Air Suspension on 3500

[AH64ID]

I’ll just leave this here. Page 8 of the Ram brochure.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I’ll just leave this here. Page 8 of the Ram brochure.

TRUE Dat!!!

 

[Cliffman]

Trust me when I tell you the ride is just as rough as my 2001 3500 dually. The air bags do nothing for the ride quality. I wish I was wrong! I test drove the same truck without the bags and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

 

[dfb]

I’ll just leave this here. Page 8 of the Ram brochure.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ram+auto+level+rear+air+suspension&t=ipad&ia=web The 2500 is an air suspension while the 3500 is a load assist leveling. I assume the ride is improved while towing because the front and rear remain level. Not because the the ride gets softer or firmer.. The most comfortable riding cars I have owned were NOT air suspensions like the Lincoln Continentals, nor cars with air shocks, or leaf springs. The most comfortable riding cars I have owned were those with 4 coil suspensions. GTO, OLDS 442 and cutlass, Chevrolet and bucks on coils..The 2500s are not yhe same as the 3500s . Personally, yes it's more comfortable when having a heavy load not to have my front tires off the ground and a better ride to be level. However, as far as the ride being softer or harder, I don't think the rear leveling is for this, as much as it is to keep the load level, and the truck level... in other words, not to have a soft or sporty suspension....I wanted the auto leveling because my 2004 3500 was on its helper springs with trailer hooked up. With the auto level, the truck senses the rear end drop and pumps air into yhe bags to give the truck its normal stance...imho...you know, having a 3500 is for towing and loads, not for riding comfort.. it rides very firm empty, softer when loaded.

 

[PT02063]

I’ll just leave this here. Page 8 of the Ram brochure.

In my opinion, you might want to read that paragraph again as it clearly has the qualifier included - while hauling and towing - as it does enhance interior comfort for driver and passengers because the truck is not nose high while hauling and towing. It does nothing for the unladed truck but make it ride rougher - again, I own one and have it to compare to my son's 2017 Laramie 2500 without rear air. His rides much better than mine. Don't get me wrong as I purchased mine for towing and wanted the rear air for leveling purposes but have no illusion about the lack of ride quality when not hauling and towing.

 

[SnoKing]

In my opinion, you might want to read that paragraph again as it clearly has the qualifier included - while hauling and towing - as it does enhance interior comfort for driver and passengers because the truck is not nose high while hauling and towing. It does nothing for the unladed truck but make it ride rougher - again, I own one and have it to compare to my son's 2017 Laramie 2500 without rear air. His rides much better than mine. Don't get me wrong as I purchased mine for towing and wanted the rear air for leveling purposes but have no illusion about the lack of ride quality when not hauling and towing.

And what air pressure do you have in the rear tires when not loaded. And what does your son have in his.

I know that when I pump up my rear LT27570R18E on our SRW 3500 to 80 for towing it rides pretty ruff without the trailer. I run 40ist bobtail for a much better ride.

Comparing ride without address tire pressure is meaningless. SnoKing

 

[dfb]

And what air pressure do you have in the rear tires when not loaded. And what does your son have in his.

I know that when I pump up my rear LT27570R18E on our SRW 3500 to 80 for towing it rides pretty ruff without the trailer. I run 40ist bobtail for a much better ride.

Comparing ride without address tire pressure is meaningless. SnoKing

Yes... all are correct on this issue.... Comfort, safety etc... Just wanted my truck to ride Level.. So it does do all the things folks are saying on here...

 

[PT02063]

And what air pressure do you have in the rear tires when not loaded. SnoKing

Air pressure on both was 70 and on the same roads, same day, same weather, saw the same dog to prove they were back to back, and am relatively certain I spilled my beer when I was in my truck, not his...

 

[Cummins12V98]

Trust me when I tell you the ride is just as rough as my 2001 3500 dually. The air bags do nothing for the ride quality. I wish I was wrong! I test drove the same truck without the bags and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

I have owned two 98 2500's and the ride on them is HORRIBLE. My air ride i5 is NICE BUT you need to run 35 solo rear NOT 60-80.

 

[dfb]

Air Shocks certainly hurt the Factory ride on my 73 Firebird, 70 Challenger... They did not improve the ride, however, the ride became harsh and hard... What the air shock did was increase the rake and allow fattery tires to be installed... It was a kid thing,,,, I LOVED IT ....

 

[AH64ID]

In my opinion, you might want to read that paragraph again.

I'll let you take your own advice. You will notice that it says "...while towing and hauling, and helping enhance interior..."

Trust me when I tell you the ride is just as rough as my 2001 3500 dually. The air bags do nothing for the ride quality. I wish I was wrong! I test drove the same truck without the bags and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

I don't have a ton of experience with air-assist vs non air-assist but what I do have it is night and day. The non can't even be shaken by hand while parked and the air can.

I will be spending 1600 miles in my dad's air-assist later this month while empty and will get more experience with with it.

The 2500 is an air suspension while the 3500 is a load assist leveling. I assume the ride is improved while towing because the front and rear remain level. Not because the the ride gets softer or firmer..

