Shocker Air Trailer Tongue Mount Installation

Before you start

This guide applies to the products in our Air Trailer Tongue Mount collection, including mounts sold without a coupler and assemblies with 2-inch or 2-5/16-inch ball couplers or a pintle ring. Match the installation steps to your mounting style and attachment.

Mounting style 01

Vertical-channel Air Tongue Mount installation

SH-HD4000 / SH-4000

Watch HD Air Ride Tongue Mount Coupler Installation & Set-Up on YouTube

1. Measure and remove the existing coupler. Park the tow vehicle and trailer on a level surface. Measure the front and back of the trailer and adjust as needed to level it. Record the height from the ground to the top of the truck’s hitch ball and from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler. Remove the coupler bolts using an impact driver with a 15/16-inch socket and a 15/16-inch wrench on the nut, then remove the coupler from the vertical channel.
2. Install your attachment in the Air Tongue Mount. Follow the Demco, Wallace Forge, or pintle-ring instructions below for the correct bolt count, length, and positioning.
3. Position the assembly and check the height. Align the Air Tongue Mount in the trailer channel. Insert two 5/8-inch-11 × 4-1/2-inch bolts in the top and bottom holes. Measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. Move the mount up or down in the channel as needed to match the original coupler-height measurement.
4. Install the remaining hardware and torque. Insert the remaining two 5/8-inch-11 × 4-1/2-inch bolts through the vertical-channel adapter and Air Tongue Mount. Hand-thread all four 5/8-inch-11 Nylock hex nuts onto the protruding threads. Torque the vertical-channel bolts to 100 ft-lbs, using a torque wrench with a 15/16-inch socket on the nut and a 15/16-inch wrench on the bolt.

Mounting style 02

Four-bolt square-plate Air Tongue Mount installation

SH-HD4500 / SH-4500

1. Remove the existing coupler. Use an impact driver or ratchet with a 15/16-inch socket and a 15/16-inch wrench on the nut. Remove the bolts and the coupler from the trailer’s square mounting plate.
2. Fit the Air Tongue Mount to the square plate. Insert the existing serviceable bolts through the trailer square mount so the threaded ends face forward. Align the Air Tongue Mount with the bolts and slide it into place until the plate sits flush against the trailer. Hand-thread the existing nuts onto all four bolts, then tighten using a wrench on the bolt head and another on the nut.
3. Install the coupler and finish tightening. Follow the appropriate attachment instructions below. Torque the tongue-mount bolts to 100 ft-lbs using a torque wrench with a 15/16-inch socket on the nut and a 15/16-inch wrench on the bolt head.
4. Check towing height on a level surface. Measure the front and back of the trailer and adjust as needed to level it. Compare the height from the ground to the top of the truck’s hitch ball with the height from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler. If the measurements do not match, adjust the height of the hitch ball on the truck to achieve the required height.

Install your coupler or pintle ring

Use the instructions for your attachment. The bolt lengths, quantities, and hole positions differ by attachment type.

Bolt-on Demco coupler

Hardware: four 5/8-inch-11 × 1-1/2-inch Grade 8 hex bolts and four 5/8-inch-11 Nylock hex nuts.

1. Align the Demco attachment with the holes in the Air Tongue Mount. Use the bottom holes in the Air Tongue Mount for the Demco coupler.
2. Insert four bolts, two through each side of the Air Tongue Mount. Hand-thread all four locknuts until snug.
3. Torque the bolts to 100 ft-lbs, using a torque wrench with a 15/16-inch socket on the nut and a 15/16-inch wrench on the bolt head.

Bolt-on Wallace Forge coupler

Hardware: three 5/8-inch-11 × 4-1/2-inch Grade 8 hex bolts and three 5/8-inch-11 Nylock hex nuts.

1. Align the Wallace Forge attachment with the holes in the Air Tongue Mount. Insert three bolts through the mount and coupler.
2. Hand-thread all three locknuts onto the bolts until snug.
3. Torque the bolts to 100 ft-lbs, using a torque wrench with a 15/16-inch socket on the nut and a 15/16-inch wrench on the bolt head.

Bolt-on pintle ring

Hardware: two 5/8-inch-11 × 4-1/2-inch Grade 8 hex bolts and two 5/8-inch-11 Nylock hex nuts.

1. Align the pintle ring with the bottom two holes in the Air Tongue Mount and insert both bolts through the mount and ring.
2. Hand-thread both locknuts onto the bolts until snug.
3. Torque both bolts to 100 ft-lbs, using a torque wrench with a 15/16-inch socket on the nut and a 15/16-inch wrench on the bolt head.

Watch HD Air Ride Pintle Tongue Mount Installation & Set-Up on YouTube

Set the air pressure for your trailer load

Set the Air Tongue Mount with the trailer loaded as it will be towed. The correct setting is based on the position of the bump stops and washers.

1. Load the trailer and secure the cargo.
2. Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle on level ground.
3. Add air to the air spring bag until the black bump stops contact the black-painted tabs on the hitch frame, or until the split lock washers are compressed flat.
4. Adjust for demanding conditions if needed. In strong headwinds or unusually demanding conditions, a small pressure increase may improve support and stability. Stay within the 100 PSI maximum.

Do not use air pressure to compensate for an overloaded trailer, inadequate tongue weight, improper trailer loading, or an incorrectly rated towing connection.

Watch How to Set the Air Pressure in Your Shocker HD Air Trailer Tongue Mount on YouTube

Using the Air Tongue Mount with weight distribution

1. Load the trailer and secure the cargo as it will be towed.
2. Park the tow vehicle and trailer on level ground.
3. Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle.
4. Add air to the Air Tongue Mount’s air spring bag using the air-pressure steps above.
5. Connect the tension and weight-distribution spring bars.
6. Continue adding air until the desired ride and towing behavior are reached. Do not exceed 100 PSI.
7. Recheck the tow vehicle and trailer, weight-distribution adjustment, and Air Tongue Mount position.
8. Verify adequate clearance for the weight-distribution bars, brackets, safety chains, breakaway cable, and electrical wiring.

Never exceed the weight rating of any component.

Before every tow

1. Park the tow vehicle on level ground whenever practical.
2. Confirm that the Air Tongue Mount, coupler, ball or pintle connection, safety chains, trailer, tires, and tow vehicle are all properly rated for the intended load.
3. Ensure the coupler is fully engaged and locked on the correct hitch ball or approved pintle connection.
4. Before towing, slowly turn the tow vehicle fully in both directions. Check that the safety chains, breakaway cable, electrical wiring, coupler or pintle ring, and Air Tongue Mount have adequate clearance without binding, stretching, or contacting the trailer.
5. Raise and secure the jack properly and completely.
6. Inspect the Air Tongue Mount, coupler, mounting bolts, air spring bag, and trailer tongue for damage, missing hardware, looseness, cracks, or excessive corrosion.
7. Verify that all mounting and coupler fasteners are torqued to the specification in this guide: 100 ft-lbs.

Weight ratings & safety

Attachment ratings

Example: fitting a 20,000-lb coupler to a 25,000-lb HD mount does not create a 25,000-lb hitch. Follow the lower applicable rating.

View all compatible Air Trailer Tongue Mount products

Need help with your tongue-mount setup?

Have your mount model, coupler type and trailer details ready. Photos of the air valve and bump cushions or washers help our team with air-pressure questions.

Instructions based on the Shocker Air Trailer Tongue Mount Installation Instructions, September 3, 2026, Revision A.