Air ride trailer suspensions are often ordered as a complete system, with one supplier providing the axle, suspension and brakes. But for whatever reason, this hasn’t been commonplace on mechanical suspensions, with fleets still having to piece together systems on their own.

SAF-Holland aims to change this with the introduction of its ULX40 mechanical trailer suspension, featuring its own axles and brakes.

Van fleets are beginning to shy away from air ride suspensions, due to the arrival of composite springs that provide an air-type ride in a simpler, easier to maintain package. This can net a fleet about $650 in maintenance savings over a 10-year period, the company claims. There’s no shock absorbers, air springs, height control valves or dock lock devices to worry about.

It’s also lighter weight, to the tune of about 120 lbs.

SAF-Holland’s pretty stoked about this new mechanical trailer suspension and when I got to see it in person at their Muskegon plant – it’s not built there, but was on display – I was pretty impressed with it as well. It’s backed by a 10-year warranty and as the only fully integrated mechanical trailer suspension on the market, could be a really solid offering. You can read all about the ULX40 here.