2018 RAM 3500 with factory rear air suspension VOILENT REAR AXLE HOP

[Ozymandias]

Air seats are way cheaper then air ride.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The air springs I feel make a stock shock fine.

the shocks on my 15 front and OE are USMade GasPressurized.


The OE shocks on my 11 RAM DRW were Brazil and were toast at 5k with one front leaking.

The 15 OE are good quality. Just not quite as good as Bilstein’s.

 

[AH64ID]

Air seats are way cheaper then air ride.

But they do nothing for loaded handling.

For me the ride benefits of the OE air suspension are mainly the handling performance at any weight. The ride improvement isn’t something to shy away from, but not the main benefit... my 0.02.

 

[Ozymandias]

But they do nothing for loaded handling.

For me the ride benefits of the OE air suspension are mainly the handling performance at any weight. The ride improvement isn’t something to shy away from, but not the main benefit... my 0.02.

Yeah, of course, I meant it to the Kelderman Upgrade that Ron mentioned.
The OE Setup is the way to go nowadays.

 

[RVTRKN]

To bad the OP is AWOL, as an owner of this system, my first impression was a waist of money, mainly due to two settings, and if lightly to no load, no settings. But everyone who rides in my truck comments how smooth it rides. I was warned I wouldn't like the SRW 3500 ride, and I should concider the 2500. The 2500 is not an option, as my 34' Arctic Fox was pulled by my old 04.5 2500, but with the water tanks empty, it was barely legal. So if I were to go back to SRW, it had to be the 3500. I never concidered 2018 and older SRW due to the 3:42 rear diff. (Not wanting to start a 3:42 vrs 3:73 war) But when the 2019 SRW went to 3:73, I was more motivated to looking into a new truck. As I learned about the system, mainly the hard way, it is wearing on me. BTW, I still have yet to hook up to my 5ver to experiance the full advantage of the auto level system. But I have a week off planned in mid January, and I will be able to feel and experiance the full benifit. OP, WHERE ARE YOU?

 

[Cummins12V98]

RVTRKN, maybe you have already done this. Have you gotten say 4 adult men to set on the tailgate and push ALT Trailer setting? Do you run your rear tires based on load?

I run 35psi rears and always keep mine in ALT. YES it does ride great.

 

[dieselshadow]

I think there's an issue with your truck. If you can ride in ALT all the time, I would think your weight sensor is out of calibration. And why would riding around in contact with your overloads be "riding great" when empty? None of this makes sense....

Does your truck sit on the overloads?

 

[EZeis]

I think there's an issue with your truck. If you can ride in ALT all the time, I would think your weight sensor is out of calibration. And why would riding around in contact with your overloads be "riding great" when empty? None of this makes sense....

Does your truck sit on the overloads?

My 18 can't be fooled. It knows when it's empty or loaded. So even if you leave it in alt height, it will resume to normal empty height when the load is removed and not alt height. Only way I can have my truck truly in alt is with a load heavy enough for the system to allow it. While in alt height and the load removed, the truck says it's in alt height but it's at the normal empty ride height. I can't fool it in any way.
I haven't tried leaving it in alt height and add a load to see if it would go to alt height or stay at normal height. Will try that on my first trip out in the spring. Maybe it will automatically drop to alt height once the load is reapplied when left in alt height.


Earl

 

[Cummins12V98]

I think there's an issue with your truck. If you can ride in ALT all the time, I would think your weight sensor is out of calibration. And why would riding around in contact with your overloads be "riding great" when empty? None of this makes sense....

Does your truck sit on the overloads?

NOTHING wrong with mine staying in ALT, it allows for a near level ride. If it rode a bit better being off the overloads I would NOT take it out of ALT.

Sensor works fine as far as I can tell. Look at my truck unloaded and with 9,750# pushing down on the rear axle. SAME exact ride height.

Back in the early years of Rear Air Ride there was NOT an issue leaving it in ALT.

 

[dieselshadow]

I've seen those pics 100s of times, still doesn't explain it. The whole point of having the air suspension is variable spring rates. Lower for when empty, higher for when loaded. If your truck stays on the overloads when empty, you don't get the benefit of a nicer ride.

 

[dieselshadow]

My 18 can't be fooled. It knows when it's empty or loaded. So even if you leave it in alt height, it will resume to normal empty height when the load is removed and not alt height. Only way I can have my truck truly in alt is with a load heavy enough for the system to allow it. While in alt height and the load removed, the truck says it's in alt height but it's at the normal empty ride height. I can't fool it in any way.
I haven't tried leaving it in alt height and add a load to see if it would go to alt height or stay at normal height. Will try that on my first trip out in the spring. Maybe it will automatically drop to alt height once the load is reapplied when left in alt height.


Earl

Same as mine Earl. That's how its supposed to work. Not so sure about Cummins12v98's rig.

 

[RVTRKN]

A big negative about the system, the techs don't seem to know squat (no pun intended) about this system. I had mine checked out because the driverside bag never inflated. Tech reported nothing wrong. He agreed to meet with me and even connected it up to wytech. It never filled the driverside bag, but he mentioned the sensors won't allow it if not detecting a load. He gave me literature which I shared here, if anyone remembers. Since then I have confirmed the driverside bag will inflate, but the system has a mind of its own. Another confusing issue is the closed system with Nitrogen and then reports of venting. When I connect up to the 5ver, I'll know then if it is worth the cost.

 

[AH64ID]

Same as mine Earl. That's how its supposed to work. Not so sure about Cummins12v98's rig.

Mine too.

Once in ALT in will stay in ALT until you take it out, but without suffecient payload the ride height will increase to NORM due to the minimum inflation pressure in the bags.

12V either doesn't notice his does this (he's posted pics off the overloads, but in ALT) or he has more than 750 lbs of payload all the time.

