Smooth riding 2015 2500 Mega with rear air?

[Flash1034]

Looking at ordering a 2015 Mega 4x4 Cummins. It will be my daily driver. I rarely tow and when I do, it's my Jeep Wrangler. I'm looking for the smoothest empty riding setup. Would that be the stock springs or the stock rear air suspension?

Thanks,

Flash

 

[Flash1034]

Anyone?

Flash

 

[Ram4Sam]

Looking at ordering a 2015 Mega 4x4 Cummins. It will be my daily driver. I rarely tow and when I do, it's my Jeep Wrangler. I'm looking for the smoothest empty riding setup. Would that be the stock springs or the stock rear air suspension?

Thanks,

Flash

This type of question is very subjective.....no one can really it answer for you. I would take a long test drive in each one, over the roads you normally drive and see what feels right for you.

Sam

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Both are great rides...I prefer the air suspension. I have a 2500 with air now, and the ride is great. Drive both and decide.

 

[NC Hauler]

3/4 ton trucks ride pretty smooth already.....don't know about difference with or without air, though air is more for carrying a load or leveling.. If you're only towing your Jeep and you want a really comfortable ride, why don't you buy a 1/2 ton with Eco-diesel? Even 3/4 ton with Cummins would be overkill for no more than what you might tow and the 1/2 ton trucks ride like a car.....

 

[jfcody3962]

subscribed. I have a 3500 SRW with rear air ordered that should arrive in about 4 weeks.

 

[RVTRKN]

ECO-Diesel was my thought as well, better MPG and still will handle a light trailer with a Jeep on it.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

subscribed. I have a 3500 SRW with rear air ordered that should arrive in about 4 weeks.

JFcody - I keep seeing you everywhere on my computer!

 

[RVTRKN]

Two issues I have with the new rear suspensions. 1) More wearable parts, that will require future repairs like the front suspensions. 2) The cost of the Air Ride vrs aftermarket air bags with the very durable leaf-springs is cheaper.

 

[photowrite]

No experience with the Ram air suspension.

I think the stock coils on my '14 2500 ride quite nice for a heavy-duty pickup, but they feel like they have plenty of load capacity. I will see in a couple months after I put about a ton on them. I run 'enough' tire psi for the load, which is not much in the rear tires when running empty (I'm okay with a TPMS light), which improves/softens the unloaded ride.

 

[RVTRKN]

My 2014 has not been delivered as of yet, but my truck will test the new coil suspension with the service bed being installed currently. I will be very close the GVWR when it is outfitted with my tools and equipment. I wonder if the coil spring can be replaced with an airbag, it seems simple enough.

 

[Powder Extreme]

My 2014 has not been delivered as of yet, but my truck will test the new coil suspension with the service bed being installed currently. I will be very close the GVWR when it is outfitted with my tools and equipment. I wonder if the coil spring can be replaced with an airbag, it seems simple enough.

I'm pretty sure you will be unhappy with the coils loaded close to gvrw all the time, the rear end sags quite a bit more with equal weight vs leaf springs. It still handles it fine but sags so much that it doesn't leave a whole lot left before the bump stops. (Which fortunately are not harsh when you hit them).

As for your question, yes Kelderman makes replacement bags for the coils. Front and rear both, the rear are pretty reasonably priced.

 

[Powder Extreme]

To the OP, I vote you get a 1/2 ton Eco diesel as well. I had a '13 Hemi crew cab 1/2 ton with full air suspension. Still one of my favorite rigs of all time. Good power, rode like a car, and 22mpg on the interstate. Would handle a 5k trailer with ease, but of course the mileage would suffer.

Only reason I don't own a new Eco Diesel is I needed a rig to mount my 9'2" Vee plow on, so I traded the 1/2 ton for my '14 3/4 ton.

That being said I'm still thinking about buying a '15 1/2 ton with the Eco Diesel, I miss my '13 that much.

 

[AEdelheit]

One thing to consider, do you plan on leaving it stock or leveling/lifting it? If you will stay stock the air will be fine but if you want to change the suspension at all then I would go with coils, and there are replacement coils out there that will give you a great ride, a little lift and don't cost too much.

 

[AH64ID]

Two issues I have with the new rear suspensions. 1) More wearable parts, that will require future repairs like the front suspensions. 2) The cost of the Air Ride vrs aftermarket air bags with the very durable leaf-springs is cheaper.

None of the common wearing front end items are present on the coil rear suspension, as there is no steering and thus no need for ball joints or sealed bearings. The control arm bushings are just as reliable as the bushings on the leaf springs.

The only part in common that wears a little faster than it should is the trac bar, and I don't think those have been much of an issue since 2003.


Why didn't you order/purchase the air suspension if you plan to be at GVWR?

 

[AEdelheit]

The track bars have deferentially been an issue since 2003 but on the radius arm trucks Ram finally seemed to make a decent bar, time will tell how they hold up and if the rears are as good as the fronts!!

 

[AH64ID]

How much of an issue thou?

My 05, dad's 06, and my bro's 06 are all over 100K, 2 of them well over 120K and we have all done the BJ's and bearings, but track bars are all still good. Lots of rough road driving with plenty of front axle travel.

 

[AEdelheit]

Hit and miss, I deal with them every day. Some people get 100k out of them bust majority don't, especially if you lift the front at all. They are better then 2nd gen track bars but thats not saying much. I bet If you guys put a better track bar on your trucks you would notice a pretty big improvement!

 

[AH64ID]

Hit and miss, I deal with them every day.

As with anything that always skews the point of view... while many fail at low miles, there are probably many more than don't.

It's not much different than any forum, people generally post their problems. The G56 is a great example, if you read on here it wont make 100K miles but I know many more people with 100K+ miles on their G56 than those who didn't make it that far.

Just my 0.02, nothing is perfect.

 

[AEdelheit]

Well I get your point it doesn't take much research to find many issues with the 3rd gen track bars, Im glad yours have not been an issue but they are a fairly well known problem.