Air Shocks
What about air shocks on a towing rig. Anyone use these instead of air bags? Or is that to much pressure on the shock mounts?
Forum Discussion
Real people scaled weights show that about equal amount of weight is transferred to the front axle as to the trailer axles. The same amount as both is removed from the rear axle. Consider this example:
A trailer with 1000 pounds of TW. Drop the tongue on the ball.
Front axle loses 400 pounds
Rear axle adds 1400 pounds
Net 1000 pound TW
Apply WD bars
Front axle same as no trailer
Rear axle adds 800 pounds over no trailer, so removes 600 from no WDH at +1400 pounds
trailer adds 200 pounds
Net 1000 pounds of TW.
If one can understand that example, that 1000 pounds of TW increases rear axle by 140% of TW and decreases front axle by 40% of TW, then maybe he could understand how overloaded a TV can appear. Nose high/rear end sag huh?
There are lots of overloaded 3/4 tons too, many are diesel crew cabs towing 5th wheel RVs. Again, they may be overloaded too! 2000 pounds of payload with 15k tow ratings. People want to buy 12k dry with 2k dry pin weight end up 1000 pounds over GVWR quickly. Why are people surprised? Adding weight centered over the rear axle is not the same as adding weight 4 feet behind it. There is little affect on front axle weight of 5th wheels and rear suspension aids may be helpful. But they again can mask overweight situations. And I rarely see 3/4 tons towing trailers that appear overloaded.
A trailer with 1000 pounds of TW. Drop the tongue on the ball.
Front axle loses 400 pounds
Rear axle adds 1400 pounds
Net 1000 pound TW
Apply WD bars
Front axle same as no trailer
Rear axle adds 800 pounds over no trailer, so removes 600 from no WDH at +1400 pounds
trailer adds 200 pounds
Net 1000 pounds of TW.
If one can understand that example, that 1000 pounds of TW increases rear axle by 140% of TW and decreases front axle by 40% of TW, then maybe he could understand how overloaded a TV can appear. Nose high/rear end sag huh?
There are lots of overloaded 3/4 tons too, many are diesel crew cabs towing 5th wheel RVs. Again, they may be overloaded too! 2000 pounds of payload with 15k tow ratings. People want to buy 12k dry with 2k dry pin weight end up 1000 pounds over GVWR quickly. Why are people surprised? Adding weight centered over the rear axle is not the same as adding weight 4 feet behind it. There is little affect on front axle weight of 5th wheels and rear suspension aids may be helpful. But they again can mask overweight situations. And I rarely see 3/4 tons towing trailers that appear overloaded.
