Posted 2009-01-16 12:02 AM (#97594 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
I think you've pretty much got to start over with new axles. Mine has the Dexter Air-flex..... makes for a pretty nice ride, glad that we paid the extra $$$ for it to begin with.
Posted 2009-01-16 8:35 AM (#97607 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Yes I have looked into it extensively, but have not done it yet. Dexter makes the airflex kit but it is not an independent suspension. It has a solid axle going from side to side. STI (suspension technologies inc.) makes a kit and theirs is independent. You get a little more ground clearance out of the sti than you do the dexter. They are rather pricey for either system. Expect to spend around 4K not including the install for 2-8k axles with no brakes including compressor & dump valve. The air flex is a few hundred dollars more. Either system will probably raise your trailer a few inches while in use.
Posted 2009-01-16 11:16 AM (#97616 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
If your trying to get a better ride for your horses, and not neccessarily for the whole trailer itself; I would spend a "fraction" of the cost of air ride, and install "Soft Step" between the mats and floor. It is a 1" thick closed cell polymer, that is like your horses having gel souled Nikes on. It is a great product, and I use it in my personal trailer, as well as sell it to a lot of customers in their new or existing trailers. It takes all the vibration and stiffness out of their ride. Just pull it when you pull your mats and hose it off. Extensive hauling will make for having to replace it from time to time.
Posted 2009-01-16 11:25 AM (#97618 - in reply to #97616) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
I am not real sure its feasable to do an after market air ride. I kind of talked myself out of it when getting the trailer and have regretted it ever since.
Posted 2009-01-16 12:31 PM (#97624 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Well, I learned something about my air-ride setup today. After reading tom-tom's post I started thinking that it was wrong since my trailer does have independent suspension...... so I looked at Dexter's website and sure enough airflex isn't independent and the air bags are located differently than mine are. Then I went to look at my trailer and yep it has the STI system, I always thought it was airflex because the oil caps on the hubs say dexter on them. Good to know when I need a part for them.
Posted 2009-01-16 1:17 PM (#97627 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Regular
Posts: 64 Location: Oklahoma City
There is a new company called Air Suspensions, Inc. in Canal Fulton, Ohio that is selling aftermarket air ride add on systems. I don't know how well they work as we have not put them on any trailers at this time. Their number is 877-274-1247. You might look into it.
Posted 2009-01-16 1:30 PM (#97630 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
One thing I found out about the STI system is that is very easy to replace a stub axle if you should ever bend one. It should unbolt and replace. The dexter axle you would have to replace the whole shaft and redo your brakes. STI makes all the air components and then supplies whatever or whoever's brakes that you want. One thing I found very interesting is that Exiss doesn't typically use dexter air ride they install STI. Kind of strange seeing as how they use dexter for the rest of the axles. The new dexter axles require that you have additional supports under your trailer the catch the inboard mount for the airbag, and the STI's don't require anything other than what was there to support your original axles.
Posted 2009-01-17 7:08 AM (#97660 - in reply to #97630) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
So what kind of travel distance up and down does the STI system have? I suppose fully inflated you would have added clearance which is really desired since I pull with a 4400. I have two inch blocks but they are still really not enough to level the trailer without tongue modifications of about 2". Then again this is with the air hitch as well. The original coupler would go low enough I think if I remember correctly.
I would be interested to see how one worked if anyone has installed them on their trailer.
Posted 2009-01-17 7:57 AM (#97661 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Location: Central Arkansas
The STI system I had on the LQ before this one would raise about 5". It had dump valves for each side. It sure made leveling up in a camping spot easy. I would drop the air to unload horses and refill after they were loaded. I usually ran with both sides all the way up. The STI system was pretty low maintence except for having to replace a leaking air hose. Get the largest air compressor they offer. I upgraded after a year or so and like the larger one much better. Oh, don't mount it under your gooseneck unless you can rememberr to turn it off before you go to bed. I was awakend many times by the compressor coming on after someone got up to go to the bathroom. I wish I would have gotten it on this LQ I have now, but the next one will have it!
Posted 2009-01-17 10:00 PM (#97684 - in reply to #97580) Subject: RE: Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Mine goes up about 4 inches when raised. I pull with a 4900 which should be about the same as your 4400, I have an air ride 5th wheel on the truck, trailer is maybe an inch or two lower in the rear, not really a problem since it's about 32' from the hitch to the axles... and the air ride on the trailer should equally distribute the weight on the axles too. If you want pictures of what it looks like (up, down, etc.)I can probably take some on Sunday or Monday if you want.
And I've also been awakened when the compressor kicks on in the middle of the night, only took a couple of times for me to remember to turn it off.
Air Ride, anyone ever added it after the fact?
