Rough ride

Are spring ride trailers common nowadays or not really? My company only has air ride and it's all I've driven before.

 

I'm a dwarf. I'm 5'6".

 

I trained in dry van, which are springs, and when I went solo, switched to reefer, air ride. I noticed quickly how much smoother the air ride trailers pull. One of the reasons I have no desire to pull dry vans. I did pull one a few months ago. It was a load to get me home for hometime. Yuck, but it got me home.
I also like the pneumatic controls for the tandems pins. Much easier than wrestling with the mechanical pin contraption on dry vans. I carry a small mallet with me. Push the button, if a pin hangs, tap it with the mallet and it pops in. Easy peesie!

 

If you think spring ride is bad, pull a trailer that is walking beam only.

 

Majority of fleets are full air ride trailers now. Whether dry van or reefer. The type of trailer has nothing to do with it. It’s all in how someone spec’d the unit. And while air sliders work great when new, get a few years of road grime, mud, salt etc in there and see how well it works. My system for sliding tandems whether air or mechanical is flawless.

Air slider, pull the button and put vice grips on it. Put the air to the trailer and use the spike once moving to slide them. Much easier on the clutch/transmission.

Mechanical slider, I pull the rod all the way out, as far as it will go, past the locking point. Clamp vice grips on the rod to lock it out. Slide as normal.

Trust me, both these methods will save you time and your riggin.

 

I use to love spring ride. Still do to an extent. Less to go wrong. No leveling valve to freeze. Or rod to break. Or air bag to blow. Then again, I do remember changing spring packs, not so much fun. Lol

 

Haha 5'7 here. The CH's we have fit me like a glove. It would suck for someone 6ft or better. I can have the seat all the way back and still use the pedals Lol