I have searched and searched the threads and have not found any info regarding this.

I recently purchased a 32ft gooseneck trailer with dually tandems. Bought it cuz it was a steal- really really really cheap. It has the hydralic gooseneck and is in good shape, just one catch. It has AIR BRAKES.

Is there are way to add air brake controls to our trucks? I thought I saw someone post here that added a compressor under their truck. It doesnt matter if the controls are fully manual- might even prefer it that way. I know it takes 90-120psi to run the brakes.

I will need to be able to pull it with my 99 stroker and a 90 dually 7.3

Thanks in advance guys.

 

My guess is you could do it. But you would need an airbrake endorsement on your license. My guess would also be that it would be very dangerous to try and retrofit this hybrid system. Might be cheaper to put electric brakes on the trailer.

 

There is a full trailer air system in Australia that you can put on that controls full air trailers
https://5thwheelers.com.au/product/t...air-brake-kit/

 

I can't imagine that system being DOT approved here.

 

I couldn't see why it works just like electric brakes but just air, a lot of big rigs back in the day were air over hydraulic so really this works the same as that but the other way round (hydraulic over air)

 

Electric or electric over hydraulic trailer brakes with an air brake power unit...not too hard to do that and there's a couple different ways it can be done I've seen. This is a fairly common and handy modification to have an air brake truck-tractor that can pull either type of trailer.

Attempting to pull an air brake trailer with a non-air brake power unit doesn't seem like a real smart idea to even attempt. I'm sure somebody somewhere has done it, but that would have to be one hell of a 12V air compressor to fill the tanks to even release the parking brakes on an air brake trailer. I believe there are some rare Duramax or Powerstroke engines that came with on-board engine driven air compressors. Ford used to build a 6.7 F-750 tractor with air brakes and air ride rear suspension. GM has a factory air-ride option on their 4500-6500 2wd trucks that I believe also use an onboard engine driven air compressor with a frame mounted tank like on a big truck, but still has hydraulic brakes and no way to control the signal to an air trailer.

 

If you wanted to, you could just change the whole brake spider and shoes to electric. I would imagine that the axles are probably not over 10K each. The spiders will bolt right in place using the same drums. This is probably your most reasonable and more than likely most economical route. I built a trailer many, many years ago and had the option for air or electric brakes on the same axles and had to go with electric since the truck I owned had hydraulic brakes. Used that trailer for ten years and never put shoes on it! Very good brakes also.

 

it is my personal opinion, that trying to use Air Brakes on our small trailers is just plain dangerous.

my sister's motorhome, a 40 ft rear diesel job, has air brakes, and I truly hate the damn things.

they come on too slow, and then engage too hard....
You can't move, until the rig pumps up the air tanks, and those tanks will bleed down in one night.....

**** on Air Brakes, period.
don't want the damn things anywhere near my personal vehicles.

 

What's with all the zombie thread resurrections lately? Y'all realize this thread was started in 2006? It's been dead 19 years

Maybe I'll go and resurrect one about installing an 8 track in place of the factory AM radio

 

You could, but that thread wouldn't still be relevant today.

 

Some like to help so much they dont think

 

Hi, I know this is an old thread. Someone installed this system. I'm from Argentina and there are many trailers with air brakes. I'd like to find a brake system to install on my 93 F350 dually.