Air Bag to Spring Conversion & air over hydraulic brakes

[AJR75]

I know this one has had plenty of press before but a lot of the posts are getting a bit dated in terms of links so...

I have a couple of Artic trailers that I intend to convert to drawbar units. The metalwork side of things I'm comfortable with, (although still debating the merits of dropping one of the axles to go from 3 to 2).
However- these trailers come on air bag suspension and neither of my tractors have air. So does anyone in the TFF collective have any sources or links where I may be able to purchase the spring conversion kits please?

As my tractors don't have air, I'd also look to convert the brakes, thinking along the lines of air over hydraulic actuators to allow some form of future proofing. Does anyone have any experience of these or would a better and more cost effective option be to simply remove the actuators and replace with standard hydraulic braking rams?

 

[quattro]

I got some dual brake chambers a couple of months ago from parquip,devon

 

[AJR75]

How did you find them? I've seen them advertised.

 

[quattro]

Fitted straight on and worked spot on

 

[bobk]

Not keen on putting a drawbar on an artic trailer , they aren't designed for one

 

[AJR75]

@quattro. did they bolt directly onto where the existing chambers located?

 

[quattro]

@quattro. did they bolt directly onto where the existing chambers located?

Yes straight on old ones even came off without gas

 

[roscoe erf]

you can get a coil spring conversion for the airbags

 

[roscoe erf]

Not keen on putting a drawbar on an artic trailer , they aren't designed for one

no one is asking you too

 

[bobk]

no one is asking you too

Good job .

 

[Zebbedee]

Not keen on putting a drawbar on an artic trailer , they aren't designed for one

No you are correct they are not designed for a drawbar but correctly fitted with bracing in the correct places it makes a good farm trailer with most importantly good running gear and brakes which will actually stop you

 

[AJR75]

you can get a coil spring conversion for the airbags

Do you know who supplies these now?

 

[roscoe erf]

Do you know who supplies these now?

I been racking my head but I can’t remember google is your friend on this one

 

[Zebbedee]

Totrax were the guys advertising it but now out of business/taken over. I personally don’t think the spring replacement for the air bag would be a great setup? It will work in a fashion but you have no balancing effect between axles so unless trailer is parallel with road surface all the weight will be on one axle different drawbar heights on tractor and uneven ground will mean you would overload an axle very easily. Easy conversion though but staying with air is by far the best system and you will most likely have proper load sensing through air bag pressure for the brakes meaning no locking wheels ever! Convert back to steel suspension is the other option not too expensive but a bit of labour in it and not so great load sensing for brakes. Hancock trailer conversions on Facebook might be worth a try

 

[AJR75]

@Zebbedee the main issue I have is that my tractors don't have air- if they did it would be a much simpler conversion for this aspect of it. I've seen Hancocks on facebook and they look to do some very tidy conversions. Did try to get in touch but alas to no avail.

 

[Zebbedee]

AJR75 I know where you are coming from, if your tractors had air it’s easy, when are you planning of changing your tractors? If keeping for a while it may actually pay to put air on the tractors as the whole thing is a lot easier then and tractors will be worth a bit more too and able to pump tyres etc even have air horns ,,,, tandem axle as opposed to tri axle really depends on where axles are placed and where you decide to cut it I would try for tandem but you may need to stay tri for weight distribution also just easier I suppose. Another factor for staying air is no dual air/hyd chambers to buy or hoses etc also safer if trailer detaches from tractor etc all in all I would price fitting air to tractors

 

[Sheepy Shambles]

Is it possible to fit a 12 volt compressor to the trailer to run the suspension? Could be a simple solution if a compressor like that is available and use hydraulic brakes. That is what I want to do to our trailer so I can use it with the older tractor. The air bag suspension is ace on the road. Think you can get hydraulic compressors but they look expensive. Erentec think they are called used to have good website, might be worth a call.

 

[milkloss]

(although still debating the merits of dropping one of the axles to go from 3 to 2).

Depending on what you're going to carry. If just straw etc then I would consider dropping the rear axle off and maybe shortening the rear of the trailer to reduce overhang. This would be to reduce turning circle and friction on the turn.

I haven't done this myself but thought members might like to comment?

 

[Hesstondriver]

https://www.facebook.com/Hancock-Trailer-Conversions-271014196709768/photos/750919118719271

 

[2wheels]

you may be just as cheap converting your tractors to air?