Staying level is huge. On the pre-13 trucks it's an even bigger deal singe the control arms are shorter.

Air ride is more than about level thou, even with my stock spring pack I ride smoother and softer with proper air in the airbags. Too little or too much air and the ride isn't as nice, it's a fine balance.

Air Shocks certainly hurt the Factory ride on my 73 Firebird, 70 Challenger... They did not improve the ride, however, the ride became harsh and hard... What the air shock did was increase the rake and allow fattery tires to be installed... It was a kid thing,,,, I LOVED IT ....

But did you replace the springs with softer ones?

Air shocks will kill ride like airbags if you run too much pressure in them, hence the reason the OEM kit has softer springs and 1/2 leaves that control axle wrap.

 

[PT02063]

It’s a conjunction which refers to the towing and hauling, not a separate statement about the overall ride quality of the truck. I invite you to check the Ram website as the only statement about the rear air system indicates nothing about better ride quality: 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.

 

[AH64ID]

It’s a conjunction which refers to the towing and hauling, not a separate statement about the overall ride quality of the truck. I invite you to check the Ram website as the only statement about the rear air system indicates nothing about better ride quality: 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.

Again.. follow your own advice. Let's read the paragraph again.

The class-exclusive Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension System is available for most Ram Heavy Duty Models. It greatly separates the Ram from the rest by offering superb control and confidence while hauling and towing, and helping enhance interior comfort for driver and passengers.

The second sentence is not about towing and hauling, it's about how the auto-level rear suspension separates Ram from the rest. The single comma is used to define the 2nd separating characteristics.

1) offering superb control and confidence while towing and hauling
2) helping enhance interior comfort for driver and passengers.



Where do you think I found the Ram Brochure?? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't on the Ford website.

 

[SnoKing]

So a guy with a 2017 2500 knows more the 3500 rear air than Cummins12V98 who has had a 2011 duallie and 2015 duallie with the rear air?????

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Air ride is more than about level thou, even with my stock spring pack I ride smoother and softer with proper air in the airbags. Too little or too much air and the ride isn't as nice, it's a fine balance."

My 11 HO Dually was not a pleasant ride towing on some of CA's highways. I added Bilstien's and PacBrake bags then towed those same roads. I aired the bags to 30# LOADED it did not change the ride height but made a HUGE difference in the ride.

Many people that run bags think they need the truck to set the same as unloaded as in rear high and that nets a BAD ride.

 

[kthaxton]

My 11 HO Dually was not a pleasant ride towing on some of CA's highways. I added Bilstien's and PacBrake bags then towed those same roads. I aired the bags to 30# LOADED it did not change the ride height but made a HUGE difference in the ride.

Wait....I'm with ya on the factory air ride theoretically riding better (I say theoretically because I personally have not driven one, but the concept is sound), but you are saying you ADDED air bags to an existing, full leaf spring equipped truck, and the ride improved?

If by riding better you mean, less bouncing over large bumps etc when loaded, that makes sense but otherwise?....

 

[Cummins12V98]

"If by riding better you mean, less bouncing over large bumps etc when loaded, that makes sense but otherwise?...."

I thought I made it clear but YES the ride improved towing with the bags controlling the springs much better then without the bags on rough roads. I am sure the Bilstien's helped also.

To be clear the ride did NOT change for the rears other then what the Bil's helped since I ran the bags at 5psi unloaded.

 

[AH64ID]

Wait....I'm with ya on the factory air ride theoretically riding better (I say theoretically because I personally have not driven one, bought the concept is sound), but you are saying you ADDED air bags to an existing, full leaf spring equipped truck, and the ride improved?

If by riding better you mean, less bouncing over large bumps etc when loaded, that makes sense but otherwise?....

With the proper amount of air the ride is certainly improved with airbags and stock springs. It won’t be quite as nice as the OEM air-assist with softer leaves, but it’s better than stock. Bumps aren’t as harsh, road grooves are absorbed better, and cornering is improved.

As Cummins12V98 pointed out most people run too much air in their bags and the ride and handling sucks.

I let my suspension drop about 1” over empty and use air to stay there. It rides great when loaded at 6-8K on the rear axle. Even at 8K on the axle I don’t need more than 60 psi in the bags and usually only run 35-40 psi.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Two BIG reasons for having the OE system is having the truck ride near level all the time and the huge difference when towing. The solo ride alone is improved but that is only a small part of opting for the system.

The system I added to my 11 with in cab separate side to side controls and air compressor was about the same price as the $1,300+ I spend on the OE system. I DON'T have to deal with leaks like I did all the time on the 11.

 

[kthaxton]

Bumps aren’t as harsh,.

Here again, I must be missing something, how do bumps become less "harsh" when you've added spring rate? Unless your definition of harsh is different than mine?

Again, I understand how the factory air ride would improve ride in all conditions (because spring rate can be adjusted perfectly for each "load"), but I don't get how adding air bags to an existing, full spring pack truck, could make it less harsh. Obviously, I do understand how bags would help in all other aspects in handling heavy loads etc, just don't understand less harsh.