I've been waiting for a truck maker to come out with something like this for a long time now. Leaf-springs should be a thing of the past. They use the trailing arm suspension on larger Polaris RZR models, so I guess it could work well for off-roading too
What prevents lateral/side-to-side movement? There’s only one pivot mount on each side. This should be a 5- link system on this heavy of a truck especially with load
Great video. Too bad the air tank for the RV install is subject to road debris. The equipment trailer dealer (Jayhawk) I highly endorse after buying trailers from them for years.
+truculent, you could always add on a skid plate around the air tank for a level of protection from debris and it can hug the tank, but make sure you leave space for the bleed valve.
Is this available for cars as well?? Many older cars (both muscle cars as well as other classics) have leaf springs that do not serve the car very well.
Most semi-trucks don't have front air bags, but Class A RV's do. For safety if you were to get an air leak, you'd want a giant air compressor to not have a steering problem. Someday they will offer a front air system, but it will take more R&D before they are to that point.
Buses have them on all axels, I love the ride, you can drive all day without piss being jarred out of you, my Ram 2500 CTD rides great stock for a big heavy 4x4, but would like to improve it, the front end you just replace the spring with a bag I thought, but a weaker spring and bag combo would work too, love what your stories on it
Ok your still talking a bus vs a semi. When trucks pull, it acts more like a semi. you need comfort in the rear and the front to be planted. You loose air in the front , your truck will loose part of its full steering capabilities As all the weight is in the rear. A bus is solid frame, if it looses front air, the weight is more evenly distributed over the whole system allowing the front to sink but keep full steering capabilities.
I'm totally sold on this suspension. I can see its benefits on handling, breaking, accelerating and cornering. Not to mentioning when carrying big loads. However I like to take my truck off-road from time to time. I know it will soak up the rough stuff better, but what about suspension travel? It worries me that it will shorten it making my truck less off-road capable. Is it the case? Have you tried going off-road with your F-250 with the Auto Flex suspension? What are your thoughts on it MrTruck.?
MrTruckTV Can't wait to see your review on it! Do you know if it will have the same rear wheel travel as the standard F-150 leaf springs? I wouldn't like to loose off road performance...
air only is great, until the bag leaks. so I prefer the hybrid steel+air springs. also, I prefer independent axles for trailers, like the Timbren, which track 10x better than solid axles.
This video is not Airlift. It's AutoFlex. It's designed like semi-trucks. They designed and sell air ride for semi trailers for decades. It has the big air lines, 100% duty cycle air compressor. It is commercial quality.
+Timothy Hoffman The early clinking noise is a microphone cable hitting the tripod. When the air bad is deflated, there is a rubber bumper inside the bag just like semi-trucks that is a stop. Also there is a steel stop on the swing arm if you loose air that only lets the arm go so far
I don't understand how it (the truck version) flexes in an off camber situation. It looks like it is designed to go up and down but if you were to drive over uneven ground, it looks like one rear wheel would be in the air.
Does Trailer Flex add height to the camper? I have a 5th wheel Raptor Toy Hauler Tri axel trailer when parked, if I let the air out, will unit be lower than it sits now w springs?
Is the ride improved dramatically? I've got a 2016 Ram 3500 dually and would like to improve the ride as it's also my daily driver. Since my truck levels out fine when towing and this system is going for approximately $2,700 USD, I don't want to lay out that kind of money if the ride isn't really improved. Thanks
i have been looking, for any contact on this to ask some question about the price and instalation of this suspension, but it seems that kind impossible. please let me know who should i call to know about price and order of this items. good design. i like it.
I have a 01 sierra 2500HD ex cab short bed and it feels alot of reverberation from bumps in the cab because if the stiffer leaf springs, would this eliminate that and make it ride smoother kinda like a car back there with an unloaded truck?
Auto Flex is a complete air suspension like a semi-truck. The leaf springs come off. The aftermarket air bags like Firestone Ride Right and Air Lift are air bags you had to the trucks existing leaf Hotchkiss suspension. It's night and day comparison. I hope OEMs all go to complete air ride on heavy duty pickup trucks like Semi's did 40 years ago.
Kyle Bairstow It does have bump stops if it looses air, but it also has redundant backups like shot offs on the air bags and compressor so you can keep air in the bags.
They are working on the front. These air systems are for loading and towing trailers. They'll make for models as they go. They have a trailer system that is taking off on RV trailers and hotshot trailers
+snakyjake1, alo provide for redundancy in my oopinion if say the read or front bag gives out the other bag can handle safely until you replace the blown bag.
