New Hendrickson trailer suspension?

Shocks probably inside of the air bags

 

The air bags have two compartments with a small opening between them so they soften the ride on the way down and on the way up.
I only learned about them two months after I had just changed out mine, otherwise I would have put them on.

 

The New Hendrickson Suspension is more streamlined and simple. The airbag is an air spring. The bag has a built in shock to slow the movement down. The bags are obviously more expensive too. They ride nice and perform well. Hopefully it comes with the sure loc feature to steady your trailer at the dock with brakes applied. Your rubber bumper pads will last longer too. Since you’re getting a new trailer make sure the first thing you do is go get it aligned at a reputable shop. 90% of our new trailers needed the alignment even though they appear to pull straight. Good luck!

 

My trailer has the new Hendrickson suspension with no visible shocks. I think it’s been out for about 2 years. It also comes with four chains, two on each axle to apparently keep the tandem and trailer together on very bumpy roads.

 

Can someone retrofit the new style airbag to an older suspension?
Do they make it for spread axle flatbeds?

 

Yes you can use them on an existing trailer.
But you do have to remove the shocks and install a length of chain in its place to prevent overextending the air bag.

 

If they already have them on order, the salesman should be able to email you a sample build sheet with the Hendrickson part number printed right on it.

 

The slider suspension is called Hendrickson ULTRAA-K.
Hendrickson - ULTRAA-K - Revolutionary Air Slider Suspension System

The air spring piston (the carbon fiber part) is capped on the bottom and has stratigically placed and sized holes to vent the air spring pressure between the bellows (rubber part) and the piston. The suspension was initially launched in 2014. The air springs are a little more expensive, but if anything happened to one on the road and you couldn’t find a direct replacement immediately, you can use a standard VANTRAAX air spring to “limp” it home until you get the right bag back on it.

Another nice feature on that suspension is the pivoting mud flap brackets.