Airbags or Timbrins,and a few other questions

[quickster]

Didn't know where to post this, so I figured I'd start here. So I might have to make a road trip back to that hole NJ, and I'm qualified to speak of it being that I lived there for 60 years. A guy has a skid steer for sale and it's cherry, and I think it's cheaper for me to get it than hiring a delivery company to ship it. Now I can do it two ways-drive empty and rent a uhaul one way back for 500 bucks, or pull my twin axle dump trailer both ways. What does the house think? Either way I'm thinking of getting bags or timbrins just to smooth it out a little. The machine is 5200 lbs, and I'm picking up some tools I left behind when I escaped. So maybe another 600 lbs. The truck in question is the 91 dually. It ride great with a trailer, but I know it's gonna be a pig loaded down. So I figure I'd help her out with one or the other. They cost around the same, maybe a little harder ti install the bags. Anybody with experience the input would be appreciated. I really don't want to go back, but it's a good deal on the machine. And just a side question---here in South Carolina I don't need tags on the trailer, but Jersey and afew other staes on the way up do. What kind of hassle should I expect? The trailer is brand new 10,000 lb rated and led lights.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Without any experience at all, I would guess that you could get a lot of hassle pulling that trailer around without tags. Especially across state lines.
My next question is do you really need the air bags or Timbrins? Yes it the trailer will be heavy, but how much of that weight will be on your truck? My thinking is that the trailer is to carry the weight while the truck is there to pull the trailer. With that in mind, I try to keep the weight fairly centered over the trailer axles, favoring the front of course. That way, the trailer axles will carry most of the weight. Unless your tools are big, they can be distributed around the skid steer to keep the weight centered. A few years back, I was working for a contractor. I got the job of driving 80 miles south to pick up some special shingles that weren't available in the town where I was working. I was pulling a bumper pull dump trailer similar to what you're going to use. Naturally the forklift operator wouldn't listen to how I wanted the load to be put in the trailer. The rear bumper of the truck was about 8" off the street when the trailer was loaded. I had to hand carry about half of a pallet of shingles from the front to the back of the trailer one bundle at a time, in about 100* heat, sideways because there was only about a foot of room on either side of the pallets. It took some time and effort, but after I was done, the truck's bumper was sitting MUCH better. I had no issues going back along the interstate except for the two rough bridges along the way. I kept the speed to 70 instead of the 75 speed limit to be slightly safer. The '08 Chevy Duramax puke had no trouble pulling the load which we figured was about 12,000 lbs and was (most likely) too heavy to be legal for that trailer. It was all about keeping the weight more centered and not trying to set any land speed records while pulling the load.

 

[quickster]

I know the truck would handle the weight ok. The machine would be over the axles. But then I would load the bed up too. I'm more worried about the untagged trailer. The trailer I drove down here with my bike and tools had a tag, but it was about 15 years since I registered it. Once I got out of Jersey I was good. I was thinking I'm going to have to carry the title for the trailer with me to show the police it belongs to me. Stolen trailers down here is a big thing because you can't track them.

 

[Nero]

If the trailer isn't tagged, I wouldn't risk it. Easy way for someone to snipe it and say it's their own.
As for air bags, you can never go wrong with bags. Really helps smooth out the ride, even if just pulling a trailer.

 

[Greenie]

It seems like if the trailer doesn't need a plate in your home state (you should print out the registration requirements to show any officer who might stop you) you should be able to use the trailer non-commercially in other states. I don't think most LEOs care that much about trailers.
True story... A couple from Indiana towed two trailers (5th wheel camper and a car on a trailer behind that) from Indiana where it is/was apparently legal to tow two trailers to Maine - crossing six states where only one trailer can be towed without incident. No traffic stops, no "don't do that again"... nothing. If I didn't see it with my own two eyes I never would have believed it.

 

[Nero]

That's supposedly legal in Arizona to pull dohbles with a class C license, but you'll definitely get pulled over in Oregon for that, regardless where you originated from.

 

[quickster]

Well I got a price of 950 to ship it down here. I think I might just do that. Go get my tools another time. I won't need a trailer for them. Just jam them in.

 

[snicklas]

It seems like if the trailer doesn't need a plate in your home state (you should print out the registration requirements to show any officer who might stop you) you should be able to use the trailer non-commercially in other states. I don't think most LEOs care that much about trailers.
True story... A couple from Indiana towed two trailers (5th wheel camper and a car on a trailer behind that) from Indiana where it is/was apparently legal to tow two trailers to Maine - crossing six states where only one trailer can be towed without incident. No traffic stops, no "don't do that again"... nothing. If I didn't see it with my own two eyes I never would have believed it.

Doubles are legal in Indiana, as long as you are less than 70 or 75 feet in total lenght…. A buddy of mine used to tow his 30’ Travel Trailer and a Jet Ski or Jon Boat behind it….

 

[Old Goat]

I installed Fire Stone Air bags on my 86 F-250 last June.
At 331K miles, I guess the rear Springs are a bit tired. When I throw on my 22ft Bumper Pull car trailer, it really drops the rear of the truck.

I followed this You Tube vid, and bought them from the link he posted from Amazon.

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When you drill the holes to install the bracket, make sure you have some good quality Drill Bits instead of the C H I C O M HF Bits....and use oil.

I didn`t add them to haul more weight, just wanted the truck leveled out when I do haul something.



Goat

 

[quickster]

Goat, all I want them to do is keep the truck from sagging and swaying. Just ride better. I'm probably going to do them cuz if I get the machine shipped, I still have to pull it around here.

 

[u2slow]

Basic overload springs used to be the go-to. Several of my dodges have them. Only one appears to be factory.

Proper setup is have about 1.5" gap to the stops so they're not engaged until you have a big load on.

 

[Brian VT]

My truck came with bags like that. It used to carry a camper.
I haven't messed with them yet. They seem to be empty (I can mush the side in with a finger).
Maybe I'll throw a few pounds in there to see how it affects the unloaded ride.

 

[Black dawg]

If that truck has the overloads on top of the main leaf pack (and it should), it will have no issue with that load.

 

[Nero]

My truck came with bags like that. It used to carry a camper.
I haven't messed with them yet. They seem to be empty (I can mush the side in with a finger).
Maybe I'll throw a few pounds in there to see how it affects the unloaded ride.

I also have Firestone bags.

I would look into doing something with yours. It's bad on the rubber to drive them with zero air in them, manual says to have at least 5psi in them. It doesn't raise the ride height, but helps protect the bags from wear.

 

[quickster]

So the wife is telling me to bite the bullet and drive up so I can get everything I need so I won't have to go back. I wonder how many times I'll get pulled over for no plate. My bro in law is a retired NJ state trooper and he told me count on it. And every other state I go thru. Lol