Not yet, most semi-truck have rear air not front air. RV Class A can have front and rear air, but it takes a larger air compressor to keep the front from not dipping if there was an air leak. So it takes tackling some safety issues on a front air system
I don't see a side to side track bar. This system has been tried before. In time the rear end will move from side to side. You have to have a Track bar.
If you don't think the compressor is up to your needs they offer upgrades to the compressor and larger air tanks . You can reach them at . 1070 Gorham St Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5X5 info@autoflexsuspensions.com Tel: 807-623-0590 Fax: 807-623-0854
I get spending this kind of $$$ for heavy hauling on a PSD Dually. But on a 6.2 3.73 SRW gasser?? Doesn't make sense. This is coming from a guy with a '11 F-250 6.2L 3.73, which squats like crazy with any kind of load. I fixed mine with an add-a-leaf and Timbrens.
+Eric Harris, if air bags are used on Semis like i drive, you can be sure that air much more better ride than leaf or leaf with added weight to help aid the original when loaded. Seems like your leaf springs have a defect if they are squatting so much. If i was you I would invest in a air suspension, they do hold up weight much better and air bags are used to move some pretty heavy loads, not just for suspension which it helps with smother ride than leafs. Also the added benefit of an air system is as he demonstrated is you can use air tools or to inflate a tire low on air.
That's a pretty expensive suspension conversion kit so why does the company supply crappy Skyjacker shocks? For that kind of money, they should not cheap out on shocks. A good set of Bilstein's or Rancho's would make the ride even better. You should invest in a set for your F250, the ride would be improved even more.
+Cordel Posch (cposch) i was thinking the same thing but changing from the leafs to that solid steel tubing acts as if you put traction bars on it. So what you are seeing is the truck actually lifting up instead. Still though it looks bad but it actually isnt. get what im saying?
I’m glad I’m not the only one. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t 100 comments on that ridiculous wrap. The pinion angle had to be 15 degrees apart on takeoff
No maintenance?! R u joking?! Even had the air lines freeze on a semi? Dies this system have an air dryer? Automatic dump valve for the water in the tank? Who is going to get under the truck or trailer to drain out the water? It collects daily. I have trailers with springs that haven't needed maintenance is 20 yrs. U r way over selling how great air bags r. Unless u r hauling $50k horses it's not worth it.
You can put a dryer on it, you can add alcohol in the tank. I drain my air tank every couple years. The filter on the valve has not gotten dirty in 4 years. Not sure why.
You say the trailer has 12.5k axles and 30k gross, sir I hate to tell you but your math is wrong. If it had 12.5k axles the gvwr would be 25k but load trail doesn't make a gr model with 12.5k axles. If that one does gross at 30k then it's a gr30 with dual 15k axles and a gvwr of 30k. The other models trail load offers is the gr22 with dual 10k axles and a 22k gvwr, and the gr24 with dual 12k axles and 24k gvwr. Also hate to say it but don't see any DOT numbers on the side of the truck. At the 30k mark your way past DOT territory.
+Michael Hopwood The math is different. After 30k on a trailer, most companies go with axle rating but under that horse trailer and commercial manufactures often give you axle gross rating plus 20% or more for tongue weight that is given to the truck so that the GVWR is axles plus tongue. Some state patrols do the same thing. We borrow these media trucks, I can't put my DOT number on their trucks. I have a DOT number I use for my interstate trailer and my intrastate trailer.
+MrTruckTV if you read the entire thing I wrote you'll notice where I said load trailer does t use 12.5k axles. And as far as not being able to put your dot number on borrowed trucks, I have a door magnet that has all my dot information on it that can go between power units if needed.
+Michael Hopwood My DOT is on a door magnet also, but it's still not legal for me to use my DOT number on someone else's truck, just like I can't do an annual inspection on someone elses truck and trailer.
+Gator Pantz My last truck was diesel. If I towed 16k all the time, I would have a diesel. But now I tow mostly 12k, so my gas engine sames me money. I get new review trucks that are diesel for the goosnecks I tow.
Semi trucks have been using this set up for several decades on there suspension, for both truck and trailer, and on the cab of the truck. I think the technology has proven itself worthy. The bags are rated for about ten years before you have to replace them.
I have just installed them on my Ram3500 Dually. Thank you Auto Flex! I love my new air suspension. No more loose fillings for me!!
How much do they cost? Just wondering, thanks.
Mine were about $5000.00 USD :))
OK, Thanks man.
