Media Release - May 2008
Trade vehicle tray specialists engineer super safe air helper suspensions for extra capacity one-tonners.
One of Australia’s leading trade vehicle tray engineering specialists is installing air suspension kits as standard when its tray bodies are fitted to one tonne trucks.
Baker and Priem is employing Firestone Ride-Rite® kits to support the extra load the leaf-sprung trucks will be equipped to carry, ensuring a smooth and even ride with enhanced steering, stability and braking safety for both individual and fleet customers.
“When you put a service body onto a light truck chassis, the one tonner becomes a much more versatile and load-capable vehicle. It carries all the materials and equipment the tradesman needs on the job, which can mean a lot of additional weight. Extra support for the suspension is essential,” said Mario Colalillo, general manager of Baker and Priem, which also manufactures export-quality vehicle protection bars.
“We’ve been fitting the Ride-Rite air bags for five years now. They act like a spring as well as a cushion, supporting the truck tray and improving the ride,” said Mr Colalillo, whose company has 20 years experience in its field, Australia-wide. The Ride-Rite air bag kits from NSW distributor All Air Suspension bolt between the vehicle’s rear axle leaf springs and the chassis to absorb the increasing weight of loads that cause vehicles to sag or lean. Featuring the same type of tough Firestone air springs used underneath semi trailers, the air helper suspension act to prevent imbalances that result in hazardous driving conditions and wear and tear on the vehicle's tyres, suspension and frame.
Ride-Rite springs work with the existing suspension to re-level loaded vehicles to their ideal configuration, which is with frame and body parallel to the axle, as in an unloaded vehicle. The kits have benefits when the vehicle is loaded or empty, towing or not towing, because the air pressure takes the strain off existing metal springs, preventing sagging and helping them to last longer. Their inflation is fully adjustable, to ensure the correct ride for the load the truck is carrying.
Baker and Priem fit truck trays, service bodies and cabovers on vehicles for many types of tradespeople, including plumbers, builders, electricians, cleaning contractors, painters, light delivery, landscape gardeners, window glaziers, vehicle servicers, farm contractors and drillers – in fact any tradesperson who gives an onsite service. The truck fittings are custom-fabricated or ready made.
“All the extra weight on a loaded tray is over the rear wheels, so that’s where we fit the Ride-Rite air suspension. Without the added support the suspension would sag and give a hard ride. With air bags fitted, the suspension is 100 per cent better,” Mr Colalillo said.
“Some people try to do without the extra suspension support, or try fitting stronger springs instead, but they always come back to air bags as a solution.
“Air bags have been standard on road trains and semi-trailers for decades. Now the light truck market is finding out just how good they are.”
Some of the Baker and Priem truck bodies have in-cab controls to adjust the air suspension, while others are controlled by external means, such as a tyre inflation compressor.
“You adjust the inflation so that the loaded truck tray is level. Since the air bags have individual controls you can choose different pressures on each side if the load is uneven.
“Provided you have the proper kit and tools, the air suspensions are not difficult to fit to the vehicle. They’re value for money and very durable – we’ve never known a blow-out. This isn’t surprising as they’re made by Firestone, the best name in the business,” Mr Colalillo said.
All Air Suspension say one of the big attractions of air helper suspensions is that it can iron out difficulties presented by unevenly loaded vehicles by putting additional suspension support where it is needed, under toolboxes, drums or heavy materials for construction and maintenance tasks.
“They also help eliminate tail drag when towing and help keep the vehicle level when cornering,” say All Air. “Because Ride-Rite can be tuned to different loads and roads, the system helps stop vehicles bouncing around on rough roads and evens them up so you don’t get erratic braking or your lights shining up into the faces of oncoming traffic at night.”
All Air Suspension is NSW and ACT distributor for Ride-Rite air helper suspensions in association with national distributor Airbag Man, headquartered in Queensland. The kits are manufactured in Australia by AirBag Man incorporating high quality Firestone airbags and are available for many popular leaf-spring vehicles, including 4wds, utes, vans and light trucks operated throughout areas ranging from the suburbs to the Outback. Coil-Rite® kits are also available for a wide variety of col-sprung vehicles, as well as full air conversions for coil sprung vehicles.
Ride-Rite springs are inflated by standard workshop compressors or optional onboard compressor systems. They can handle 0-7 bar (0-100 psi) and up to 1100kg each (subject to chassis gross vehicle weight limits).
Ride-Rite products and accessories include:
- Basic Ride-Rite kits for different types of vehicles, including two air helper springs, air lines with separate tyre-type inflation valves, hardware for proper installation and step-by-step instructions to permit installation using simple hand tools.
- Ride-Rite Air Compressor Accessory kit, containing a 12-volt air compressor, 2.25 litre tank, pressure switch and tubing to inflate not only the air helper springs, but also tyres.
- Ride-Rite Dual Cab Control Kit, Single Cab Control Kit, Automatic Control Kit and Level Command Kits. These can provide in-cab adjustment for unbalanced loads, including back-to-front and side-to-side loading problems.
For further information please contact All Air Suspension, 10 Angas St, Meadowbank, Sydney 2114 ph (02) 9807 7641, fax (02) 9807 7643 www.allair.com.au sales@allair.com.au All Air Suspension can also supply contacts for national availability of the product.
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