fore/aft a certain amount, which eliminates the harshness of hitting bumps. To me, it feels like riding on a huge block of rubber, as opposed to a rigidly mounted suspension. See if your dealer has something on the lot with the AirGlide 380 and tell them you want to hook it to a loaded trailer for a test drive.

 

Looks so fragile though.

 

No truck will be a magic carpet, but, this is as good as it gets.

What model are you putting this under?

 

I’d suggest going and sitting in various brands/styles of seats and ordering what you like in your new truck. My employer always orders the KW cloth seats. They’re OK, but, the longevity just isn’t there. And, cloth seats always get nasty. I much prefer the Legacy Lo, in pleather/vinyl, I put in my previous company truck. After 400K miles, it still looked and felt new.

I’m in a Gen 1 T680 and recently drove a Gen 2. The new trucks definitively have some improvements. But, with all the digital dash issues many are having, I’d be hesitant to get that one, if it’s considered an option.