With the success of the airbag suspension on pickup trucks and motorhome chassis, the Keldermans soon made the move to trailer suspensions. "We got the patent on the torsion axle trailer in 1998 or 1999," says Jeff. The development of that first trailer suspension resulted from a request by a horse trailer manufacturer. Of course, the Keldermans couldn't just build a better ride for some horses and leave well enough alone. Further development for trailers means they now have systems for both torsion bar and leaf spring suspensions. They also have one for fifth-wheel trailers and have even added an air-ride fifth-wheel hitch.

While building equipment and suspensions is the profit side of the business, the Keldermans still like to have fun. Their website (www.keldermanairride.com) has an entire section devoted to the family's toys. "Pete" is the Peterbilt motor coach Gary custom-built for those times when he didn't want to pull a trailer, says Jeff. It has a garage for the toys, such as motorcycles or snowmobiles. Among the more unusual features is the slide-out staircase that makes getting in and out effortless. It took years to build Pete, says Jeff, beginning in 2000 and finally being finished in 2004.

Then there's the four-axle motorhome. Starting with a 36-foot Avion triple-axle trailer, Gary built a frame, chassis and air-ride suspension, adding a Fleetwood nose. Stainless steel skirts make it look like it's hugging the ground, while air cylinders lift the skirts for access to storage or maintenance items. Even the front can lift 24 inches to get to the powerplant, making this, according to Kelderman, the only tilt-body motor coach in the world. At 35,000 pounds, this is no lightweight, requiring a 550hp engine and 10-speed transmission to get up to its 105-mph top speed. There are 14 airbags keeping the ride smooth and a matching Featherlite trailer when the motor coach itself isn't enough.

When the Keldermans want nothing more than to simply carry something like a four-wheeler or snowmobile, there is the other Dodge Ram. Then again, maybe nothing built for the Keldermans' own fun is simple. This Ram 2500 has been converted to a flatbed, but not just any flatbed. Kelderman added a hydraulic system that tilts, then pushes the bed backward, tilts it down, then lays it flat on the ground. Then the motorcycle, ATV or what have you can be driven right onto the bed, tied down and pulled back onto the truck.

Although Kelderman Manufacturing has many dealers around the country, they also have three service bays to do install and repair work for any customers who are in the area or who would prefer to come to their facility just outside Oskaloosa, Iowa. Jeff Kelderman says they keep two of the service bays busy most of the time but try to keep the third one open for "last minute things when people are coming by." That means if you find yourself in the area or require an emergency repair, Kelderman Manufacturing will try to accom­modate your needs. They like to treat customers right, he says; "We're still a family-owned business with Midwestern values."

As if to prove that point, the website also has a section dedicated to testimonials by satisfied customers. There is a collection of letters going back more than a decade giving examples of the people at Kelderman Manufacturing going the extra distance you would hope for but might not normally expect.

The company remains heavily involved in agriculture, a natural theme in the heart of Iowa. Among the Keldermans' many patents and inventions is a rubber track system that allows farmers to operate equipment in muddy conditions. The airbag suspension systems originally were developed for lime spreaders. With the airbag suspension making the ride better, it adapted easily to the RV industry. But there are further opportunities, notes Jeff. "We're starting to do a lot of stuff for ambulances. A lot of them are on Ford F-450/550, Chevy C-4500/5500 and new Dodge 4500 chassis." That's an area where a better ride quality could literally become a life-and-death issue.

When speaking about the company's products, whether it's a drag race car, champion tractor pull competitor or just an improvement on a farm trailer suspension, Jeff Kelderman speaks with the same enthusiasm. (OK, maybe with a little more zeal when it comes to racing or motorcycles.) But his devotion to his business comes through clearly when he mentions one of his traditions while on the road. "Every time I see a Dodge pickup, I look underneath in the back of the truck to see if it's got a Kelderman air ride on it." Whenever he finds one, it's more than just business satisfaction. It's family pride.