Getting away from coiled trailer supply lines.

So the company I work for uses the coiled, hard plastic trailer air supply lines... I hate them. We are allowed to make modification to our truck as long as it can be returned to original easily. So I want to get... Or probably build a set of 1/2 inch rubber air supply lines, then get a non coiled pigtail. This setup would belong to me and would go with me when I get a new truck.

My question now is... How do I ensure that the lines all get pulled back to the tractor so they don't hang up on things, or get pinched? Ideally I would want a PO-GO stick... But there is no place to mount one, the fixed 5th wheel is so far forward that the only cross member is directly beneath the reefer unit. I do have the rail across the back of the sleeper that I can put a spring retracter on, but I'm not sure that a spring retract will have enough stretch.

The trailer glad hands are all on the left front corner of our trailers... Which means (at least by my way of thinking) that if I were to completely jackknife the trailer blindside, I would need at least 12 foot of line to be able to reach all the way across the front of trailer and back to the truck. I can see having about 4 or 5 feet of loose line from the trailer to where the retracter holds the lines... But that still leaves at least 5 feet, that a spring would have to stretch, and then retract...

I know I have seen similar setups before, but I never really paid attention as to how they retract the lines.

I would greatly appreciate any and all ideas, PICTURES of this type of setup, links to items you use, and advise.

Many Thanks.

 

Yeah... I was looking at these the other day in Walcott.

3-in-1 Air Power Line 12' | Iowa80.com

But I think I can build a set for less... I've built them before, I just need to check a few prices.

 

I always carry crush washers... In multiple sizes... As well as splice fittings... There's hardly an air line on my truck I cant fix on the side of the road... At least good enough to get me to a truck shop to fix it right.

 

Ok... So after spending a few hours scouring my home town for a good one or the materials to build one... One of the shop guys at my company said "we got one of those that's been gathering dust, still in original packaging, in the store room... Been there like 4 years. You can put it on your truck and save your self some $$$"... I was like hell yeah!

An hour later I had it installed and supported with 2 spring retracters, one up high clipped through a hole the mechanic drilled in a metal faring bracket, the other on the slide rail across the back of sleeper.

I then took it out and jack knifed it, to each side, until the farings just touched the trailer and got out to see what the lines were doing... And they work great, and look so much better than the old coiled plastic lines!

The only thing I want to do differently is to get a couple Tec Clamps and heaftier springs to support the lines... I can do that on my next run when I stop at Walcott, IA.