Van Trailer - Difference < > Spring or Air?

Yes, you can still get trlrs with spring ride. Lots of companies that haul paper buy them, because the spring ride is lighter than an air-ride setup, and if you are hauling big rolls that are not fragile then it doesn't matter. PLus, if you drop n hook a SR, then it won't sag as much as an AR will when the air leaks out of the bags.
The downside to an SR is they can sometimes ride funny, esp if the load is not well distributed (esp if its tail heavy). When that happens, the trlr tends to pogo down the road, which gets your truck pitching like a crab boat on Dealiest Catch, seasickness included for no charge.

My big thing is that it doens't bug me one way or another, as long as the trlr pulls straight (no dog tracking) and the tandems slide WITHOUT having to be seriously coerced.

 

Yeah, if you haul a lot of varied freight (TL,Irregular route), AR is better, because overall it will ride better. Just take some time to get to know your equipment (pun unintended): on some AR, they have little support legs that lower when you set your trlr brakes, so the trlr will only sag an inch or two when the bags deflate. And some have air-release slider pins, when you pull the handle, you don't need to put your body weight in to it (or they have a knob to pull), unless the system isn't working, in which case, pull,push,smack it with your hammer and sweat a little oil!

 

Yeah I know!
'if I push her any harder, the whole thing'll fall apart!'

Thankfully, locking pins are tough, and beating on them can be very therapeutic!

 

I have always believed that air ride trailers are lighter than spring type ones'. The air bags will hold up better and not break like springs do,I have never replaced an air bag because it blew out from overweight loads,unless you hit a bridge really hard. I have replaced many a broken spring in my day. Air ride bags are fast and easier to replace than springs,no lubrication or sqeaking on air ride. Alot of air ride trailers have a weight scale built in,that according to what air pressure you have to support the load,it measures your axle tandem weights without having to scale it. Alot of major companies like electronic manurfacturers want only air ride trailers,they don't shake and vibrate screws loose and break circuit boards. They ride so much better too.Unless the air bags or lines are chafed from rubbing something or cut,they give years of service,unless of course they get dryrotted but that takes a long time to get porous if you have a good working air dryer,if not in winter the bags will not fill until you thaw the lines out,they freeze in the lines and valves,I use conditioner in the winter or just plain defroster fluid in the lines.

 

Yeah, you're right about the frozen lines, I carry that air-system deicer (because I have some leftover from my last company,that they paid for) and it really does wonders, esp when you mix it into your windshield washer fluid during winter- but that's another story, right?

 

If you are serious about getting a reefer, you guys should look at a 53', because that extra 5' of space maybe required to pick up certain loads (by both brokers and customers). There is nothing wrong with a spring ride, just most drivers prefer an AR (for the reasons already discussed)- although some customers will require an AR (again, mostly hauling electronics).

I am looking to (in the next couple years) get my own truck,trlr and authority, and if I come across a decent spring ride, I will consider it.