Hellwig Aux Springs on 2500 4x4

[RWorth]

Can some one tell if adding the Hellwig aux overload springs on a 2500 4x4 sb

work the same as the overload springs on the 3500 srw's 4x4 sb. If so does the overloads on the 3500's help with just keeping the truck level or do they really help with the load weight. The pin weight on my 5th wheel is 2000lbs. The Dodge specs show about 900 lb difference.

 

[GCross]

You may be better off to install Ride-Rite air bags, I'm considering installing them and taking off the overloads. The problem with overloads is that if you have just enough weight to where they just barely make contact you will tend to engage and then bounce of of them, if you have enough weight to make constant contact then they work OK. I suspect that at 2000 you may not make a solid contact.

 

[DPKetchum]

Do we need more truck?

 

[GCross]

Do we need more truck?

Yes, many of us do. A one ton truck is inadequate to pull many of todays RV trailers, and they get heavier all the time. Slideouts and other amenities that we didn't have in past decades, add a great deal of weight. My first trailer weighed 1800LBS now we see them up to 16000.

 

[PWelsh]

I have the airlift bags on mine. When I attach the camper I let the truck go down until the overloads are compressed about an inch and I put air in the airbags to keep it at that point. My camper, fully loaded, is right at the max payload of my truck. IT handles well. Fact, it's much better with this Dodge than it was with my Ford dulie which had a bigger payload capability than my Ram 3500 SRW. Getting rid of the dulie was the best thing I ever did. I hated driving that truck the 90% of the time I did not have the camper on.

 

[Buzzer]

I had the Hellwig springs on my 97. It dramaticly improved on carrying heavy loads. The drawback was it also stiffened the ride. This time I went with airbags because they were much more easy to deal with.

 

[bpenrod]

You can get the factory helper spring for the 2500, they came with a package, I think it was called the camper or something. My 99 2500 had them and they seemed to work good when engaged. They were like a 80 or 100 dollar option when I ordered it.

 

[RWorth]

GCross I have not bought the truck. I was just wanting to know if the Hellwigs or other aftermarket over load springs or even airbags will do the same thing as the factory over load springs are doing for added load capacity.



Thanks for replying

 

[GCross]

GCross I have not bought the truck. I was just wanting to know if the Hellwigs or other aftermarket over load springs or even airbags will do the same thing as the factory over load springs are doing for added load capacity.



Thanks for replying

Absolutely not, You can not legally increase the load capacity over the manufactures specs. Overloads and bags will only stop sag, hold the truck level and maybe improve the ride. The advantage of air bags over springs is that they are adjustable. You can increase the load capacity with dual wheels which will take your GVWR from 9900# (3500 srw) to 12000#. As a former professional driver I would caution you to be sure and buy the right truck for the load you intend to haul. An overloaded truck is hard to control, hard to stop, and illegal.



-George-

 

[RWorth]

So are the overloads on the 3500 srw sb for the purpose for stopping sag. Is the added overloads the only difference between the 2500 srw and the 3500 srw?

 

[GCross]

So are the overloads on the 3500 srw sb for the purpose for stopping sag. Is the added overloads the only difference between the 2500 srw and the 3500 srw?

I'm not sure what the GVWR is on the 2500 but it's probably close to the 3500 SRW, so your statement above maybe true. Just keep in mind that the manufacturers stated GVWR cannot be exeded. You can only work with various suspension components to adjust the ride to your liking within those limits. I have heard that the 3500 has larger rear breaks. Other than that and the cab lights I don't see any difference. Maybe someone else knows more about this, I never really looked at the 2500.

 

[RWorth]

GCross,

I thank you for your input. The payload cap for the 2500 is around 2180lbs and the 3500 is around 2950. The gcvw is 20k for the 2500 and 21k for the 3500. Trailer weight for the 2500 is 13050 and for the 3500 is 13950.



Thanks again for everyones input.