First time post and question about air ride and quality of ride on 2019 3500.

[Wiredawg]

Yes the Ram site will let you add 410 but like you guys have said it will be a 373 unless you get the MaxTow and that does include the Dually Wheels oh well its Aisin and 373 for me I guess lol.
I think the 1000 foot pounds SRW with the 373 and Aisin should do me just fine and have plenty of torque.
I was just told by a guy that if I get the 68rfe make sure to spec the 410 as it will put less stress on the transmission in the end.
Thats just what the guy said he works for one of these transmission companys and he makes his living on blowing up 68rfe trucks lol.

You can't have too much power or too much money... I say go for it and get the big hoss.
And maybe they'll accidentally install 4.10s too.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

One other benefit to the auto-level that I wasn't aware of when I bought the truck is that they sit a little higher in the front (.2") and lower in the rear (1.6") than a spring suspension truck. I'll take any little bit of front ground clearance I can get, and the lower rear height is a lot nicer for loading/unloading and climbing in. No need for a level kit as they always sit the same, and look level in either reg ride height or alt ride height.

If you compare then to a 2500 spring suspension truck the auto-level 3500 is 2" lower in the rear.


We did 20 miles of dirt this weekend with out a trailer and the tires at 65/40. The ride is very comfortable and stable with the auto-level suspension.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Ok sounds like a winner.

 

[TFucili]

Well, sounds like you're all set. Better order quick, or you'll have to wait for a 2020.

I know Dodge earned their reputation for marginal automatics, and in many cases deservedly so, BUT the 68RFE has proven to be a capable and reliable unit--in stock trucks, and driven like a truck, not a top-fuel car. Plenty of folks on here are pulling heavy with 68RFEs, even with 3.42 gears, and doing just fine. Don't let the flat-hatters and coal-rollers scare you. Through a lot of vehicles I have had trouble with two automatic transmissions, one total and complete failure @13K miles in a Ford Expedition that never towed anything(it also blew both head gaskets shortly before that but that's another story), and an '04 Chevy/Allison that went Lemon-Law. As a side note, at the time I spoke to a dedicated Allison shop, and they did not consider the Allison 1000 an Allison at all, and they are not as "bullet-proof" as the fanboys want you to believe. Rant over.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Ok here is the order I am still waiting back for a confirmed price.

Does all this look correct guys and yes I used a 373 with the Aisin transmission.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Ok here is the quoted price by Kernersville Ram Dodge on that truck that I want to get
the price is very reasonable.

By the way I put in air ride and you guys were correct you cant get 410 in a SRW.

Thanks for all your help guys!!!

Stuart

 

[TFucili]

That will be a dandy!

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Well I mean the price has a nice discount we shall see what rebates it has in a couple of months.
It will take about 7 or 8 weeks to get it after I give them a deposit.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

So if I were to go with the lower price cummins not the HO engine and 68RFE the 373 gearing would be ok guys.

Do the 68RFE transmission owners think towing a 14000 pound fifth wheel would put a bunch of stress on the 68RFE I am keeping the truck 100 percent stock with no power upgrades at all??????


I could save I think 4000 going with the Dodge transmission and the lower power?????
Stuart

 

[AH64ID]

Personally I’d keep the Aisin and drop the sunroof and dual alternators if you were trying to save a little money... but I’m also 6’4” and the sunroof hits my head

I was only interested in the Aisin. It’s more robust, has more power, and has better 1st/2nd gear for getting a load moving.

 

[Wiredawg]

One thing stands out... I recommend upgrading to to the traction tires. They hold up well, but perform better in rain and snow.

Disregard this comment if the tires are Firestone.

Everything else looks good.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Ok I am 5 foot 4 so I am short lol my wife is the same, she said no sunroof no truck lol so we shall see.

 

[AH64ID]

One thing stands out... I recommend upgrading to to the traction tires. They hold up well, but perform better in rain and snow.

Everything else looks good.

Cheers, Ron

I’m not sure they are with the cost. Put the money into some non Firestone OE tires. Between selling the OE tires and not getting the AT upgrade a good chunk of the new tires can be paid for.

 

[Wiredawg]

Ok I am 5 foot 4 so I am short lol my wife is the same, she said no sunroof no truck lol so we shall see.

I was saved on the sunroof as up to 2018, Ram didn't offer sunroofs on Cab and Chassis (C&C) trucks, but then someone woke up at FCA and saw folks are buying Ram C&Cs for towing RVs and Ranchers wanting high GVW and GCWs in a nice package.

My wife picked her truck with the panoramic sunroof. It's nice, but my type Aness (LoL) thinks about running into a hail storm.

Don't forget to upgrade those tires and good luck on your new Ram Cummins with 400HP/1000TQ and the MIGHTY Aisin transmission.

Edit: Oh crap, FCA is installing Firestone tires on their trucks now. I'd rather have a daughter working in a *****house than to ever have another Firestone tire. If you're old enough, you know what I'm talking about.
Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

I’m not sure they are with the cost. Put the money into some non Firestone OE tires. Between selling the OE tires and not getting the AT upgrade a good chunk of the new tires can be paid for.

