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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
  
Location: In my own world | So my new LQ trailer finally arrived last week. So excited. But it rides like total crap on my truck!!
I haul with a 2015 Chevy 1 ton dually with a Duramax
Now pulling a 2015 4Star 3 horse slant load with a 13ft short wall, Trail Boss LQ, got bigger tires and axles, axles are blocked, ramp and generator on top.
it's very rough riding, what are my options? Somebody said you can put bags on the springs of my truck? Would a Ram 5500 have better springs? I can't find much info on a 5500 on their website. I see lots of people pull rigs like this or bigger with the same truck but I feel like I need a bigger truck!! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Airbags on your truck |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 887
Location: MN | Yep, airbags. We had to do the same when we had a Chevy under the trailer. |
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | thanks, we didn't know if there was much of a difference in a 5500 vs a 3500
I'm use to buzzing around in a 98 Featherlite 3h with a dressing room in it. I don't feel it back there!! this is quite the change. I am so glad I kept my little trailer too |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | just don't cheap out on the bags! |
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  Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | I had the same problem with a 15'sw Elite..... did the air bag on the ball, still was too rough so had that taken off and I had air bags put on the axles of the trailer. That took care of the whole problem although it was expensive, but probably not anymore than if I had done the air bags on my truck. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Ouch!! Glad there is a solution! I have a 2015 GMC 1 ton and we're about to get a new trailer (although not that big of a SW)... Guess I better have the shop do airbags when I get my hitch put in!! Learn something new everyday on this board! Haha |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Get Great top notch air bags on pickup and this hitch rocks! Key word AND
http://www.codyhitch.com/cody%20cushion.htm
Edited by SG. 2015-03-24 9:24 PM
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | Glad to know there are some options. We won't cheap out. After what I spent on the trailer I'm not cheating out on the bags. I knew it would pull different but it's jerky every time you hit a bump. And with MO roads......well you bounce all over the place! They are crap too!! |
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | Longneck - 2015-03-24 9:04 PM Ouch!! Glad there is a solution! I have a 2015 GMC 1 ton and we're about to get a new trailer (although not that big of a SW)... Guess I better have the shop do airbags when I get my hitch put in!! Learn something new everyday on this board! Haha
Are you getting the feeling we are twins or something? Same saddle color, both have 2015 trucks, I got a new trailer, your are getting one.....oh wait you are smart, you ride a gelding!!!!
i have 5 mares. Lol |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| 5500 do have good suspension for pulling, much better then a 3500, they are rougher then everything else if you are not pulling anything.
Research the airbags, as I know people who have had airbags pop, brackets bend, and brackets bust off due to weight. |
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | cheryl makofka - 2015-03-24 10:53 PM
5500 do have good suspension for pulling, much better then a 3500, they are rougher then everything else if you are not pulling anything.
Research the airbags, as I know people who have had airbags pop, brackets bend, and brackets bust off due to weight.
My truck is for pulling only unless I feel like driving it. But I hate hooking and unhooking so it pretty much stays hooked up. Which is why we considered a 5500. Hubby has his own truck and I have an SUV. I use it to get feed and his truck if necessary |
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Member
Posts: 20
Location: Penrose , Colorado | we have a 4 horse C & C with 18' LQ and it can be pulled with our Dodge dually but stopping it is another matter so it is hooked to our Dodge 5500 the biggest part of the time, yes empty the truck rides a little rougher but there is no comparison on stopping ability and weight carrying. too many out there do not consider stopping what they are pulling. |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | We had a 4 horse Elite with a 13' SW and had airbags on the hitch, pulling with a 3500 and it was pretty good. We traded in that truck for a F350 and also got air bags put on the truck and it made a world of difference.
If you get airbags on the truck remember to let the air out if you are not hauling anything. You will have a very rough ride if there is still air back there. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | rodeomom3 - 2015-03-24 8:21 PM
Airbags on your truck
Yep, get some suspension air bags!!  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
| cuttergal - 2015-03-25 9:05 AM
too many out there do not consider stopping what they are pulling.
I have always heard that.
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 Expert
Posts: 1257
Location: Colorado plains standing on a goat head! | UTAHCANCHASER - 2015-03-25 8:09 AM We had a 4 horse Elite with a 13' SW and had airbags on the hitch, pulling with a 3500 and it was pretty good. We traded in that truck for a F350 and also got air bags put on the truck and it made a world of difference.
If you get airbags on the truck remember to let the air out if you are not hauling anything. You will have a very rough ride if there is still air back there. Also, I would recommend getting the compressor to go with the airbags, it is more money but very convenient. I have a Ram 3500 and a 4 horse with a small LQ, there are times when I adjust the air going down the road to smooth out the ride according to the load and the road conditions. My Firestone air bags recommend a minimum of 10 pouinds pressure with no trailer on. I drop them to 5 to hook and unhook and then go to around 20 depending on the load of trailer or a big load of hay on the truck. That is enough to level the truck out and smooth out the ride for my rig.
