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Old 09-11-2019, 06:46 PM   #1
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air ride trailer hitch

Has anyone used an air ride trailer hitch? If so did it work well ?

I tow my boats as well as other boats behind my bus and it beats them to pieces. I think the long overhang exaggerates the motion and shakes the trailer and of course the boat on it. Both of my own boats have been damaged on long trips that towing with a pickup has never done. So looking for a way to dampen the motion between bus and trailer.

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Old 09-11-2019, 09:21 PM   #2
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What is your overall length at most?
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Old 09-12-2019, 05:50 AM   #3
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Depends on which trailer, but can be 65ft
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Old 09-12-2019, 07:59 AM   #4
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https://images.app.goo.gl/aTE8M9vLQhJRMf5s6

Something like this? Won't make backing easier but will eliminate the bobbing tail in transit.
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Old 09-12-2019, 09:27 AM   #5
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https://youtu.be/DCnn-x5KYdA

This is what I am looking at.
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Old 09-18-2019, 06:38 PM   #6
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I bought a "shocker hitch". Here it is on the bus, will try it out this weekend
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Old 09-18-2019, 07:27 PM   #7
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If you are getting bobbing, it's because your load is not properly distributed on the trailer and there's too much tongue weight.
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Old 09-18-2019, 09:13 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
If you are getting bobbing, it's because your load is not properly distributed on the trailer and there's too much tongue weight.


on a bus you might have 8' or more back of the rear wheels - that amplifies the up and down motion of the back of the bus - that lifts the trailer tongue up and down a lot - on a bad road, it could really throw the load on the trailer around to the point of damaging the load
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Old 09-18-2019, 09:18 PM   #9
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I was on rt 88 in New York state and it is old concrete in some parts of it, and it is rather rough. An air ride seat would have been nice for me. I am sure my trailer was getting a good shaking for it. I have close to 10ft from the axle centerline to the hitch. Lots of motion there.
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Old 09-18-2019, 09:35 PM   #10
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I bought a "shocker hitch". Here it is on the bus, will try it out this weekend
Let us know your impressions of its performance in this matter.
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Old 09-18-2019, 11:15 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Sleddgracer View Post
on a bus you might have 8' or more back of the rear wheels - that amplifies the up and down motion of the back of the bus - that lifts the trailer tongue up and down a lot - on a bad road, it could really throw the load on the trailer around to the point of damaging the load
Point taken
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Old 09-19-2019, 08:10 AM   #12
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My thoughts also. In the demo video, it is evident that the hitch does what it says in a typical installation (pickup truck) but multiply the axle-to-bumper distance severalfold and I'm not so sure even that fancy hitch will be adequate to dampen the vertical bouncing. I'm eager to hear back though!
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Old 09-19-2019, 11:10 AM   #13
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Just in our driveway my wife walked along beside it and reports the trailer stays level with the hitch moving nicely. I am not expecting the hitch to take out the full range of motion, but anything is better then it was. It has rubber snubbers so when it reaches the end of travel it is not a hard jolt.

Will let you all know this weekend.
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Old 09-19-2019, 01:13 PM   #14
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Hopefully that will at least be enough cushion to save your boats!
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Old 09-19-2019, 07:32 PM   #15
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Just fell down this rabbit hole and found this site for the Trailer Toad, never seen one before, but it looks like in addition to eliminating the tongue weight, it would remove your long overhang issues too.

TrailerToad.com
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Old 09-19-2019, 10:51 PM   #16
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Just fell down this rabbit hole and found this site for the Trailer Toad, never seen one before, but it looks like in addition to eliminating the tongue weight, it would remove your long overhang issues too.

TrailerToad.com
I watched their videos and it looks like it would put a lot of horizontal loading on the hitch when making corners due to tail swing of the RV... unless I was missing something. A trailer set up with the axles positioned to have no tongue weight could use a hinged tongue like a dump truck and pup set up.

Ted
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Old 09-20-2019, 03:42 AM   #17
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That was my first suggestion as well although I'm dubious of the claim it'll back a trailer conventionally unless I'm missing something as well.
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Old 09-20-2019, 07:13 AM   #18
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It is a very pricey option, and complicated, interesting though. However for the price of the thing my wife could follow in the pickup pulling the boat cheaper.

For a delicate rv that can not take much tongue weight it might be a good thing, but tongue weight is not my issue, just trying to take the shock out between the bus and trailer. By the way the shocker hitch is rated for 12,000 towing, and 1200 lbs tongue weight. The largest boat I normally haul is 10,000lbs.
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Old 09-20-2019, 07:15 AM   #19
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That was my first suggestion as well although I'm dubious of the claim it'll back a trailer conventionally unless I'm missing something as well.
I wonder if it has a steerable axle? would think it would have to. I did not look real close at it but did see pins that I think get put in for backing that lock it straight.
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Old 09-20-2019, 07:24 AM   #20
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Have you thought about converting the springs to air ride?
Would be involved but you're a handy dude, Ronnie. Then we could all watch along lol.
I'm jealous of Josh and Hillary's full air ride bus with OD!

Interested in hearing about the air ride hitch thingy. Looks really cool.
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