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My DIY 3rd air bag TrailerSaver hitch


CHIEFWAHO
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I had purchased new rear air bags for my TrailerSaver hitch awhile back.

Decided it was time to get them on and while at it add a 3rd air bag.

After some research I believe I figured out what air bag to use .

Went ahead and removed the swing arm.

20180518_192928.jpg

20180518_192941.jpg

2 holes drilled, down approx 3" from top edge and centered to opening.

20180518_192952.jpg

My homemade bracket.

20180519_130551_1.jpg

20180519_130559.jpg

20180519_130635.jpg

Test fit and mark new hole location in the base plate.

20180519_130951.jpg

20180519_131003_1.jpg

 

New rear bags ready to go in.

20180520_095849_1.jpg

 

New holes for bracket mounting.  Drilled and tapped for 3/8" bolts.

20180520_095901.jpgBrack

 

Bracket sandblasted and painted with new 3rd air bag mounted.

20180520_095913.jpg

20180520_095926.jpg

 

Finished product.

20180520_115444.jpg

20180520_115456_1.jpg

 

I'm in about $120 for the 3rd air bag.

 

 

Edited by CHIEFWAHO
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On 5/22/2018 at 1:54 PM, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

Nice! If you ever need to dampen the recoil from the bags, disconnect the air from '3rd" bag and plug the line.  It acts like a return spring/snubber for those 14% pin weight trailers.   

My new Trailersaver came with a third air bag.  My trailer pin weight is fairly light.  I will have to recall the weight sheet.  So I would disconnect the third bag and let the air run in/out and thereby making it act like a rebound shock absorber.  Interesting idea.  Do I need to put some kind of filter on it to keep the dirt out?    

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13 hours ago, NeverEasy said:

My new Trailersaver came with a third air bag.  My trailer pin weight is fairly light.  I will have to recall the weight sheet.  So I would disconnect the third bag and let the air run in/out and thereby making it act like a rebound shock absorber.  Interesting idea.  Do I need to put some kind of filter on it to keep the dirt out?    

I plugged ours.  But it was only for a 1600 mile trip.  

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Very nice.  Appreciate the detail and bag part number.  Question..... I see a shock absorber.  The hitch I just installed is a TSLB and there is no shock.  Was that added to the TSLB2H and not mine?  Seems to me a shock would be beneficial.  Stop any basketball type bounce.  Thinking the 3rd airbag as a damper could do the same work as a shock.  I hooked up today for the first time and inflated the 2 bags so the white line was at the top of the lower frame.  Air pressure in the bags was 60 psi.  Hensley manual says not to exceed 50 psi.  Any feedback?  I may need a third airbag.  Do not know my exact pin weight but figure 3,500 to 4,000 with 18K to 19K at 22%.  It would be nice to have your project in the Resource Guide.

 

Edited by RandyA
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8 hours ago, RandyA said:

Very nice.  Appreciate the detail and bag part number.  Question..... I see a shock absorber.  The hitch I just installed is a TSLB and there is no shock.  Was that added to the TSLB2H and not mine?  Seems to me a shock would be beneficial.  Stop any basketball type bounce.  Thinking the 3rd airbag as a damper could do the same work as a shock.  I hooked up today for the first time and inflated the 2 bags so the white line was at the top of the lower frame.  Air pressure in the bags was 60 psi.  Hensley manual says not to exceed 50 psi.  Any feedback?  I may need a third airbag.  Do not know my exact pin weight but figure 3,500 to 4,000 with 18K to 19K at 22%.  It would be nice to have your project in the Resource Guide.

 

Randy, some of the Trailersavers had 1 shock in the middle like this one, some had 2 mounted on the outside of the hitch.  I pulled with and without the shock on ours and really can't tell the difference.  

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14 hours ago, RandyA said:

Very nice.  Appreciate the detail and bag part number.  Question..... I see a shock absorber.  The hitch I just installed is a TSLB and there is no shock.  Was that added to the TSLB2H and not mine?  Seems to me a shock would be beneficial.  Stop any basketball type bounce.  Thinking the 3rd airbag as a damper could do the same work as a shock.  I hooked up today for the first time and inflated the 2 bags so the white line was at the top of the lower frame.  Air pressure in the bags was 60 psi.  Hensley manual says not to exceed 50 psi.  Any feedback?  I may need a third airbag.  Do not know my exact pin weight but figure 3,500 to 4,000 with 18K to 19K at 22%.  It would be nice to have your project in the Resource Guide.

 

I'm going to research this more. But found where these show to be the same bag. GoodYear 1B 8-1 579-913-532 is the same as the Air Lift 58124. And the Air Lift is a Single Industrial Air Suspension Spring bag. That Air Lift uses.

Also my hitch has the outside shocks, one each side.

Pete

Edited by Pete Kildow
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On 5/22/2018 at 9:16 AM, CHIEFWAHO said:

I had purchased new rear air bags for my TrailerSaver hitch awhile back.

Decided it was time to get them on and while at it add a 3rd air bag.

After some research I believe I figured out what air bag to use .

Went ahead and removed the swing arm.

20180518_192928.jpg

20180518_192941.jpg

2 holes drilled, down approx 3" from top edge and centered to opening.

20180518_192952.jpg

My homemade bracket.

20180519_130551_1.jpg

20180519_130559.jpg

20180519_130635.jpg

Test fit and mark new hole location in the base plate.

20180519_130951.jpg

20180519_131003_1.jpg

 

New rear bags ready to go in.

20180520_095849_1.jpg

 

New holes for bracket mounting.  Drilled and tapped for 3/8" bolts.

20180520_095901.jpgBrack

 

Bracket sandblasted and painted with new 3rd air bag mounted.

20180520_095913.jpg

20180520_095926.jpg

 

Finished product.

20180520_115444.jpg

20180520_115456_1.jpg

 

I'm in about $120 for the 3rd air bag.

 

 

Do you know what thickness the ball mount is made out of? Keep looking for one to use on my hitch. And buddy of mine tole me he could build for a little of nothing. I would guess 1/2" but would rather know for sure.

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When I converted my TS into a three bag system the shock was removed. I had a single shock - the TS was 2002 vintage - and I bought it new. Later model TS frames had the holes already there for the third bag, even if the bag was not present. But on the older frames, you have to drill the holes, as shown above.

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