Air ride?

[TboneMan]

I'm seriously considering retiring my '01 2500 (260,000 miles) and purchasing an Ecodiesel 1500. I'll custom order as I've done with two previous pickups. A 4 corner air suspension is an option. Does anyone have this? What are the advantages? Any disadvantages? I won't tow much, and most of my miles are on highway, although rough city streets are a daily headache.

Does the air suspension system have a port that can be used to connect a hose to fill tires or other "on board air" bonuses?

 

[HPSimpson]

The air ride system I have on my truck is great, hook up boat trailer and air suspension levels truck right out no headlights shooting at the stars. For there are several advantages, lower truck to load stuff in pickup box, and helping get people in the truck. There are four positions: entry, normal, Off road 1, and Off road 2. Disadvantages you loose some carrying capacity in truck bed., the air suspension system is closed there are no ports.

 

[AH64ID]

As mentioned the system is a closed system that I believe is filled with nitrogen. Unlike aftermarket airbags the gas is always onboard and just transfered between the bags and a storage tank.

If I where in the market for a 1/2 ton it would be a full air suspension EcoDiesel.

 

[TCDiesel]

I have both Spring and Air, When you jump form spring to air You know it, I'm Air all the way ,I put 1288Lbs in the bed 3.0 Truck pulling motor and took to IA 225 miles it had the typical Air feeling, but rode nice.

 

[Bob4x4]

As mentioned the system is a closed system that I believe is filled with nitrogen. Unlike aftermarket airbags the gas is always onboard and just transfered between the bags and a storage tank.

If I where in the market for a 1/2 ton it would be a full air suspension EcoDiesel.

my understanding is -not nitrogen filled,but upon servicing nitrogen is to be used to avoid contaminating the system

 

[AH64ID]

Interesting, what is the factory fill?

 

[TboneMan]

That's too bad that it is a closed system as delivered in an OEM configuration. I got the pricing on the truck last night. It is pretty scary that this 1500 is outfitted pretty much the same as my '01 2500 (obvious different engines and transmission), but being 15 years difference, the cost of the 1500 is $10K more then my 2500 was when I bought it.

I'd still like to hear more from anyone with the OEM system.

 

[Mingoglia]

The people I know with this system have no complaints with it. I'm not sure about the whole nitrogen thing one way or another, 'cause I have the factory airbags on my 3500 and it's a completely different system (mine is definitely air as the bags actually "dump" to the atmosphere), but I'd definitively check that box if I were in the market for a 1500. Since the system in the 1500 is certainly more advanced than the heavy duty trucks I wouldn't be surprised if it is nitrogen. At the same time though, I could see them supplementing nitrogen for air only when servicing as shop air is typically very damp and I could see how they wouldn't want to introduce that into the system.

 

[AH64ID]

The people I know with this system have no complaints with it. I'm not sure about the whole nitrogen thing one way or another, 'cause I have the factory airbags on my 3500 and it's a completely different system (mine is definitely air as the bags actually "dump" to the atmosphere), but I'd definitively check that box if I were in the market for a 1500. Since the system in the 1500 is certainly more advanced than the heavy duty trucks I wouldn't be surprised if it is nitrogen. At the same time though, I could see them supplementing nitrogen for air only when servicing as shop air is typically very damp and I could see how they wouldn't want to introduce that into the system.

Interesting, I heard that the 3500 air assist was aslo a closed system.

 

[Mingoglia]

Interesting, I heard that the 3500 air assist was aslo a closed system.

If it is, I wouldn't think one could hear an audible "dump" of the air, but a more or less silent transfer. It actually sounds very similar to air brakes releasing pressure, just not quite as loud but still loud enough that I can hear it from inside if say my wife gets in the truck to go somewhere.

Also, there is a little compressor. When I was playing with the alternate ride height when I had a trailer hooked up after several times playing with it and showing others, the compressor kicked on to fill back up the small onboard tank. I assume it's a compressor, it sounded like a smaller version of my ARB compressor for my air lockers in my Jeep.

 

[AH64ID]

Even the closed systems need a compressor and a dump. The air just dumps into a larger, lower pressure, tank from the bags. When more volume is needed in the bags the compressor pulls from the low pressure tank and fills the bags.

The diagram here would tell me that it is a closed system.


http://www.ramtruck.ca/en/2015/3500/capability

 

[Mingoglia]

Even the closed systems need a compressor and a dump. The air just dumps into a larger, lower pressure, tank from the bags. When more volume is needed in the bags the compressor pulls from the low pressure tank and fills the bags.

The diagram here would tell me that it is a closed system.


http://www.ramtruck.ca/en/2015/3500/capability

Which part specifically suggest that? I agree on the single wheel it could be, but that's a completely different system than the duallies have. That system is obviously similar in design to the 1500, with a complete "air" shock. The dually still has leaf springs in the back, and the air bag is supplemental. For example, the lighter duty system works similar to the 1500 with the different level settings. On the 3500, there's only regular ride height, and a height that is 1" lower. One is normal height where the back is raked, the alternate height is "level", like you had a leveling kit on the truck. The alternate height is only available when there's a certain amount of weight in the bed or a trailer. If there's not enough weight, it will tell you on the screen that the alternate mode can't be activated. One of my friends has the "other" system on his single wheel truck and it does seem like it works very similar to the 1500. I don't hear his "dumping", but just adjusting up and down with the load. Mine has a pretty loud and noticeable "swoosh" sound coming from underneath.

 

[AH64ID]

The 3500 system is the same for SRW or DRW.

The part that suggests it's a closed loop, to me, is the relationship of the plumbing on the tank and pump.

The 1500, nor 2500 for that matter, system is not shown on the link I posted just the 3500 system.

The 1500 and 2500 do not use air shocks, they use airbags without springs.

The 3500 system may be open, but based on that diagram I would be really surprised. The difference in air assist (3500) vs air ride (1500/2500) will dictate the dump rate and that would make an audible difference, IMO.