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Old 06-11-2011, 11:44 PM   #46 (permalink)
skyking
Master EcoModder
 
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,399

Woody - '96 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT
Team Cummins
90 day: 23.82 mpg (US)

Avion and Woody - '96 Dodge/Avion Ram 2500/5th wheel combo
90 day: 15.1 mpg (US)

TD eye eye eye - '03 Volkswagen Beetle GLS
90 day: 49.05 mpg (US)

Mule - '07 Dodge Ram 3500 ST
Thanks: 743
Thanked 528 Times in 344 Posts
I think about it all the time. I am putting a kelderman-like rear single bag at the back spring mount today, Have that all fabbed up waiting for the air bags to come in.
http://www.keldermanairride.com/pdf/...uctions_2_.pdf
Something similar to that with some differences in how the swing arm is captured.
The air ride 5th wheel in the bed is something I dreamed up. It works pretty good so far. You hit a big bump, look in the mirror and watch the 5th wheel travel about 3" soaking that up. I accidentally made it home from the beach with a full glass of water on the counter!
I am constructing my own pin box with an elastomeric bearing in it, and thinking about an air slide feature that will let me bring the trailer in close to a fairing. I'd set a minimum distance that would accommodate the angle I can get driving forward with the wheel hard over. I could pull the pin with air, lock the trailer brakes just like a pup trailer and slide it back for maximum maneuvering.
I figure no more than a foot of travel but that could be huge in the aerodynamic department.

I don't know what brand of torsion axle, probably either al-ko or dexter. They do seem a bit "stiff", not moving much when I jacked the rig up to do a brake job. It does look good in the mirror going down the road, appears to ride nice.
I can weigh my rig for free at the State DOT scale on the way to and from our beach lot. They are very nice dual pad digital scales. I have checked the rig and adjusted the front ride height several times. I have the axles at 4200 and 4020, which is pretty close to a perfect balance.
I have backed onto them with only one side on and checked lateral balance as well.
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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 with 6MT
2003 TDI Beetle
2002 TDI Beetle

currently parked - 1996 Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbodiesel
Custom cab, auto, 3.55 gears
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