roughride

I was wondering if any of you guys have installed air ride seats on your rigs. I have just ordered two low rider Knoedler seats for my Dodge 5500. The seats are made in Canada and will take a month for them to fabricate.

torquefan

Sounds cool, but I've never seen one. Do you get a whole replacement seat, or is it just the base assembly? Does it come with its own air compressor, or do you have to rig up an air supply system on your own? I'd love to see some pics, and any of your comments after you get them installed and try them out. Thanks.

roughride

You can order the seat with a compressor already installed. I have a compressor already on my truck for the air ride suspension. The seats run between 80 and 100 psi. My existing system runs at 150psi, so I will need to install a regulator and run the hose from my tank to the seats. The base plate can be ordered seperately. The seats I ordered are for a class 8 truck. I chose them because they look like a better seat than the medium duty seats. Both seats were about 3,600 dollars. The armrests and headrest are extra. I opted for the heat/air condition option for both seats. My cab, I think, is the same dimension wise as a 2500 or 3500 truck. I am going to have to fabricate a base for both seats. The existing frame is pretty light weight. I will build the base plate heavy for the seats. I will post pics throught the install.

Rednax

Any update?

roughride

The seats are installed, functional and awesome. I have decided to fabricate a center console and I am 75% complete with that. My 5500 truck has a standard Dodge quad cab. That being said the air ride seat base makes the foot room for the rear seaters a little tight. When you sit in the back your feet tend to slide under the front seat. That will not happen with an air ride base. I have not posted any pics yet because I wanted to wait until I was totally complete. If you guy's are interested in the Knoedler low rider, please be aware that it is not a bolt on type of install. Considerable fabrication was required to the truck. There is a C-channel that the front factory seats bolt onto. For this install that C-channel had to go. I bolted on a large 1/4" steel plate to the floor of my truck. My air ride seats were bolted to that plate. It was expensive and a lot of work but well worth it.

Mexstan

There have been a few guys on this site that have modified their trucks for air seats. I chopped my OE seats up and installed an air ride assembly (from California) under them. A big job, but worth the effort as far as increased comfort goes. It does make the seats sit a little higher, but that is not a problem. Used my on board air.

Rednax

This is a good thread about aftermarket base and OEM seat air ride installation.

Looking forward to this thread when pics are up!! Expense is relative compared to awareness late on a long day of driving.

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haulin-rv

I put an air ride base under my stock seat base in my 3500 and it was well worth the cost and effort. Now I do want to replace the seat too.

The air ride base is under $300, and all I did was add a portable air tank in. I fill it maybe every couple months.

Rednax

Was talking to a 4500 driver yesterday. Said the bosses new 5500 rode like a Caddy in comparison to his three year old truck due to the new hydro-pneumatic [?] cab mounts. Maybe someone has done a retrofit.

cbrahs

the late model cab mounts will fit. takes a bit of minor work but doable and my new one does ride much better than my 07 mega did.

Rednax

Thanks!!