Champagne and TrailAir hitch

[Cumminz]

I am not a fan of the TrailAir hitch. Had one on my DayDreamer when I first purchased it. Came out of AZ. on I-40 and hit some rough road and ended up bending the bolt that held the shocks on the hitch. Did nothing for the chucking. Ended up installing a HitchCrafter.com double bag air bag fifth wheel hitch in the truck bed and a DemCo hitch for the RV. Best combination in the world. MY REAL question and concern is how the TrailAir and my HitchCrafter will work together. Being there will now be three bags working. I may have to scrap the TrailAir for another DemCo. Please view my website for photos of the installation of DemCo and HitchCrafter.

2007.5 3500 RAM

[SilverbackMel]

I guess that's why they make different products for similar applications. For me, airbag Trail Air has worked flawlessly and no, zero, chucking.

TV is 2008 Dodge, 6.7, 2500 with added spring leaf suspension.

A lot of tow issues can be traced to improper set up.

[Jim34RL]

CumminZ

You may need to pull the camper home and just see if the two systems interfere with each other. They shouldn't but you never know until it is done.

I too have the TrailAir king pin box and a manual slider hitch on my truck. This is my second 5er with the TrailAir king pin box and I have always like the ride with them. There has been no chucking with my set-up but I think this has more to do with the clearance between the hitch jaws an the king pin, less slop less chucking.

[W5CI]

Cummins if you hit a bump hard enough to bent the shock mount bolt you didn't have the proper air pressure in the air bag IMHO, I have the TrailAir and it works great on my Cedar Creek

[Telstar]

I have. been pulling our 2005 36' Cardinal equipped with a TrailAir pin box for 40,000 miles since it was new. Never had an issue and would have another one if I were buying a new 5th wheel today. I also have the TrailAir CenterPoint suspension.

[tedstr]

Have Trail Air on my Silverback and am very pleased with its operation. I can look in the rear view mirror and see a steady RV with some movement of my truck. There is a limit on how big of a bump any air shock can dampen out. I also have Air Lift airbags that raise the rear of the truck to keep it level under load. Great combination.

[Cumminz]

Jim if someone has a very loose fit at the jaws they better be swapping it out. I don't think a bad fit has anything to do with chucking. I think the bent shock bolts were the fact that the threaded rod Fr sent me with the double shocks was grade three instead of hardened rod. Both shocks were filled to top of arrow. Some RVs due to weight distribution and pin weight cause chucking. The way you have your brake controller setup can cause chucking. The DD had a TrailAir and it chucked and adding the DemCo stopped it. That year I sent TrailAir a video of my DemCo and suggested they add a DemCo type slide to their TrailAir. The next year they started marketing their TriGlide.

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[Cumminz]

This is the shock setup I had when shock bolts benton my CC DayDreamer.

[spock123]

I have a Trailair pin box on my Cedar Creek that I purchased at the Cedar Creek factory and I guess it works. Most people say to air up the bladder until you see the top of the arrows but no matter how much air I put in the bladder I can't see the top of the arrows. The bladder leaks, it will only keep 100lbs in the bladder for a day and the next day the bladder has to pumped up again. I kinda wish I had put a Mor-Ride on.


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[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Cumminz

This is the shock setup I had when shock bolts benton my CC DayDreamer.

Did you add the second shock? An easy mod that I'll now consider for dampening. Id add mounting tabs to the outside though. Not that it needs it but I just can't leave good enough alone.

Normally it's only one shock in the center. It's no wonder you bent the bolt because there is no mounting tab on the outside of the 2 shocks.

Originally Posted by spock123

I have a Trailair pin box on my Cedar Creek that I purchased at the Cedar Creek factory and I guess it works. Most people say to air up the bladder until you see the top of the arrows but no matter how much air I put in the bladder I can't see the top of the arrows. The bladder leaks, it will only keep 100lbs in the bladder for a day and the next day the bladder has to pumped up again. I kinda wish I had put a Mor-Ride on.

Find and repair the leak. Could be leaking where the fitting threads in or the schrader valve is bad. Both easy fixes. Mine takes about 62 psi to put it in it's sweet spot.

[Telstar]

Looks to me like you have too much air in the bag. The. Bottom of the piston cover should be at the top of the arrow.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Telstar

Looks to me like you have too much air in the bag. The. Bottom of the piston cover should be at the top of the arrow.

Not if the landing gear is down and supporting the weight.

[Cumminz]

05,. Yes I added the second shock. Forest River sold it to me and the two mounting bolts. The threaded rods were soft. Yes it needed outside help. If if if, the TrailAir works with my double bag truck hitch I to will add another one to it.

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[spock123]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Did you add the second shock? An easy mod that I'll now consider for dampening. Id add mounting tabs to the outside though. Not that it needs it but I just can't leave good enough alone.

Normally it's only one shock in the center. It's no wonder you bent the bolt because there is no mounting tab on the outside of the 2 shocks.









Find and repair the leak. Could be leaking where the fitting threads in or the schrader valve is bad. Both easy fixes. Mine takes about 62 psi to put it in it's sweet spot.

What is the sweet spot?


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[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by spock123

What is the sweet spot?


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Every trailer will be different based on pin weight. For mine the 62 psi puts the indicator arrow at the edge of the shocks dust shield, right where manufacturer recommends. You set ride height with the weight on the pinbox, landing gear up.
This sets it about the middle of the stroke so it doesn't bottom out or ride to rough. What I call "the sweet spot".

[spock123]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Every trailer will be different based on pin weight. For mine the 62 psi puts the indicator arrow at the edge of the shocks dust shield, right where manufacturer recommends. You set ride height with the weight on the pinbox, landing gear up.
This sets it about the middle of the stroke so it doesn't bottom out or ride to rough. What I call "the sweet spot".

Oh lord the only way I see the top of the arrows is not be hooked up, I come closer to seeing the bottom on the arrows. I was told at the factory(Cedar Creek) not to worry about where the arrows ended up at. I put 125lbs of air in the bladder and still didn't see the top of the arrows like in your photo, nowhere close. Do you think something might be wrong with mine?


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[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by spock123

Oh lord the only way I see the top of the arrows is not be hooked up, I come closer to seeing the bottom on the arrows. I was told at the factory(Cedar Creek) not to worry about where the arrows ended up at. I put 125lbs of air in the bladder and still didn't see the top of the arrows like in your photo, nowhere close. Do you think something might be wrong with mine?


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125psi is way high. Try this.

Hook the trailer up with the landing gear UP for transport.
Then bleed/leak some air out a little at a time.
Watch the arrow to see the dust shield move until the dust shield edge lines up with the arrow. This should be the correct ride height.

I think you have so much air in yours it's at the top of the stroke and probably rides like it has NO suspension.
Follow up with a post of your results. You need to get this figured out because if not you're not benefitting from having it at all.

[spock123]

I didn't say it stayed at 125lbs, at 65lbs it will not move off the bottom. I can start out at 100lbs and start dropping the air pressure and watch the arrows disappear. I run at 100lbs and about half the arrows are hid.


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[18CrewDually]

Maybe I need a pic to get what you're saying.
If I'm reading it right then you actually need more air to get it higher and closer to the point of the arrow?

[SilverbackMel]

80 psi makes the top of the arrows and a GREAT RIDE. 2015 Silverback 33rl. You can find comparable specs on FR web site.