Adrian G. Pop
Depends on the exchange rate. They are made in Canada. Presently running about 3050.00 USD
Wow, a useful system for a real working man. Posers need not apply. This is an awesome idea!
I've been waiting for a truck maker to come out with something like this for a long time now. Leaf-springs should be a thing of the past. They use the trailing arm suspension on larger Polaris RZR models, so I guess it could work well for off-roading too
tbone0785 n
7 years later I'm curious what auto manufacturers have incorporated this into their production vehicles?
Ram so far, but it's different. Toyota Tundra 2022 will have air option
What is the noise that is generated while driving on a less than perfect road? What is the bushing setup in the front trailing arms?
The bushings are the same brand Ford uses on truck suspensions. 1-807-623-0590 or www.autoflexsuspensions.com
What prevents lateral/side-to-side movement? There’s only one pivot mount on each side. This should be a 5- link system on this heavy of a truck especially with load
It is, it has a rear tracking bar
Great video. Too bad the air tank for the RV install is subject to road debris. The equipment trailer dealer (Jayhawk) I highly endorse after buying trailers from them for years.
Yes, I recommend Jayhawk as well
+truculent, you could always add on a skid plate around the air tank for a level of protection from debris and it can hug the tank, but make sure you leave space for the bleed valve.
Is this available for cars as well?? Many older cars (both muscle cars as well as other classics) have leaf springs that do not serve the car very well.
Why didn't you do the front too, I want a full bag system for the ride
Most semi-trucks don't have front air bags, but Class A RV's do. For safety if you were to get an air leak, you'd want a giant air compressor to not have a steering problem. Someday they will offer a front air system, but it will take more R&D before they are to that point.
Buses have them on all axels, I love the ride, you can drive all day without piss being jarred out of you, my Ram 2500 CTD rides great stock for a big heavy 4x4, but would like to improve it, the front end you just replace the spring with a bag I thought, but a weaker spring and bag combo would work too, love what your stories on it
Ok your still talking a bus vs a semi. When trucks pull, it acts more like a semi. you need comfort in the rear and the front to be planted. You loose air in the front , your truck will loose part of its full steering capabilities As all the weight is in the rear. A bus is solid frame, if it looses front air, the weight is more evenly distributed over the whole system allowing the front to sink but keep full steering capabilities.
Would of been nice had they demonstrated the air bags in action while having the 5th wheel attached. Dumping and raising to see live time reaction.
I thought I did in one of the video's. I have several video's. I'll be sure it's in the next Auto Flex video.
Great review!
Thanks
I'm totally sold on this suspension. I can see its benefits on handling, breaking, accelerating and cornering. Not to mentioning when carrying big loads. However I like to take my truck off-road from time to time.
I know it will soak up the rough stuff better, but what about suspension travel? It worries me that it will shorten it making my truck less off-road capable. Is it the case? Have you tried going off-road with your F-250 with the Auto Flex suspension?
What are your thoughts on it MrTruck.?
I would relate this suspension to the benefit it has on the road. I think for extreme off road use, the wheel travel would be limited
I see... I was hopping that by adding Auto Flex to a F-150 I'll get something similar to the Ram 1500 air suspension... Thanks for your expert input!
dvillalba3d Auto Flex is working on an full air suspension replacement for the F150
MrTruckTV
Can't wait to see your review on it!
Do you know if it will have the same rear wheel travel as the standard F-150 leaf springs? I wouldn't like to loose off road performance...
I’m gonna guess you have trouble keeping u-joints in that pickup lol. That axle was all over the place
I replaced U-joints a 120,000 miles, don't attribute that to the suspentions
air only is great, until the bag leaks. so I prefer the hybrid steel+air springs. also, I prefer independent axles for trailers, like the Timbren, which track 10x better than solid axles.
Well semi trucks and trailers have air bags for over 40 years, I suppose it's not a big problem or they couldn't make living on the road
true. so, you are saying the airlift quality is equal to commercial rigs?
This video is not Airlift. It's AutoFlex. It's designed like semi-trucks. They designed and sell air ride for semi trailers for decades. It has the big air lines, 100% duty cycle air compressor. It is commercial quality.
excellent. your vid and comments are much appreciated. plz excuse my confusion.
No problem, thanks for watching
what is that awful clunk I keep hearing as the air bags bottom out when the air is released? Are there no rubber stops to cuchion that?
+Timothy Hoffman The early clinking noise is a microphone cable hitting the tripod. When the air bad is deflated, there is a rubber bumper inside the bag just like semi-trucks that is a stop. Also there is a steel stop on the swing arm if you loose air that only lets the arm go so far
What about offroading with that set up?