ETA: +1 for the air hitch!
Edited by paysonw 2015-03-25 10:57 AM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | livinonlove&horses - 2015-03-24 10:45 PM Longneck - 2015-03-24 9:04 PM Ouch!! Glad there is a solution! I have a 2015 GMC 1 ton and we're about to get a new trailer (although not that big of a SW)... Guess I better have the shop do airbags when I get my hitch put in!! Learn something new everyday on this board! Haha Are you getting the feeling we are twins or something? Same saddle color, both have 2015 trucks, I got a new trailer, your are getting one.....oh wait you are smart, you ride a gelding!!!!
i have 5 mares. Lol
 We can be BHW soul mates! |
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 Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | You probably should put an aiirbag on the coupler.....there are several options. I have friends with all of these and each one is happy with their choice, and it made a huge difference....
p.s...I have the Supersprings on my Dodge because I pull some pretty big trailers, and I love them, but my last truck had airbags and I liked them better....
Edited by Cindy Hamilton 2015-03-25 11:20 AM
 (Cody Goosneck Hitch Cushion.jpg)
 (My Air Hitch.JPG)
 (Shocker.JPG)
Attachments
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 Cody Goosneck Hitch Cushion.jpg (24KB - 151 downloads)
My Air Hitch.JPG (11KB - 139 downloads)
Shocker.JPG (17KB - 139 downloads)
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | My trailer is just a tad bigger than yours and when I borrowed my parents 2015 GMC, I LOVED it. Very smooth and quiet. I wonder if it has anything to do with your pin weight and how the trailer is balanced. My 2010 handles the trailer fine, but is a rougher riding truck with or without the trailer. |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | How much does it cost to have air bags put in your truck? I have an 04 Dodge 3500. Our 4H 12' LQ Bloomer pulls great but our flatbed could definitely use some extra cushion. We were thinking about an air ride hitch. Is the Cody Cushion a good choice? It doesn't seem too expensive compared to some others we have seen.
Edited by Just Bring It 2015-03-25 11:53 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
Location: Princeton, Minnesota | I have airbags on my F350 dually and they do help keep your truck from squatting too much, but was shocked how rough my trailer hauled at first. Opened the back doors and everything had shifted to the back of the trailer. I found that raising the gooseneck one notch to put a little more weight on the trailer wheels made the biggest and best difference. Barely noticeable that it isn't perfectly level. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | You will notice a HUGE difference with airbags. |
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Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | battlebrook - 2015-03-25 12:27 PM I have airbags on my F350 dually and they do help keep your truck from squatting too much, but was shocked how rough my trailer hauled at first. Opened the back doors and everything had shifted to the back of the trailer. I found that raising the gooseneck one notch to put a little more weight on the trailer wheels made the biggest and best difference. Barely noticeable that it isn't perfectly level.
depending on how much tilt your trailer is can make a big difference in your horses body being sore or not. If you have a big degree of tilt your horse will have to adjust his stance and long distance trailering could cause stiffness when you unload. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 705
Location: Weatherford, TX | We have a 2008 4H 4Star with 17.5ft Outlaw LQ. We pull with a 2007 Chevy Duramax 3500HD Dually. We have air bags on the truck and air ride on the trailer. It has no issue pulling or stopping. This truck pulls better than our old GMC Kodiac 4500. I think our air bags were around $3.000.00.
Edited by Gator Bug 2015-03-25 4:36 PM
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 Chin Hairs
Posts: 1028
Location: Indiana | Have you hauled your trailer with it loaded yet? With bigger axels it may pull rough if you don't have enough of a load in it.
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Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | Just Bring It - 2015-03-25 10:47 AM How much does it cost to have air bags put in your truck? I have an 04 Dodge 3500. Our 4H 12' LQ Bloomer pulls great but our flatbed could definitely use some extra cushion. We were thinking about an air ride hitch. Is the Cody Cushion a good choice? It doesn't seem too expensive compared to some others we have seen.
I want to say ours where around $2500. |
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Blessed
Location: Here | Gator Bug - 2015-03-25 4:33 PM We have a 2008 4H 4Star with 17.5ft Outlaw LQ. We pull with a 2007 Chevy Duramax 3500HD Dually. We have air bags on the truck and air ride on the trailer. It has no issue pulling or stopping. This truck pulls better than our old GMC Kodiac 4500. I think our air bags were around $3.000.00.
Say WHAT???
I have these and I just put air hose to them I didn't do the fancy control thing but I got mine installed and bought for $600...
http://riderite.com/Air-Rite%20Product%20Detail |
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | cheryl makofka - 2015-03-24 11:53 PM 5500 do have good suspension for pulling, much better then a 3500, they are rougher then everything else if you are not pulling anything. Research the airbags, as I know people who have had airbags pop, brackets bend, and brackets bust off due to weight.
