tow hitch with air suspension question

[Mega Cab Bob]

I tow a lot and often long distances. I have a 9500 pound trailer going to tow 3000 miles coming up in May. My truck has air suspension and trailer does have torsion axles. I have been wondering about using a hitch like SHOCKER with an air donut to take jar and vibration out of trailering. Since I often travel interstate as well as back country highways, is this overkill? I am hoping to take as much stress out of my trailer as I can but do not want to spend money for spending sake.

Any opinions out there?

Bob.

 

[John Jensen]

I used to sell and use the original air ride hitch. I can attest that they work great. They totally eliminate the trailer bonce traveling to the truck. What I sold has changed names several times and is now called Air Safe.

I am not familiar at all with the Shocker thus I have no comments about it.

The only reason I no longer tow with an air ride is the weight. I can no longer pick up an air ride with an adapter and Equaliser hitch head attached.

 

[corneileous]

I would think 600 bucks for a hitch like that would be overkill but do you really have that much jerking when you tow this trailer? I’ve never pulled a trailer with torsion-bar suspension that I know of unless if whether or not Uhaul uses that on their 6x12 enclosed trailers.

But what is your tow vehicle? Half-ton? 3/4-ton?

But if a cushioned hitch is what you’re after, they make much cheaper options.

https://www.reesehitches.com/produc...icHYkDXawJVW1-VJ9XZz95x_20eH4GKkaAoYGEALw_wcB


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[Mega Cab Bob]

Thank you for the response John. Below is a link for Shocker Hitch. Similar, but perhaps less robust than the Air Safe system.

https://shockerhitch.com/

Bob.

 

[Mega Cab Bob]

corneileous,

I just have some electronics like radar on my boat trailer and am always looking to limit jarring and shock as much as possible as I often trailer long distances. I appreciate the link and am looking into it.

Bob.

 

[corneileous]

corneileous,

I just have some electronics like radar on my boat trailer and am always looking to limit jarring and shock as much as possible as I often trailer long distances. I appreciate the link and am looking into it.

Bob.

Must be a big boat to weight that much. Lol. That’s why I never assumed it was a boat we were talking about but see, how will any of these discussed hitches help jarring and shock on the trailer? I thought these types of hitches were made more for protecting drivetrains on tow vehicles from trailer surging. Never used one but I guess they go both ways on how they work?


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[Mega Cab Bob]

The hitch taking out trailer vibration is an assumption of mine as any input, jarring, vibration etc. is a two way travel, both to the truck and trailer. The trailer has torsion axles which does make the ride for trailer much better than conventional springs. My thinking is if the hitch is dampened as well, it will translate to better trailer care as distances being pulled can be substantial.

Bob.

 

[crash68]

I've towed about a 7K lbs boat with my cushioned ball mount. It doesn't have an air bag on it, it uses polyurethane bumpers inside to dampen the forward/backward jarring of the trailer. It works good with trailers that have surge brakes.

 

[Mega Cab Bob]

Trailer At Home

• Mega Cab Bob
• Feb 19, 2021

Boat and trailer come in around 9 - 9500 pounds depending on how she is loaded. Torsion axles...

Can that take up to 10 000 pounds of trailer, mine is like 9500. That looks to be the hitch that corneileous posted a link to.

 

[corneileous]

Can that take up to 10 000 pounds of trailer, mine is like 9500. That looks to be the hitch that corneileous posted a link to.

The one I posted handles up to 14,000/2000 pounds trailer weight but whether it matters, the hitch that crash posted has a longer suspension travel than the one I posted.


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[Mega Cab Bob]

I see, thanks for clarifying. I appreciate the info from all of you guys! I added a picture in post number 9. Boat sits on trailer a bit over 12 feet high - and has a bit over 4 feet freeboard on the bow. That pic does not have radar yet.

Bob

 

[crash68]

The one I posted handles up to 14,000/2000 pounds trailer weight but whether it matters, the hitch that crash posted has a longer suspension travel than the one I posted.

I have the 10K version of the one you posted. The picture I posted is a cut-away to show the inside detail.
@Mega Cab Bob keep in mind that towing receiver/draw bars have a safety factor in the ratings, putting 9500 lbs on a 10K parts is safe.
Being you have an HD truck, you'll want to find a 2.5" draw bar like this to keep the rattling to a minimum.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/Convert-A-Ball/AMSCV-4.html
They offer different size drop/rise measurements to match your boat tongue height.