+Jack O New off-roading set up is out now
Do have any follow up reviews on the Auto Flex.
Not yet, they have a second air system that I want to try and review but don't have it yet
I don't understand how it (the truck version) flexes in an off camber situation. It looks like it is designed to go up and down but if you were to drive over uneven ground, it looks like one rear wheel would be in the air.
Does Trailer Flex add height to the camper? I have a 5th wheel Raptor Toy Hauler Tri axel trailer when parked, if I let the air out, will unit be lower than it sits now w springs?
+Coley L It should be the same height, when you dump the air, it will be 4-5 inches lower than you are now
Does that truck have centramatic wheel balancers, and if so, how do they work?
Teddy Monroe Here is the story about Centramatic wheel balancers, bigtirebalancers.com/
Is the ride improved dramatically? I've got a 2016 Ram 3500 dually and would like to improve the ride as it's also my daily driver. Since my truck levels out fine when towing and this system is going for approximately $2,700 USD, I don't want to lay out that kind of money if the ride isn't really improved. Thanks
+T Hud Yes the ride is dramatically improved. l'd say it improves the Ram 3500 dually the most
i have been looking, for any contact on this to ask some question about the price and instalation of this suspension, but it seems that kind impossible. please let me know who should i call to know about price and order of this items. good design. i like it.
+Beatriz Alvarez Sure call the brothers Dereck and Paul whom build Auto Flex and Trailer Flex, (807) 623-0590
+MrTruckTV thank
thats a lot of lateral movement when making those evasive moves
I have a 01 sierra 2500HD ex cab short bed and it feels alot of reverberation from bumps in the cab because if the stiffer leaf springs, would this eliminate that and make it ride smoother kinda like a car back there with an unloaded truck?
+2005llyduramax Yes, the Ultimate, which is a 5 link system. I'm putting one on my truck next month.
+MrTruckTV are you going to be making a video of it before and after like this, or installation?
+2005llyduramax Yes, that's the plan
+MrTruckTV Look forward to it, Thanks
How does the compare to the competitors (Firestone, Air Lift, Hellwig)?
Auto Flex is a complete air suspension like a semi-truck. The leaf springs come off. The aftermarket air bags like Firestone Ride Right and Air Lift are air bags you had to the trucks existing leaf Hotchkiss suspension. It's night and day comparison. I hope OEMs all go to complete air ride on heavy duty pickup trucks like Semi's did 40 years ago.
feel kind of dumb asking this but what happens if you lose your air?
i.e. line cut, bag rips. etc
does the suspension just sit on the new bumpstop
Kyle Bairstow It does have bump stops if it looses air, but it also has redundant backups like shot offs on the air bags and compressor so you can keep air in the bags.
only the back? what about the front?! id want to drop the front 5" also for aero down the highway.
They are working on the front. These air systems are for loading and towing trailers. They'll make for models as they go. They have a trailer system that is taking off on RV trailers and hotshot trailers
Does AutoFlex allow you to compensate for off balance loads like a Truck camper?
Yes
Thanks Kent.
Fords definitely needed the lift.
Do you have a system to lower the front end as well?
+Joe slinger not yet
Would this system work on a chevy 3500 dually that is lifted 8 inches?
+Adh Snoopy Not sure, call 807-623-0590
Why the twin bags vs single?
On some duallies especially GM 3500, there wasn't room for one big air bag. And then 2 bags improved the ride some more.
+snakyjake1, alo provide for redundancy in my oopinion if say the read or front bag gives out the other bag can handle safely until you replace the blown bag.
Are those Firestone Air springs?
Thank you
Yes
you make anything for H&H TRAILERS
anthony marasco I'm sure they do, we putting them on my Load-Trail soon. Call Derick and Paul (807) 623-0590
Where can I get it how much is it
It should be in the description, website ph.
do yall do anything to the front end?
Not yet, most semi-truck have rear air not front air. RV Class A can have front and rear air, but it takes a larger air compressor to keep the front from not dipping if there was an air leak. So it takes tackling some safety issues on a front air system
How do these do on a lifted truck?
They aren't made for lifted trucks
My uncle could use that pulling his 25 thousand pound trailer behind his f-150.
I don't see a side to side track bar. This system has been tried before. In time the rear end will move from side to side. You have to have a Track bar.
Yes, they have a tracking bar
I didn't see one
Look at 8:00
that impact is useless with the CFM that compressor puts out. useful for filling tires and maybe a blow gun.
I have used my impact with the Auto Flex. It's 100% duty cycle.