Ditto...a 5500 with an 11 foot flat bed will rattle your teeth out of your skull, unless it's pulling something.
When we went truck shopping we were looking for a 3500. We ended up with a 5500 and there are NO regrets (even with the stupid dodge recalls). 4 horse dreamcoach with LQ and fully loaded you have to remind yourself there's a trailer behind the truck :) |
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | TT's - 2015-03-25 4:37 PM Have you hauled your trailer with it loaded yet? With bigger axels it may pull rough if you don't have enough of a load in it.
I haven't yet. That is one thing my husband is curios to see if there is a difference. In concerned about the horses having a smooth ride. I didn't get air on my trailer. |
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Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | missroselee - 2015-03-25 6:15 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-03-24 11:53 PM 5500 do have good suspension for pulling, much better then a 3500, they are rougher then everything else if you are not pulling anything. Research the airbags, as I know people who have had airbags pop, brackets bend, and brackets bust off due to weight.
Ditto...a 5500 with an 11 foot flat bed will rattle your teeth out of your skull, unless it's pulling something.
When we went truck shopping we were looking for a 3500. We ended up with a 5500 and there are NO regrets (even with the stupid dodge recalls). 4 horse dreamcoach with LQ and fully loaded you have to remind yourself there's a trailer behind the truck :)
I don't have to drive this truck on a daily basis unless I'm feeling froggy. Which means it stays hooked up. I have a big SUV I drive daily. I even take it to get feed |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | We had our trailer raised because the newer GMC trucks tend to have a higher back area and I was afraid of bumping the truck bed! After that the trailer pulled better, I guess the angle change made the difference?! We do have air bags in another truck but they are extremely expensive and we have burned one "generator" that keeps the air shocks raised!! I would go to the trailer dealer and see what they think. |
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Expert
Posts: 1257
Location: Colorado plains standing on a goat head! | UTAHCANCHASER - 2015-03-25 4:16 PM Just Bring It - 2015-03-25 10:47 AM How much does it cost to have air bags put in your truck? I have an 04 Dodge 3500. Our 4H 12' LQ Bloomer pulls great but our flatbed could definitely use some extra cushion. We were thinking about an air ride hitch. Is the Cody Cushion a good choice? It doesn't seem too expensive compared to some others we have seen. I want to say ours where around $2500.
I think my Firestone setup was about $1K installed. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Rough country has a leveling kit for the dodge diesels that sit up high in the rear, my 06 ram 4x4, did one for a customer and he said it made big diference in the way the truck handled. Also, couple years ago installed am air bag kit on a dodge truck that hauled cars on a wedge trailer those air bags did not last 2 months but i dont know how heavy he had the trailer loaded. Wondered about those air hitches as i have a 14 foot short wall 3 horse. Does not drop my trailer a whole lot just wondered if would ride better on horses part. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Appears to be a lot of different, apple vs. oranges conversations. First, look at your overload springs that I believe your truck has. These are the top spring on the spring pack and the ends would not be connected. As weight is applied, they hit a stop and increase the stiffness of the springs. IF these are just about to touch, when you hit a bump, they than touch with very little give and a "slap" to the suspension is felt. Overload springs either need to never touch the stop or always touch the stop for the best ride. Hope that makes sense. Only way to change is to add or remove weight on the truck.
Second, there are air bag gooseneck trailer hitches available. I have no experience with these, but, like any air system, they are only as good as the maintenance.
Third, there are 3 difference types of ride assist options that I know of.
Timbrens are the most budget friendly and they are a rubber stop that just bolts on your truck. Should be around $200-$400 and anyone can install if you can run a wrench. They are very well received.
Air bags assist-these assist the springs in limiting the "give" in the spring. Less "give", less sag. In my experience they do help a little in ride, but mostly made to eliminate sag. You can either get them with manual air (like putting air in a tire), or an on board compressor that can either be manually or automatically controlled. Costs from $300-$1200 depending on options, model, etc. Most popular option.
The true air ride system is complete replacement of the spring pack and shocks on the truck. All linkages are replaced, and air bags replace the springs. This is what most semi trucks have. You need an on board compressor and most are automatically controlled. These are the Cadillac of the air systems. We have one on our 4500 and it rides like a 1/2 ton truck-loaded or unloaded. Costs are from 3-5000. There is some maintenance involved in keeping this system operating.
One thing nobody mentioned is that it could be a shock issue on the truck. If your shocks are worn, you will have more "bounce reverberation" from the rear axle when you hit a bump. Stock shocks on the Chevy 3500 are not that good IMO. We replaced ours with Blistens and it is like night and day difference.
One other thing you might check is air pressure in the truck and trailer tires. Over inflation could lead to these symptoms.
You might experiment with where you place the load in the trailer. I know our old Hart trailer rode better with the stalls used 1-2-3-4 in order when hauling a partial load. Our new Hart, with bigger LQ, it rides better with 2-3-4-1 load.
Good luck! |
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