A big negative about the system, the techs don't seem to know squat (no pun intended) about this system. I had mine checked out because the driverside bag never inflated. Tech reported nothing wrong. He agreed to meet with me and even connected it up to wytech. It never filled the driverside bag, but he mentioned the sensors won't allow it if not detecting a load. He gave me literature which I shared here, if anyone remembers. Since then I have confirmed the driverside bag will inflate, but the system has a mind of its own. Another confusing issue is the closed system with Nitrogen and then reports of venting. When I connect up to the 5ver, I'll know then if it is worth the cost.

It's possible that your drivers side isn't inflating as much due to side to side weight requirements. You've said you have verified it works, so I guess all I can say is don't worry about it. One way to test inflation is putting it in transport mode (0 psi) and then coming out of transport mode (min psi, depending on payload).

It is very much an open system. I recently discovered that intake between the bed/cab is also the exhaust. When my bags deflate after dropping payload the pump doesn't run and air exhausts thru the hose... which is how an open system works.

There isn't a lot of info out there on it, but after 4 years clueless techs means that it's a fairly robust and trouble free system. So far it's been worth every penny and puts standard springs with aftermarket bags to shame.

If my truck were to get replaced today I wouldn't buy another one without the auto-level.

 

[EZeis]

My 18 3500 isn't a closed loop system, it's an open system with a compressor. It purges air every time shortly after I start it. Also when going in and out of alt height it purges air. A closed nitrogen system would need topped off on occasion as no air system is 100% leak free.

Are these closed loop nitrogen systems on 1500? 2500? Older trucks?


Earl

 

[Cummins12V98]

I've seen those pics 100s of times, still doesn't explain it. The whole point of having the air suspension is variable spring rates. Lower for when empty, higher for when loaded. If your truck stays on the overloads when empty, you don't get the benefit of a nicer ride.

Just looked AGAIN, my truck is setting on overload rubber bumper at front of tires. Top of bed is EXACTLY 55" at back corner just the same is it was in pic below with full RAWR.

I have a B&W hitch and bed height 30" front to back tool box. They are probably near 600#. It does not matter if my load is that much or just the hitch and tool box at 300# or so.

Just to prove a point I have accidentally turned off the ALT button. Once I drove around and everything is reset when stopped I tried to get it into ALT. NO WAY it says load too light.

Mine simply stays in ALT unless removed and won't go in unless there is plenty of weight.

It does NOT increase to higher ride in ALT without RV attached.

I am talking about MY generation of rear air ride truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Also think about this, you say the springs touching are going to cause a worse ride. I understand that thought, BUT the FACT is the bags have more air pressure with ALT off and WILL cause a worse ride. Maybe my ride is the same in ALT lower with ALT off???

 

[dieselshadow]

Just looked AGAIN, my truck is setting on overload rubber bumper at front of tires.

So where's the advantage of having air springs if you're sitting on the overloads when empty?

I have a B&W hitch and bed height 30" front to back tool box. They are probably near 600#. It does not matter if my load is that much or just the hitch and tool box at 300# or so.

Sounds like you are near the threshold AH64D mentioned.

Just to prove a point I have accidentally turned off the ALT button. Once I drove around and everything is reset when stopped I tried to get it into ALT. NO WAY it says load too light.

Mine simply stays in ALT unless removed and won't go in unless there is plenty of weight.

Seems like that normal operation. How did it ride? You've never addressed that. If it's worse, again, where's the advantage of having a factory air ride system?

It does NOT increase to higher ride in ALT without RV attached.

If it's in ALT, according to you it shouldn't rise up. But yet every other report here on the TDR is just the opposite. The regular springs will push the ride height back to normal when empty. So when in normal mode, does your truck go higher and come off the overloads?

Also think about this, you say the springs touching are going to cause a worse ride. I understand that thought, BUT the FACT is the bags have more air pressure with ALT off and WILL cause a worse ride. Maybe my ride is the same in ALT lower with ALT off???

It's all about the spring rates. Have you driven a spring only truck? I have. Huge difference when empty. The air 3500 rode about the same as my prior 2500 sprung truck, both empty. A sprung 3500 is very firm to the point of being bouncy.

I am talking about MY generation of rear air ride truck.

If yours is such a different generation, why are you throwing out information about yours as though it's facts about any air ride trucks? I'm not aware of any changes, there probably are. Nobody seems to fully understand the systems let alone the differences from year to year.

Perhaps your main springs are weaker than later years? Maybe your setup is more like an aftermarket additional air spring? If so, than your statements make perfect sense.

 

[dieselshadow]

Have you ever seen a difference in ride height or heard your air bags inflate/ compressor run?

 

[TFucili]

A big negative about the system, the techs don't seem to know squat (no pun intended) about this system. I had mine checked out because the driverside bag never inflated. Tech reported nothing wrong. He agreed to meet with me and even connected it up to wytech. It never filled the driverside bag, but he mentioned the sensors won't allow it if not detecting a load. He gave me literature which I shared here, if anyone remembers. Since then I have confirmed the driverside bag will inflate, but the system has a mind of its own. Another confusing issue is the closed system with Nitrogen and then reports of venting. When I connect up to the 5ver, I'll know then if it is worth the cost.

Mine sags an inch on the driver's side. Two dealers have said it's normal.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Have you ever seen a difference in ride height or heard your air bags inflate/ compressor run?

my ride height will increase if I turn off ALT. If I add full RAWR the height stays the same.

I noticed NO difference in ride with ALT off.
Like I said I like my truck riding near level.

my last truck was a 11 HO RAM DRW. With bags and Bil’s it rode basically the same as this this truck loaded.

the ride unloaded was nothing like current truck.