If you don't think the compressor is up to your needs they offer upgrades to the compressor and larger air tanks .
You can reach them at .
1070 Gorham St
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 5X5
info@autoflexsuspensions.com
Tel: 807-623-0590
Fax: 807-623-0854
I get spending this kind of $$$ for heavy hauling on a PSD Dually. But on a 6.2 3.73 SRW gasser?? Doesn't make sense. This is coming from a guy with a '11 F-250 6.2L 3.73, which squats like crazy with any kind of load. I fixed mine with an add-a-leaf and Timbrens.
+Eric Harris, if air bags are used on Semis like i drive, you can be sure that air much more better ride than leaf or leaf with added weight to help aid the original when loaded. Seems like your leaf springs have a defect if they are squatting so much. If i was you I would invest in a air suspension, they do hold up weight much better and air bags are used to move some pretty heavy loads, not just for suspension which it helps with smother ride than leafs. Also the added benefit of an air system is as he demonstrated is you can use air tools or to inflate a tire low on air.
That's a pretty expensive suspension conversion kit so why does the company supply crappy Skyjacker shocks?
For that kind of money, they should not cheap out on shocks.
A good set of Bilstein's or Rancho's would make the ride even better.
You should invest in a set for your F250, the ride would be improved even more.
What happened to y'all???
No idea, they are still in Canada
Y'all still liking these setups? Do you sell them?
I liked them, no I don't sell them. there should be a link in the description@@dude3146
talking about axle wrap like crazy
+Cordel Posch (cposch) i was thinking the same thing but changing from the leafs to that solid steel tubing acts as if you put traction bars on it. So what you are seeing is the truck actually lifting up instead. Still though it looks bad but it actually isnt. get what im saying?
I’m glad I’m not the only one. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t 100 comments on that ridiculous wrap. The pinion angle had to be 15 degrees apart on takeoff
No maintenance?! R u joking?! Even had the air lines freeze on a semi? Dies this system have an air dryer? Automatic dump valve for the water in the tank? Who is going to get under the truck or trailer to drain out the water? It collects daily.
I have trailers with springs that haven't needed maintenance is 20 yrs.
U r way over selling how great air bags r. Unless u r hauling $50k horses it's not worth it.
You can put a dryer on it, you can add alcohol in the tank. I drain my air tank every couple years. The filter on the valve has not gotten dirty in 4 years. Not sure why.
You say the trailer has 12.5k axles and 30k gross, sir I hate to tell you but your math is wrong. If it had 12.5k axles the gvwr would be 25k but load trail doesn't make a gr model with 12.5k axles. If that one does gross at 30k then it's a gr30 with dual 15k axles and a gvwr of 30k. The other models trail load offers is the gr22 with dual 10k axles and a 22k gvwr, and the gr24 with dual 12k axles and 24k gvwr.
Also hate to say it but don't see any DOT numbers on the side of the truck. At the 30k mark your way past DOT territory.
+Michael Hopwood The math is different. After 30k on a trailer, most companies go with axle rating but under that horse trailer and commercial manufactures often give you axle gross rating plus 20% or more for tongue weight that is given to the truck so that the GVWR is axles plus tongue. Some state patrols do the same thing.
We borrow these media trucks, I can't put my DOT number on their trucks. I have a DOT number I use for my interstate trailer and my intrastate trailer.
+MrTruckTV if you read the entire thing I wrote you'll notice where I said load trailer does t use 12.5k axles.
And as far as not being able to put your dot number on borrowed trucks, I have a door magnet that has all my dot information on it that can go between power units if needed.
+Michael Hopwood My DOT is on a door magnet also, but it's still not legal for me to use my DOT number on someone else's truck, just like I can't do an annual inspection on someone elses truck and trailer.
+CrackHead476 what is your problem?
Warp stabilization always makes me sick when I watch videos like this.
who the hell buys a gas f250
+Gator Pantz So I'm the only one?
+MrTruckTV just thought you might get a diesel conaidering how much you use your truck for towing
+Gator Pantz My last truck was diesel. If I towed 16k all the time, I would have a diesel. But now I tow mostly 12k, so my gas engine sames me money. I get new review trucks that are diesel for the goosnecks I tow.
woild not last in africa,.
Aren't there roads in Africa
Yeah no thanks, I trust leaf springs way more than a rubber bag that will get old and pop
Semi trucks have been using this set up for several decades on there suspension, for both truck and trailer, and on the cab of the truck. I think the technology has proven itself worthy. The bags are rated for about ten years before you have to replace them.