3500 OEM air ride vs standard spring pack, is there a difference in ride

[brillmtb]

Before I take the leap and get my new truck I am down to this question. I can add aftermarket air, wireless for about the same but is the ride quality better with oem air suspension, single leaf setup.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have had both systems and the factory Rear Air Option is WELL worth the money. Ride is improved loaded and unloaded.

 

[brillmtb]

What do others think. I am thinking why go aftermarket if ride better and I am just looking to level. I usually take out a warranty beyond oem as I keep my truck a long time

 

[twon]

...I am thinking why go aftermarket if ride better and I am just looking to level...

This was also my primary reasoning for ordering it.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to compare with or without during any test drives. in theory alone, there should be at least a small improvement in ride.

 

[dogbreath650]

I went through this when ordering my 3500. I ended up staying with the std leaf pack as I figured with the factory air that if I had a heavy load and the air system failed I'd be sitting on my axles by the side of the road. With an aftermarket air setup in the event of failure you still have the full spring pack under you and can keep rolling. Time will tell how reliable the factory air is.

 

[Vette Racer]

I like the ride with the level air but didn't have a way to compare it to the stock springs. Your comment about the single leaf with air is not correct, at least on my 2016. I have several leafs in the spring pack, not just one, so even if the air malfunctioned I doubt it would leave you stranded, there is still a lot of spring there.

 

[RustyJC]

I have no way to compare my conventionally sprung truck to one with air assist, but I can't complain about the ride or stance of my 2016 3500 dually. It sits level under the pin weight of our 5th wheel and rides acceptably. I would have gone for the air assist if I had ordered my truck, but I bought this one off of a dealer's lot.

Rusty

 

[Cummins12V98]

I went through this when ordering my 3500. I ended up staying with the std leaf pack as I figured with the factory air that if I had a heavy load and the air system failed I'd be sitting on my axles by the side of the road. With an aftermarket air setup in the event of failure you still have the full spring pack under you and can keep rolling. Time will tell how reliable the factory air is.

NOT true about being stranded!

 

[Cummins2014]

Before I take the leap and get my new truck I am down to this question. I can add aftermarket air, wireless for about the same but is the ride quality better with oem air suspension, single leaf setup.

I have made the argument about this OEM versus aftermarket. The one BIG thing on OEM is you have NO control on air pressure it does its thing based on weight to level. Plus you are way off on cost , unless maybe you are paying for installation. The cost for a wireless Airlift setup is just about half the cost of OEM.

I installed the Airlift 72000 wireless air compressor ,along with the Airlift 5000 airbags with the internal jounce bumper.They work flawlessly , and I have complete control of the air pressure, leveling etc.

As far as ride goes with these trucks ,thats pretty subjective. About the only difference I can tell in ride quality of my Ram 3500 is air pressure in the tires . 80 psi running empty is pretty harsh, I run 50-55 empty in the rear ,60-65 in the front, and that mellows out the ride somewhat. Airbags don't seem to change the ride running empty. Naturally they ride much better with a fifth wheel hooked up, well at least mine does.

 

[dogbreath650]

NOT true about being stranded!

Sorry, I guess I'mguilty of repeating what I read elsewhere without first hand knowledge. Has anyone actually experienced a air bag failure when loaded to max?

 

[Ram4Sam]

I would be more concerned about the electronics/hardware of the system than the air bags ever leaking........

Sam

 

[Cummins2014]

I would be more concerned about the electronics/hardware of the system than the air bags ever leaking........

Sam

That would be my concern ,not much problem trouble shooting an aftermarket system, a total different story with OEM. As far as air bags, have had both AirLift, and Firestone no issues with leaking

 

[Ram4Sam]

I guess I'm just an old leaf spring guy......they work fine for me. Plus, leaf springs never leak.....

Sam

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sorry, I guess I'mguilty of repeating what I read elsewhere without first hand knowledge. Has anyone actually experienced a air bag failure when loaded to max?

I personally have not ever heard of a bag failure. If you loose air the rear will drop down against the insides of the bags. You will be rear low kinda like a Ford with a minimal load! It will NOT strand you at all.

 

[Cummins2014]

I personally have not ever heard of a bag failure. If you loose air the rear will drop down against the insides of the bags. You will be rear low kinda like a Ford with a minimal load! It will NOT strand you at all.

Lets say you loose the air in those OEM airbags at the pin weight you have how long will those bags last

 

[Cummins12V98]

Lets say you loose the air in those OEM airbags at the pin weight you have how long will those bags last

OK we get it you don't like the factory bag system. They just deflate simple as that, you go to the Dealer and get them fixed. Have you heard of a "failure" ? I would think mine would have failed by now with the full RAWR I have ran for around 10K miles. If mine fail they will be covered for 100K by my warranty.

If mine were to deflate I would contact the closest Dealer and make arrangements to have them fixed no different than any other repair.

 

[DGamelin]

I have the factory air on my 2015. That was the biggest reason I bought it. I have been running dully's since 1984 I have had all kinds of air bags on different trucks. All my trucks have been work trucks in a business of some kind, not grocery getter. The air ride on the new trucks works great they do have some quarks but once you get it figured out the ride is the best I have had in a dully. I have never had a bag fail but I have lost air lines, (not on the new one yet). When you are loaded heavy it sucks no mater what system you have.

 

[Cummins2014]

OK we get it you don't like the factory bag system. They just deflate simple as that, you go to the Dealer and get them fixed. Have you heard of a "failure" ? I would think mine would have failed by now with the full RAWR I have ran for around 10K miles. If mine fail they will be covered for 100K by my warranty.

If mine were to deflate I would contact the closest Dealer and make arrangements to have them fixed no different than any other repair.

Let me rephrase that, how long traveling down a freeway, and you loose air pressure ,with weight you have how long would those airbags last, IMO one good expansion joint, and this would hold true with about any airbag they would be toast without air. Yes then off to the dealer you go.



Its not that I don't like OEM airbags, they are probably great, but there are things I don't like about them, would not order them because of those things. I get it with you also, you like them,and thats great, and its okay I don't.

Lets put it this way I could of installed the same system as you , and its actually cheaper then what I have. Its no secret its auto leveling nothing more nothing less, nothing magic.

I want control of the air pressure, ride quality etc. I have had two trucks with aftermarket, and if I want to adjust ,I do. I don't want the airbags doing their thing like OEM.