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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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I was just reading about this product: Comfort Ride Slipper Spring system w/shocks , and thought it looked pretty cool.
I think I may upgrade to 8,000 lb. axles next year and this looks like it would be a good suspension upgrade. But I don't think I've ever heard of them before. The upgraded system fits over the equalizer hanger and is bolted in place, which would might make it possible to be done at home.
Has anyone every heard of, seen, or know of such a system on an actual trailer? I'm very interested in Pro's, Con's, assorted opinions, no matter how far afield they may wander. Hit me with them all!!
TIA
Howard
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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eHoefler
ozark mountains
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Joined: 10/22/2011
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I wouldn't recommend that system. No equalizer, means you have to to perfectly level or you will have unevenly loaded axles and tires if not level. The ride will be stiffer, on uneven roads, you will have each axle loading and unloading.
2021 Ram Limited, 3500, Crew Cab, 1075FTPD of Torque!, Max Tow, Long bed, 4 x 4, Dually,
2006 40' Landmark Mt. Rushmore
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Thanks for the input. The manufacturer puts forward the idea that not having an equalizer actually helps the trailer ride better since the axles work independently.
But this is why I wanted some input.
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Darryl&Rita
Grande Prairie, Alberta
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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Slipper spring setups used to be more common, especially on lighter trailers, but went away when the centre equalizer system came on the scene. There's no problem with unlevel, or stiffness, as suggested above. The main issue in their demise was wear in a non-replaceable area, mainly the pad welded to the frame. Shackles and bolts became wear points, but are easy to swap out.
***UPDATE 2006 3500 SRW MegaCab pulling a 2007 fleetwood 5'er
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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fj12ryder wrote:I was just reading about this product: Comfort Ride Slipper Spring system w/shocks , and thought it looked pretty cool.
I think I may upgrade to 8,000 lb. axles next year and this looks like it would be a good suspension upgrade. But I don't think I've ever heard of them before. The upgraded system fits over the equalizer hanger and is bolted in place, which would might make it possible to be done at home.
Has anyone every heard of, seen, or know of such a system on an actual trailer? I'm very interested in Pro's, Con's, assorted opinions, no matter how far afield they may wander. Hit me with them all!!
TIA
Howard
If you want to "upgrade" this is what you should do.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/4DLzZICl.jpg)
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600
2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable
2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD
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noteven
Turtle Island
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Joined: 02/13/2011
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Front slipper springs are about a $20,000 option over shackles and equalizer springs on the front of a twin steer 40k front Kenworth C500. They come with replaceable wear pads. Makes the truck more flexible off the flat road.
Back to regular programming.
I have an old diy flatbed made out of a tandem travel trailer chassis. It has slipper springs and equalizer, everything greaseable. It rides really nice, loaded or not.
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Thanks for all the input, it's looking better and better.
Thanks for the suggestion Cummins, but that would probably double the amount of money I spent already for the whole trailer. ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") Maybe with an unlimited budget...
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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fj12ryder wrote:Thanks for all the input, it's looking better and better.
Thanks for the suggestion Cummins, but that would probably double the amount of money I spent already for the whole trailer. Maybe with an unlimited budget...
The way I always look at investments is the basic cost is a certain amount. The price I look at is the amount above to get what I really want.
The get what I really want argument usually wins. ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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fj12ryder wrote:
Has anyone every heard of, seen, or know of such a system on an actual trailer? I'm very interested in Pro's, Con's, assorted opinions, no matter how far afield they may wander. Hit me with them all!!
Hi,
I ran into this several years ago when it was being developed. Roadmaster I "think" bought the rights to the system.
Here is where it started back in 2015/2016. The system was called the Liberty Rider suspension with the Joy Rider shocks. The shocks could be done separate if wanted.
Here is some info on the original setup. An article from RV Pro, June 2017 https://rv-pro.com/news/liberty-rider-serves-smooth-ride-updated/
A Trailer Life article from March 2016 on the system. I can't link it directly it seem, but click on the link Trailer Life magazine article when this RvRideControl web site comes up http://www.rvimprovementsystems.com/liberty_rider.html
In that TL article it also talked about axle alignment adjusters in on the axle seats. I just saw this now. I do not think the new system has this feature, but I created a very similar adjustable axle seat and I have it on my 10K TT in my sig. I have a post here on RV net if you want to see it. I built my own.
Here is a testing video from April 2016 showing what went on inside the the camper before and after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCW3ncx8ToE
Here is another testing video from March 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2-GReqUY-Q
Here is one of the original Joy Rider install videos by the Sonny Oct 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xofHjKQd3fo
This may be the early website of Sonny's company before the transfer to Roadmaster
http://www.rvimprovementsystems.com/products.html
In my case, in 2009 and 2010, I had already started upgrading my suspension with shocks, LT tires, self adjusting brakes, adjustable axle seats, heavier axle tubes, hanger reinforcement, upgraded brake wiring and the rubber equalizer before this slipper system was on the market.
You did not give many details on your trailer to know what you have now in suspension, but I'll pass along this tip to check out before you convert. Tire bump clearance with the inside of the wheel well. In my case I had to deal with a very low bump clearance between the OD of the tire and the inside of the wheel well under full suspension travel. My camper was setup from the factory lower then most and every upgrade in the equalizer area aggravated the problem. This forced me into longer hangers to create more lift of the camper but not going so high with an over/under axle conversion kit.
Point being, when you convert you will have independent wheel suspension and the ride height may change with the slipper center box. You may get more suspension travel and it may be starting at a different location then your original setup. I could not see different height center boxes for match up different hanger lengths campers on any of the offerings, including the Roadmaster.
If I did not have to rework so much, I may have gone to this slipper setup. Please report back how all this works out. And ideally a few pics.
Hope this helps
John
John & Cindy
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver
2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Thank you for the in depth information. It is very much appreciated, and will most certainly help with my decision on how to proceed.
My main problem with my toyhauler is I'm over my GVWR by about 500 lbs., which is why I'm leaning towards going to 8,000 lb. axles. And if I get 8,000 lb. axles, I'll need new suspension parts, and this system looks very interesting. I installed the EZ Flex equalizers on my previous toyhauler and it really helped with the ride of the trailer, especially over expansion joints and bridge joints.
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