This, for sure. The Fireturds that came on my '15 were near the wear bars in 13K miles, despite proper pressures, and rotation. Worst OEM tires I ever had. On my dually, I have already made preparations to sell the junk Nexens and install good tires from the get-go. It's a crime they don't offer a decent tire from the factory.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

you would think on a 75 or $80,000 vehicle they would put some top rated tires that would make sense and the fact that they're putting junk tires on these trucks does not make sense this is not a Ford fiesta or a Hyundai Elantra or a Ford focus or something like that a cheap vehicle or a Jeep Renegade I have a Jeep Renegade it's got great tires on it it's just disgusting it's even more disgusting they're made in Mexico my 97 and my 99 we're both made in Mexico I had a 3500 2 wheel drive 97 and a 3500 2 wheel drive 99 one with the 12 valve in one with the 24 valve.
I would be curious how expensive these trucks were made if they were actually made in the United States of America by American workers and assembled here not in Mexico when they they work for $10 an hour.
also I spoke to an owner of a dealership today and he actually said that the non air ride 3500 mega cab rides better without the self-leveling air ride maybe maybe he's wrong but I have heard this before so I hope I make the right decision regarding all this stuff I would even be maybe go for the 68rfe transmission if I could get a 410 ratio in fact this owner told me that you could get the you could get the 68rfe with the crew cab but not with the mega cab for some reason in just the two wheel rear two wheel rear not dually but two wheel rear sorry guys I'm using voice to text if anything sounds strange it's because of that have a great day guys thanks for all your help who loves you baby.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

The owner of a dealership told me the megacab with the SRW spring suspension rides much better with the 6..4 bed then the air ride suspension does, he said others came by and told him the same but you must have the 18 inch tires so I will drive a megacab 6/4 bed Laramie tomorrow and check and see how bad or good it really is as far as ride is concerned.

 

[JR]

So if I were to go with the lower price cummins not the HO engine and 68RFE the 373 gearing would be ok guys.

Do the 68RFE transmission owners think towing a 14000 pound fifth wheel would put a bunch of stress on the 68RFE I am keeping the truck 100 percent stock with no power upgrades at all??????


I could save I think 4000 going with the Dodge transmission and the lower power?????
Stuart

14k is not an issue for the 68, I hauled loads like that with my gen 2/47re. This 68 in my 14 is light years ahead of that in terms of capability, and I am comparing a stock 68 to a built 47. AND I am stuck with 3.42 gears to boot. You are starting to look at the big picture like I am, what are you really getting for the huuuge price tag. Aside from the upfront costs, service intervals are basically cut in half with more expensive fluid required. I personally know of a lot of 68's used for agricultural business locally that have alot of hard hours on them.

Let me paint another picture on the choice of transmissions. I bought my 14 gently used so I looked at alot of trucks before taking the plunge. Out of 8-10 trucks i called on/looked at, exactly one of the owners knew what automatic transmission they had without me guiding them through which side the dipstick was on. And that one was an Aisin. The others had no clue. Most people do not care enough to know, and therefore aren't Willing to pay extra for a "more capable" unit. If you are the type that either keeps their truck long term or trades it in through a dealership this may not be an issue. But buyer beware the audience at TDR is not your "typical" truck crowd.

 

[mpaulson]

On the note of the air ride, I can't speak for the SRW trucks but I can for the DRW trucks. My buddy and I have the exact same trucks, 2018 crew cab 4x4 DRW 4.10's same everything but colours. But his is the air assist and mine is leaf springs. With both trucks having the rear tires aired down to 45 psi, my leaf sprung truck definitely rides better than his (both empty boxes). His hits the bumps, potholes and speed bumps with a much more harsh impact.

 

[AH64ID]

On the note of the air ride, I can't speak for the SRW trucks but I can for the DRW trucks. My buddy and I have the exact same trucks, 2018 crew cab 4x4 DRW 4.10's same everything but colours. But his is the air assist and mine is leaf springs. With both trucks having the rear tires aired down to 45 psi, my leaf sprung truck definitely rides better than his (both empty boxes). His hits the bumps, potholes and speed bumps with a much more harsh impact.

The auto-level does have the large overload springs that can be contacted at about 1" of spring compression. I haven't found much that bounces me into those thou, aside from the large speed tables (long speed bumps) leaving work. It only happens when the front axle leaves the bump as the rear axle hits it, and only if I'm driving faster than I should be. When loaded, in reg or alt ride height, it's not an issue. And it really isn't an issue anyways.

The same speed bumps would cause my 05 to be harsh by compressing into the upper overloads with about 1000 lbs in the bed.

I haven't felt the overloads make the same contact on regular speed bumps, bumps, road imperfections, potholes, washboard roads, etc.

The leaf sprung trucks I've driven are harsher than my auto-level 99.9% of the time.