Benefits of an AirSafe Hitch vs Standard Rigid Hitch
Before you invest money into your towing needs, you need to think about all of the benefits. Many times, you look at the price of our 5th Wheel (and subsequently our Air Pin Box), Receiver or Gooseneck Air Hitches and think that is expensive compared to a standard mechanical hitch. As you read about the different products and benefits sometimes it helps to see a visual picture of the ride difference.
Before you invest money into your towing needs, you need to think about all the potential costs. Many times, you look at the listed price of our Air Hitches at $1,000 – $3,500 and think that is expensive compared to a standard mechanical hitch. Below is a list if some issues for you to consider, what the impact of those issues could be, and the estimated average cost.
These are estimates from a compilation of our database of over 20 years as well as our experiences towing discussing the negative problems in towing that are widely experienced and known throughout the industry, up to now largely ignored or procrastinated. Read different forums on these issues and see what other customers say.
Read these issues and use the column on the left to check those that you feel may apply to your towing situation. Then review the Impact and add up the cost those costs or estimate your own cost and compare that to our cost at the bottom of this article.
| Issue | Impact | Avg Cost |
| Rigid Hitch | Hitch Cost | $300 – $2,500 |
| Loose connection around 5th wheel kingpin on a rigid hitch | Slop around King Pin of up to 1/8” will cause forward and back clunking and a rough ride | ? |
| Adding Air Springs to Truck | Will help the ride for up and down Will not help trailer ride Will not improve the rigid hitch connection and the transference from the truck to trailer. | $800 – $1,200 |
| Wear & tear depreciation on tow vehicle due to rough ride while towing | Tow vehicle + repairs cost when towing an average of 22,000 per year. Time to run around & fix at the dealer, rental, etc. | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Repair trailer damage contents, slide-outs, cabinets, dishes, etc. | Welds broke on the frame, slide-outs, hitch. Broken cabinets, dishes, shower doors, and other contents Time to run around to dealers and fix problems | $2,000+ |
| Excess tire wear and problems on truck/trailer | Tires with rigid hitch are forced to absorb all omnidirectional forces causing excessive wear. | $980+ |
| Tire blows on a trailer due to trailer sway, bouncing, and other conditions | Shreds trailer sheet metal repair bill and changing a tire on the side of the road. | $795+ |
| Truck and/or trailer bounces because of road conditions | You lose traction and control Safety becomes a major issue and peace of mind that you get with a smoother ride | $? |
| Fuel used when you are continually bouncing due to road conditions | Best estimate 1 to 2 miles per gallon not to mention drive train wear & tear resistance increasing proportionately | $? |
| Comfort | Tired of the bouncing and jerking? Are you all tense up when you arrive at your destination? Have you had a narrow escape and almost lost your trailer? | $? |
| Price of Towing | If any of the items above occur, you could be stranded for hours or days waiting for repairs or parts. | $? |
| Medical | Back and neck problems due to bouncing and jerking. Driver fatigue and sore hands from the gripping steering wheel | $? |