converter dolly shopping: air-ride vs spring, what else?

No, my partner and I made our own. Am I wrong in assuming you've already run doubles before?

 

It's not rocket science. If you've already got a good co driver everything should be fine.
There are lots of videos on you tube on how to hook it up. I've posted the basics in another thread, all the steps you go through.

Our hand signals are just our made up stuff, but you're welcome to them.

Cab man:
Parking Brakes engaged: closed fist
Parking brakes released/ stand clear: open hand
Dolly man:
Back/forward: wave whole hand in direction you need the truck to move.
Stop: two fists crossed at forearms
Apply parking brake: pull right fist from open left hand.
Release parking brake: make a #1 symbol and twirl
Tug test: point finger to the front of the truck sharply twice.
Brake test: palm down to the ground.
4ways: open and close fingers a few times
Left/right signal: palm to the side you want to check.

I'm sure we have more... but those are the most common. Some of 'em are goofy, but hey they work for us. After a few years, we can drop, hook and shag faster and safer than most can drop.

 

Another thing you'll probably want is a ram, I think that's what it's called. It can be found in pintle hooks and the eye of the dolly. It basically removes the slack from the dolly/pintle hook connection. It is a air activated part that will push against the hook to keep everything tight. It will cut down on wiggling and the banging around on the pintle hook.

Having one on either the dolly or pintle hook seems to be fine, but when I notice neither has it they always seem kinda wiggly and unstable. I've pulled a set that was lighter by about 10,000lbs in front with the ram in both and it pulled pretty well, just had to drive carefully.

I'll try to get a picture of the part I'm talking about, because I probably didn't describe it that well.

 

Here are the pictures of it. Didn't have a trailer with it so I couldn't show what it looks like with it connected, but you get the idea.

 

It's tied into the air system, when you release the brake, the ram pushes out to lock everything together. Your trailers need to be equipped with pintle hooks and air pass throughs, too. Just so ya know. They should be seeing as they are pups - and sometimes the air ram system comes installed on the trailers (they are at FXG).

 

Now that I've been doing doubles for 2 years I prefer them over a 53ft. Breaking down and hooking up a new set takes me about 10 mins, and I'm solo. I hate uneven places if there is an incline I can't move it. I'm a small guy, like 150lbs, trying to move the thing by myself only works well on good even pavement.

Now when I hook up I put the dolly on the lead trailer and back both up together under the rear trailer. Got tired of slipping and falling in the rain and snow. That and we have sets of triples that I sometimes have to rearrange and it saves time and effort.