Factory Rear Air Suspension Question

[M6072]

Question for the Masses,
I am looking to up grade my 2014 2500, to a 2016 2500 with factory air. The issues is that I tow a 2016 Grand Design Solitude, it has a hitch weight of 2700 LBS. My current truck has after market airbags and I love them. Load is level and tows great. The problem is that the factory Air, I want it however I have read that if you over load the 2200 LBS payload weight then the factory air gets mad. I wont be towing all the time, however there will be a time that I will two across the county. My main question is, does anyone have any experience with this type of set up and towing heavy. Any advice is welcome. Back ground on my self I am a 20 year diesel Mech and have towed a lot in the past. I understand that the best idea would be to get a 3500 DRW, however I don't feel that I tow enough to warrant that. Thanks in advance to everyone.

 

[TFucili]

If you plan to pull heavy with a 2500, I would get Airlift 7500s, and skip the factory system.

 

[kthaxton]

I understand that the best idea would be to get a 3500 DRW, however I don't feel that I tow enough to warrant that. Thanks in advance to everyone.

Why not split the difference and get a SRW 3500?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Agree!!!

HEAVY and 2500 do not go hand in hand.

Get a 3500 SRW LB Crew AISIN factory pucks and factory rear air ride. You. WILL. thank me.

 

[DeansRedRam]

I can vouch for what Cummins12v98 has to say.

I put approximately 2000lbs of tongue weight on my 3500 with factory air. Needless to say I was more than impressed it still maintained its factory rake.

 

[Aj22]

At what point does the dually air ride get upset? I have heard #3200 pounds and it Freaks out? I am wondering because I have a slide in that is heavy and am looking at new trucks. Thanks for any insight.

 

[RVTRKN]

look at my Avatar, heavy pin weight with the factory air system and had no issues whatsoever, but it is a SRW 3500.

 

[lpennock]

At what point does the dually air ride get upset? I have heard #3200 pounds and it Freaks out? I am wondering because I have a slide in that is heavy and am looking at new trucks. Thanks for any insight.

Look at my avatar. 4800 lb of camper and stuff there. I've also had 600lb of tongue weight on a 40" extension behind that load and the air suspension has had no issues. I would be surprised to see it freak before you are over GAWR which would put you around 6K-7K of load.

 

[TFucili]

Let's remember the OP's question was on the 2500, which has bags only. I do agree that a 3500 SRW would be a better choice.

 

[M6072]

Thanks for all the input, I agree the 3500 SRW would be the best. I just found a killer deal on a Laramie 2500 so that's why the question was asked. I guess I will stick with my 2500 for now. It has firestone air assist with the on board compressor. (love the system) Levels my setup right out. I will start the search for a 3500. Thanks to everyone for the input. Just had me worried that I would be throwing errors once I got it home and dumped the weight on it.

 

[AH64ID]

The 2500 system should allow you to go to the published RAWR without any errors, as that’s what it’s advertised at.

Would you exceed the RAWR?


The 3500 auto-level is a better option thou. It won’t error out even above the DRW RAWR, and the SRW has the same system.

 

[SnoKing]

Here is a little over 3K between rear axle and trail gate of a 3500 SB with leaf springs. 45 x 67 lb wall blocks. SnoKing

 

[Cummins12V98]

I can vouch for what Cummins12v98 has to say.

I put approximately 2000lbs of tongue weight on my 3500 with factory air. Needless to say I was more than impressed it still maintained its factory rake.

Only 5,750# pin weight and 9,750# RAW in this pic. Truck sets EXACTLY the same unloaded. Both pics in ALT ride mode.

 

[Cummins12V98]

At what point does the dually air ride get upset? I have heard #3200 pounds and it Freaks out? I am wondering because I have a slide in that is heavy and am looking at new trucks. Thanks for any insight.

Not sure what you are talking aboot! Mine is 5 years old and I tow heavier than anyone I know and it's been flawless loaded and unloaded with a great ride!

 

[Cummins12V98]

"It won’t error out even above the DRW RAWR"

I can attest this is true! Last I weighed my RAW was 10,560# with ZERO warnings and the truck still sat exactly as it always has loaded or unloaded.

 

[M6072]

Ok so I see how it does not give warnings for the 3500 but would it for the 2500 if I put a pin weight of say 3000?

 

[TFucili]

Ok so I see how it does not give warnings for the 3500 but would it for the 2500 if I put a pin weight of say 3000?

I don't know what the threshold is, but I have seen multiple owners report it erroring out, and one of a blown bag. Remember, the 2500 system is bags only, not air assist like the 3500. If you go 2500, go with Airlift 7500s.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok so I see how it does not give warnings for the 3500 but would it for the 2500 if I put a pin weight of say 3000?

Where would that put you in relation to your RAWR?

 

[lpennock]

Where would that put you in relation to your RAWR?

According to https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/dam/fca-brands/na/ramtrucks/en_us/towing/2018 Ram 2500.pdf a 2500 has a base rear axle weight of about 3000lb and a GAWR of 6500lb so the air suspension should not have an issue until at least 3500 lb of load is put in the bed. 2019 is probably a little heavier but should still be above 3k.

 

[AH64ID]

According to https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/dam/fca-brands/na/ramtrucks/en_us/towing/2018 Ram 2500.pdf a 2500 has a base rear axle weight of about 3000lb and a GAWR of 6500lb so the air suspension should not have an issue until at least 3500 lb of load is put in the bed. 2019 is probably a little heavier but should still be above 3k.

Yeah, that's assuming no other payload or heavy stuff in the back seat too. It should easily be doable, but other stuff will effect that.