Buying a new dryvan trailer pulling general freight. Need input.

Composite springs are the new trend for several years. I stand by traditional steel springs, they're still heavier than air....plug the options in the computer and look yourself.

Do you really want composite instead of steel?
That's why they have made composite to try and compete against air ride.... It's still not as good riding and durability.. Lol yeah right.

**Exxtra leasing wants you to use their CHEAP spec trailers because it increases their profit margin.

Plain and Simple... They but cheap and try to sell it as a good trailer..

Look at their wide post spacing too... CHEAP!
NO interior lights... CHEAP
NO upgraded floor....CHEAP
NO insulation ... Cheap
Most don't even have air discs !! Cheap
Rub rails ... Cheap
Headboards ... Cheap


If you read their sales brochure you posted you can easily read between the lines on the sales pitch. LMAO... Example; read the part about ride when "fully loaded"

Ride? Yeah unless you have 40-45k in that box, those springs ride like dog sht.
Anyone that's driven trucks and trailers know it's bull-s.

And the weight part, i just went through this on a trailer i tediously specd and bought ,the only comparable weight suspension was using composite spring. Steel was just shy of 400# heavier than the Ultraa-K suspension

Go to your local dealer, spec a trailer and start looking at weights, they're in there for you to look at on each option you spec.

 

Why would you tell me to do something I clearly have stated that Ive done. Have you fabricated and built a trailer? I have, your the type of blow hard that is never wrong. So with that good luck!

God bless you

 

Now to the rest of the people that care, the subframes are lighter and actually has less metal (weight) in them. Most not all, Most. When you remove the pontoon arms welded to the axle, No upper air bag mount, No air bag, no leveling valve. You have 4 steel springs and really light hanger boxes and equalizers, no shocks. Its lighter most of the applications. Im a owner op current and past a fleet tech. You can tell yourself anything you want. I don't care, it don't effect me.

 

Don't forget, many customers now require air ride trailers to protect cargo.

First big paying load you miss out on, or lost day of revenue because you don't have air ride, you will be singing the blues.

 

Well saying big paying load and van trailer is all most a mute point. If you notice alot of large fleets are going back to spring and have tested the ride quality and spring has less of a chance for a rollover. But yes there are shipper that think the need air ride, and some do. Most dont. The real answer to product damage is better packaging. I hate mega fleets, but you can lean some stuff from them.

 

I didn't say they were correct in assuming that air ride was better, just that many of them are requiring it. Also a big paying load is probably somewhat specialty and they are very likely to want air ride, even if its to say they took precautions in the event damage from vibration does occur.

 

I didn't disagree with you, just stating info. I more than likely the next van I buy will be used and on air due to popularity, but if I ordered one I might order spring. It has been a miss conception that air is better. It is and isnt. They have spent tons on testing. Now air on the tractor effects the trailer ride way more than the tandems on the trailer. Some spring ride tractors were not bad, some killed you.

 

Spoken like a true hypocrite. Lol.
Edit: okay that wasn't nice.
Bless your heart




Springs; Fully loaded, heavy freight all the time that the trailer isn't needed for anything else.
Maybe then go spring... Sure i guess that makes sense to some people.

Like in the list that was posted unless it's heavy the ride sucks and has many other drawbacks.

Let's give benefit of the doubt that you might save 70-100lb ... Are all the negatives really worth it? That's your decision

I for one will tell you no way in helllll will i go back to spring ride, even if the customer is dedicated 40k+ heavy freight. I've never considered any of my trailers as a maintenance issue that requires rethinking to reconsider using stiff azzz springs.

If it's a cost issue you can't "afford" the air ride , that might want to rethink your business model.


**Hey guys, let's all go back to springs and ditch all this Air Ride stuff, it doesn't do anything ... And it's "Soooo" maintenance intensive lol.

 

40k ^^^^^^ heavy freight that's funny stuff.
Have you met XHeavy. You should

 

Lol