Air Suspension on 3500

[zb39]

My 16 3500 DRW with factory air is awesome either empty or hauling. Much better than my 11 3500 DRW. My 16 also hauls my very heavy TC extremely well. The factory air is built to haul loads and it does well. It is the best of both worlds, empty or loaded.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 16 3500 DRW with factory air is awesome either empty or hauling. Much better than my 11 3500 DRW. My 16 also hauls my very heavy TC extremely well. The factory air is built to haul loads and it does well. It is the best of both worlds, empty or loaded.

Completely agree! My truck sits the same loaded or solo. No AZZ high ride for me. Full RAWR in pic, 9,750#.

 

[Cliffman]

After airing the rear tires down to 60 lbs it's a much improved ride and I can live with it for sure. Guess I just expected a smoother ride in a 2018 compared to my 2001. I'm glad I went with the rear air suspension because I was able to put the truck's air ride in "Transport" mode which lowered the rear about another 1 1/2 enableing me to get my new 5er in the garage.

 

[Larry Willard]

Cliff, congratulations on the new truck, hope you like towing with as much as I did. I didn't want the rear air ride so the '13 worked good for me. What is the new 5er?

I run 75-80 in the fronts, and 65 rear and that seemed to work good when we had a fifth wheel. I can't say there was a lot of difference for me between the '01, '08 and '13 as far as ride goes.

 

[Cummins12V98]

After airing the rear tires down to 60 lbs it's a much improved ride and I can live with it for sure. Guess I just expected a smoother ride in a 2018 compared to my 2001. I'm glad I went with the rear air suspension because I was able to put the truck's air ride in "Transport" mode which lowered the rear about another 1 1/2 enableing me to get my new 5er in the garage.

NO, you put it in Alternate Ride Height Mode. Lower the rears to 35 and report back!

 

[Cliffman]

Cliff, congratulations on the new truck, hope you like towing with as much as I did. I didn't want the rear air ride so the '13 worked good for me. What is the new 5er?

I run 75-80 in the fronts, and 65 rear and that seemed to work good when we had a fifth wheel. I can't say there was a lot of difference for me between the '01, '08 and '13 as far as ride goes.

Here's a pic of our new 5th wheel. It is a handsome beast. We looked at many coaches but this had the best floor plan for our taste.

 

[dfb]

The auto level is meant to add air to ride level.. Has nothing to do with ride.. If one pulls a big trailer, the 3500 Dually, AISIN, 4:10 auto level, factory 5th wheel prep is the king..

 

[AH64ID]

The auto level is meant to add air to ride level.. Has nothing to do with ride.. If one pulls a big trailer, the 3500 Dually, AISIN, 4:10 auto level, factory 5th wheel prep is the king..

It’s both for level and ride. If it was just for level it wouldn’t have a different and softer spring pack.

 

[gsbrockman]

The auto level is meant to add air to ride level.. Has nothing to do with ride.. If one pulls a big trailer, the 3500 Dually, AISIN, 4:10 auto level, factory 5th wheel prep is the king..

Why would you say that? Have you never looked at the spring pack of a 3500 DRW w/rear air vs. a 3500 DRW without rear air? The rear air has everything to do with better ride, unladen OR laden !!!!

 

[dfb]

Why would you say that? Have you never looked at the spring pack of a 3500 DRW w/rear air vs. a 3500 DRW without rear air? The rear air has everything to do with better ride, unladen OR laden !!!!

I have owned BOTH!! The 04 with the trailer we have would ride on the helper springs with the nose high.. All the AUTO LEVEL does is when the system senses the rear end going down the air is automatically added so the truck rides level. Once the load is off the rear the system lets AIR OUT... It has do ONLY with keeping the truck Level.. Nothing at all to do with the ride.. The trailer height CANNOT be adjusted without a Load in the back...

 

[AH64ID]

It’s about BOTH, since you want to focus on that word.

The air suspension trucks have a softer spring pack. A softer spring pack rides nicer, end of story. Go look at the spring pack, it’s not nearly as HD as a non-air truck.

If it was ONLY a auto level system the truck would have the same springs as a non-air truck and just use the bags like those of us donwith aftermarket bags.

 

[PT02063]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgsVDPBGU4

I don't know how current this is but Ram does claim it is supposed to improve ride.

 

[Cliffman]

It’s about BOTH, since you want to focus on that word.

The air suspension trucks have a softer spring pack. A softer spring pack rides nicer, end of story. Go look at the spring pack, it’s not nearly as HD as a non-air truck.

If it was ONLY a auto level system the truck would have the same springs as a non-air truck and just use the bags like those of us donwith aftermarket bags.

Just making sure you know we are discussing a 3500 not a 2500. the 2500 comes with coils and air bags on all 4 wheels. The 3500 has air bags in the back only and is designed for pulling level. The 2500 setup is more for ride quality.

 

[AH64ID]

Just making sure you know we are discussing a 3500 not a 2500. the 2500 comes with coils and air bags on all 4 wheels. The 3500 has air bags in the back only and is designed for pulling level. The 2500 setup is more for ride quality.

Yes. The 2500 doesn’t have a spring pack to go look at, on either the air or non-air version....

The 3500 with air assist has a much softer main spring pack than the non-air. That’s for a better ride.

 

[PT02063]

the 2500 comes with coils and air bags on all 4 wheels.

Not true - at least for the 2017 model year 2500 - as they, like my 2017, only have rear air, not all four wheels as stated.

Ram website: The available Class-Exclusive Rear Auto-Level Air Suspension ensures level loads no matter the cargo or terrain. With the push of a button, the driver can select from two smart ride height selections, Normal and Alternate Ride Height, for better alignment with a trailer with automatic electronic adjustments to maintain a level load. And within the frame-mounted compressor, tank and lines, it's all done in relative silence.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have owned BOTH!! The 04 with the trailer we have would ride on the helper springs with the nose high.. All the AUTO LEVEL does is when the system senses the rear end going down the air is automatically added so the truck rides level. Once the load is off the rear the system lets AIR OUT... It has do ONLY with keeping the truck Level.. Nothing at all to do with the ride.. The trailer height CANNOT be adjusted without a Load in the back...

Factory Rear Air Ride has EVERYTHING to do with how the truck rides with and without a load!

Look at the spring pack it's there to keep the rear axle in place and keep the rear axle from hopping.

My truck rides better than the exact same truck loaded and unloaded with out air with exactly the same loads.

 

[dfb]

factory rear air ride has everything to do with how the truck rides with and without a load!

Look at the spring pack it's there to keep the rear axle in place and keep the rear axle from hopping.

My truck rides better than the exact same truck loaded and unloaded with out air with exactly the same loads.

View attachment 101123

nothing to do with the ride since it cannot be adjusted without a heavy load in the back... It has to do with leveling the truck.. Thats why its not called auto ride adjust but "auto level"...

 

[Cummins12V98]

Truck has two ride heights and the sensors keep the truck at those heights no matter the load up to RAWR.

I'm talking "QUALITY" of ride, does that help???



I leave my truck in this mode ALL the time so truck has a lower ride height and would "ASSUME" a better ride since the bags would have less air to keep it at the lower height.


Just a note to help others that have this system, just before unhitching a 5er go into controls hit settings and hit "tire jack mode" this will keep the rear from moving while trying to unhitch! No need to turn it off.

 

[dfb]

If I push alternate ride height with out load, dash says cannot adjust no load..

 

[Cummins12V98]

That's correct, you need about 500# to get it to stay.