camper sway

[Schumacher]

I had a '01 with air bags out side the frame on a srw 2500. The truck handled the camper just fine. My '07 with air bags under the frame seems to sway alot even with an added sway bar. With the '01 air bag pressure was 45-50psi the '07 90psi. I don't think adding 3500 spring with 12% higher spring rate will help much but, does anyone know it 4500 spring are the same length and use the same spring eye bolt? My guess is the 4500 spring bolt is larger.



Thanks for your help.

 

[Ramtough]

You don't say what kind of camper you have but have you considered the fact that the truck may be overloaded? No amount of modifications will change the factory assigned GVWR.

 

[HBarlow]

The Gen II Rams had shorter, stiffer springs which held up to constant loading better than the newer trucks.

Gen III rear leaf springs were redesigned in favor of a softer more compliant ride which means the springs are nearly useless, even on dually pickups, when routinely used for heavy towing or camper hauling. After 100k or so miles of towing mostly heavy trailers the rear springs on my former '06 sagged badly and the truck would rebound over highway dips like the old coil spring Buicks of the '50s and '60s.

I haven't measured or compared part numbers but I seriously doubt anything from a 4500 or any cab and chassis is interchangeable with your Ram 2500 pickup.

I think the only cure is a spring shop that can fabricate and install an additional spring leaf or two on your rear leaf springs. That's what I had done on my former '06.

 

[Regcabguy]

I had a '01 with air bags out side the frame on a srw 2500. The truck handled the camper just fine. My '07 with air bags under the frame seems to sway alot even with an added sway bar. With the '01 air bag pressure was 45-50psi the '07 90psi. I don't think adding 3500 spring with 12% higher spring rate will help much but, does anyone know it 4500 spring are the same length and use the same spring eye bolt? My guess is the 4500 spring bolt is larger.



Thanks for your help.

The 3rd's are indeed sprung softer. My popup overwhelmed my 2500 CTD 4wd. Dodge Ram Suspension, Dodge Suspension and Ford Super Duty Suspension Systems - Carli Suspension, Inc can design a custom setup for you.

 

[Schumacher]

Ramtough, you're right the camper does put my on the ragged edge of gvw. I should have gotten a dually,I just did'nt want to distroy the fenders on tight over-grown dirt roads (hunting). I did know about the longer and softer spring but, by the sounds of it, a 3500 may not have helped me much either.



HBarlow, your also right, my truck just hit 100k this week and I tow a 6-8k trailer every day for work. Looks like custom springs maybe in the future. I can't get a new truck I just hit 100k I need to get my grill badge. woo-hoo.

 

[rwitt]

Schumacher,

Some of the camper guys at rv.net use SuperSprings to compliment their airbags. They give a pretty good increase in spring rate for the heavy weight of a camper. This would allow you to use less air in the airbags, which does contribute to the sway problem with a top heavy load. This may be an option if custom springs are not an option for you.

Rich

 

[SMorneau]

I don't know so I will toss this out, are the airbags plumbed together or are they separate. I know if they are plumbed together on a 2nd gen they do not perform near as well.

 

[Schumacher]

The bags are plumbed separate.

 

[Regcabguy]

One cheap way that killed a lot of sway on my '98. 5 was Rancho 9000's. You crank them up to max and it'll help with the sway enormously. Tradeoff is the freeway ride. The section joints will be really noticeable.

 

[Midnite]

Similar to the Rancho 9000's might be Timbrens. I don't know if you can do those with your current airbag setup though.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Also StabiLoads will help you to, they engage the overloads much faster.