Posted 2012-03-27 6:08 PM (#142544) Subject: How do I know if I need airbags?
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Western US
I have a 13' SW 4H Platinum. I weighed it a month ago, and it weighs 14,124, with a pin-weight of 4,724. When I first bought this trailer, it seemed too heavy for my '00 Dodge dually, added air bags, still got pushed around and if I hit a bump, I could hear and feel what seemed to be the truck banging down onto the axle (I'm sure my terms / parts are incorrect, so I hope you get what I mean....), so went to a Freightliner SportChassis. Sold that, and now have a 2012 Dodge 4x4 3500 dually, Max Tow option (has the highest trailer tow capacity of the Dodge models). When I set my trailer on it, it drops my truck 4", and I hear what seems to be the same banging (for lack of a better word), when I go over places in the road that are "wavy" if that makes sense....lots of little small bumps or waves in the road. Thanks, A
Looks like you may be over weight before you put anything in the trailer or truck. Is you truck a regular cab, if so, you are close. Better get that Freightliner back home.... Air bags don't fix being overloaded.
Posted 2012-03-28 8:45 AM (#142564 - in reply to #142559) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Western US
It was too hard to find anyone that could work on it, in my area. If it was anything that involved anything electrical, I was SOL. No one had the diagnostic equipment, or the Know-How.
Posted 2012-03-28 8:51 AM (#142565 - in reply to #142548) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Western US
Hi retento,I looked at your link, and according to it, my max trailer weight is 16,360. According to the dodge book, it's even higher, so maybe I'm reading it wrong?Got rid of the FL because no-one could work on it, not even FL. They gave up on one of my error codes in 2008; literally GAVE UP. Said they didn't know what to do. :(
Posted 2012-03-28 9:30 AM (#142571 - in reply to #142565) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by AJS on 2012-03-28 8:51 AM
Hi retento,I looked at your link, and according to it, my max trailer weight is 16,360. According to the dodge book, it's even higher, so maybe I'm reading it wrong?Got rid of the FL because no-one could work on it, not even FL. They gave up on one of my error codes in 2008; literally GAVE UP. Said they didn't know what to do. :(
Check those payload weights.... Payload equals pin weight... You say your pin weight is 4700+# What is the pin/payload weight rating on the correct chart for your truck?
Posted 2012-03-28 9:54 AM (#142572 - in reply to #142544) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Western US
According to the brochure from Dodge, 4,550 (your literature says 4430). And I see that I looked at the wrong truck for my trailer max capacity, it's 19,550 on your chart. I do realize that 4550 is less than 4724, but it's the closest I could come in a "regular" truck. What I have yet to figure out is, why my trailer's pin weight is so high. According to the material I've found when searching the internet, is it should be about 25% of the trailer weight....I'm looking forward to re-weighing may whole rig, with the new truck, curious if anything will change much.
Posted 2012-03-28 8:57 PM (#142595 - in reply to #142544) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Veteran
Posts: 155 Location: North Salem, IN
Airbags certainly wont hurt, and they sure do improve the ride! I had a set of Firestone Ride-Rite airbags on my last Dodge, and they made a huge difference! I wish I had them on my GMC, but it already had an aftermarket helper spring system on it when I bought it. I sure do miss the airbags though.
Posted 2012-03-28 10:06 PM (#142601 - in reply to #142595) Subject: RE: How do I know if I need airbags?
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Western US
Thanks for the info, seems like that is my best course of action. That brand seems to be the one all the installers carry; good to hear a favorable recommendation.
How do I know if I need airbags?
