Do those air spring thingies help?

[hogsty]

I'm wondering about how to cure rear end hop and possibly smooth out the ride a little on a future Ram HD. Looking at those air springs, I'm wondering if they help with that, or do they just add leveling/capacity benefits?

 

[Steve Robinson]

I've had a set of Firestone air bags under my 2500 since it was new (98. 5) to help with the sag from hauling a camper around. They will certainly raise the back of the truck but the down side is the ride empty sure suffers even with minimum air pressure. If I remember correctly, 20 psi minimum pressure to keep the mounts from cutting the bag if a large bump was encountered. I now haul 450 pounds of sand in 50 pound bags to smooth the ride when unloaded. Works well.

 

[Wertles]

I have a set of PAC Brake air bags under my truck and an unloaded truck is definitely not smoother. Loaded with the 5th wheel however, it is a dream to be leveled out and not running on completely loaded springs. It all depends on what you will be doing with your truck. Empty 90% of the time and 10% light towing or hauling, no air bags. Tow vehicle 90% of the time, a great investment. I used to take my truck everywhere including long trips empty and was very comfortable. With the mods I have done this year to make it into a great tow vehicle, I will now be taking the mini van on long trips.
Wait, did I just say I'd drive the mini van over the truck?

 

[hogsty]

OK, thanks. Looks like air bags are out for me. I'll be empty 90% of the time

 

[GCroyle]

I'm wondering about how to cure rear end hop and possibly smooth out the ride a little on a future Ram HD. Looking at those air springs, I'm wondering if they help with that, or do they just add leveling/capacity benefits?

How about the truck details for your current situation, do you have "rear end hop" right now on a Dodge?

 

[BGlidewell]

airbags filled to 70lbs of pressure will make an empty truck un-drive-able and hilarious. But you don't need to run more than 5 lbs of pressure in them empty which is not noticeable at all.

 

[Wertles]

I run 5 psi unloaded and although it is not too bad, it is noticeable. I agree on the 70 psi unloaded. When I left to pick up the camper for the first time, I had 80 psi in the bags, 120 psi in the rear tires and 100 in the front. It felt like I was riding on a 1940's wooden roller coaster with nails welded to the track. I laughed so hard but immediately went out and bought an air compressor to take with me from now on.

 

[AH64ID]

I've had a set of Firestone air bags under my 2500 since it was new (98. 5) to help with the sag from hauling a camper around. They will certainly raise the back of the truck but the down side is the ride empty sure suffers even with minimum air pressure. If I remember correctly, 20 psi minimum pressure to keep the mounts from cutting the bag if a large bump was encountered. I now haul 450 pounds of sand in 50 pound bags to smooth the ride when unloaded. Works well.

5 psi is the minimum, 20 psi unloaded will jar your teeth out!



I run 5-10 psi in my bags when empty and its different than stock but not worse. Certainly worth it when your loaded.

 

[BGlidewell]

I'll say its not noticeable with my setup. (bilsteins) How about that...

 

[Wertles]

A DRW is already rides a little stiffer than a SRW so adding a little more probably doesn't make much of a difference so I believe you when you say you can't feel a difference. There was a change in my truck, not terrible, but noticeable on my 3500 SRW and I also have Bilsteins. The harshest change came with the 19. 5's and keeping them aired to 70 unloaded.

 

[BGlidewell]

A DRW is already rides a little stiffer than a SRW so adding a little more probably doesn't make much of a difference so I believe you when you say you can't feel a difference. There was a change in my truck, not terrible, but noticeable on my 3500 SRW and I also have Bilsteins. The harshest change came with the 19. 5's and keeping them aired to 70 unloaded.

good to know as I'm contemplating ricksons forged setup soon. Not looking forward to a higher rear-end though

 

[Tryingit]

On my 2010 I added the air bags with the onboard compressor (as well as a roadmaster sway bar). I bumped it (airbags) up to about 8psi of air and it completely eliminated the that rear whipping that I was experiencing when going over uneven road way surfaces . While this truck does have a smoother ride (than 04. 5) I really miss my 04. 5 trucks suspension.

I've add the front sumo springs, bilstein steering damper and the BD brace. The truck has virtually no bump steer, no more steering wander and handles extremely well. . But it makes one wonder why I had to add all of this stuff to get it to ride as good as my 2004. 5 truck... .

 

[AH64ID]

Interesting you had a difference in your 2010 and 2004. 5. The rear springs are identical and the fronts should be the same as well, and with the new body mounts it should ride better. At least every 2010+ I have been in is much better riding than my 05.

 

[Tryingit]

This truck does ride much nicer. But it is much spongier and it had the front end wander pretty bad. I'm assuming that trucks with the wander must have some defective part (that the dealer can never locate) This truck also tended to whip violently when hitting uneven roadway. It was to the point that when I spotted this sort of roadway I held on with two hands. Now with all of the add ons it extremely steady on any road surface. I never had any of these issues with the 04.

 

[Wertles]

good to know as I'm contemplating ricksons forged setup soon. Not looking forward to a higher rear-end though

It definitely raises the truck a little bit. I think it is only 1. 5 inches or so. I lowered my 5th wheel hitch one hole, raised my pin box on the trailer one hole and I'm still a little nose high but not enough to do anything more. Amazing how many more comments I have gotton over the last couple of months on the height of the truck.