I may have to get a 68RFE in my new truck.

[Cummins12V98]

Hook RV and hit ALT ride. Leave it there and solo as it will be a better ride with the lower stance.

You will have around 1,700# load per tire. May want to look at "Dual Tire" load rating at that psi. Add 5psi to what the chart says.

 

[AH64ID]

Hook RV and hit ALT ride. Leave it there and solo as it will be a better ride with the lower stance.

.

Don’t forget that out of all the auto-level trucks on here yours appears to be the only one with a lower stance empty in ALT. The rest of ours ride height empty in ALT, and it rides identical to NORM.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

okay guys here you go here is the combination the truck and the trailer in front of my house well down the block from my house at the local weigh scale area that's not being used right now all right guys check it out here's a couple pictures thanks Stuart

 

[Cummins12V98]

SWEET!!! I gots a special one.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Stewart, looks like a properly setup combo!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

On flat ground with RV hooked up measure top back corner of bed to ground. Mine sets at 55" loaded of not.

 

[Cummins2014]

Stewart, looks like a properly setup combo!!!

What !!!, after bad mouthing the Andersen, and the OP

But yes, its a great setup, Andersen hitch and all

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

What does it mean about this alternative ride height what does that mean guys?

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Yeah my friend took a picture of the combo very nice if he takes great pictures.

 

[AH64ID]

What does it mean about this alternative ride height what does that mean guys?

With sufficient weight on the rear axle (approx 500-700lbs of pin, payload, or tongue weight) the ride height will lower about 1" at the axle.

This drops the main leaves down onto the overload leaves. You will experience a better, more stable ride by using all of the springs.

I highly recommend using it anytime you're towing or hauling anything of decent weight.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Ok guys I did try the alternative ride height with the trailer and it rode wayyyyyyyy worse and kind of REALLY bouncy I put it back to normal height and it was great, now this may be because I use the Anderson hitch but man the truck goes up hills really nice.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok guys I did try the alternative ride height with the trailer and it rode wayyyyyyyy worse and kind of REALLY bouncy I put it back to normal height and it was great, now this may be because I use the Anderson hitch but man the truck goes up hills really nice.

Something doesn’t sound right.

Since the truck is lower in ALT did you check that the trailair didn’t need adjustment?

Could the Anderson hitch be taking more weight off the front axle than you think, and ALT makes it worse? Maybe you should spend some time at the scales??

You really want to be in ALT with a trailer. This is what the suspension is designed for.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I drove it 18 miles with normal height and then 18 miles in alternative and in my opinion normal was way better but that may be because of the anderson but it really just a I think 2 inch difference am I correct on that guys???????

The alternative seemed to tuck lower when you started moving and it did the chucking motion way more.

 

[AH64ID]

It will reduce axle wrap if everything else is setup correctly.

Did you verify the trailair pressure in ALT?

If it is the Anderson, as you suggested, that’s a big issue. Other hitches don’t create an issue in ALT.

 

[dieselshadow]

Doesn’t the truck ride on the helper springs in Alt mode? In essence make the truck stiffer?

If not, how far off the helpers does it make it ride?

 

[AH64ID]

Doesn’t the truck ride on the helper springs in Alt mode? In essence make the truck stiffer?

If not, how far off the helpers does it make it ride?

Yes, well at least it’s supposed to.

That’s why it’s stiffer, more stable, and reduced axle wrap.

 

[RVTRKN]

It seems right, because some owners revert to putting weight in the bed to help the rough 3500 ride. Some like the soft coil spring ride in the 2500, but I didn't like it in the 2014 2500 I drove for awhile. I test drove the 3500 SRW and it felt good, I even purpously went over obstacles to check the ride. Back to the theory John is talking about, I disagree because when the overloads hit the spring packs it stiffens the ride. I have been riding close to the overloads for 12 years with the heavy B&W Elite Flat bed. If you can raise the load away from the overload springs, you'll have better flex which smooths the ride. The ride was smooth with my C&C, until I hit little bumps, going over speed bumps was rough unless I slowed it down to crawl, because it rides on the overloads that doesn't flex. Maybe it feels smoother to me because I just got out of the C&C, but I will raise the load to the normal level hight. But I will check this theory about lowering to the overloads by one inch, but I will expect the same ride as the C&C.

 

[AH64ID]

Back to the theory John is talking about, I disagree because when the overloads hit the spring packs it stiffens the ride.

What do you disagree with? I have stated they stiffen the ride a couple times. On a auto-level truck this is a good thing when loaded at or near RAWR.

I have been riding close to the overloads for 12 years with the heavy B&W Elite Flat bed. If you can raise the load away from the overload springs, you'll have better flex which smooths the ride.

The overloads with the auto-level are nothing like the C&C or non auto-level overloads.

On the auto-level trucks there are 2 main leaves, they are much softer than the non auto-level trucks to give a better ride when empty.

The overloads on an auto-level truck are under the main leaves, and nearly full length. They have large rubber bumpers on them, and with auto-level once you lower into ALT they rest on them all the time.

The reason C&C, as well as trucks without auto-level, can be harsh on the overloads is because they don't always ride on them. As the suspension cycles the overloads are slapped into, which makes for a very harsh ride. The auto-level doesn't do this, at least not in my experience at the SRW RAWR... it should do it even less at the DRW RAWR.

The only way that you could easily be slamming into the overloads on a auto-level truck would be to run in NORM when you should be in ALT. This will cause a harsh and jarring ride.

The ride was smooth with my C&C, until I hit little bumps, going over speed bumps was rough unless I slowed it down to crawl, because it rides on the overloads that doesn't flex. Maybe it feels smoother to me because I just got out of the C&C, but I will raise the load to the normal level hight. But I will check this theory about lowering to the overloads by one inch, but I will expect the same ride as the C&C.

My 05 had the upper overloads like 5th gen DRW's do, and I agree those can be quite harsh. The auto-level is nothing like that ride. It's a completely different suspension design.

If you plan to run in NORM with a load you may as well put the deposit on a truck without auto-level, as your're not going to be using one of the main benefits of the auto-level.

The ride, loaded, with auto-level in ALT is MUCH better, it's firmer (not harsher), and far more stable.

Based on my experience between a 06 2500, 05 3500 SRW and a couple of auto-level trucks there is no comparison, empty or loaded. The only time the auto-level isn't better is empty over LARGE speed bumps.. the kind that even with the 168.5" wheel base the entire truck is on the bump.

 

[RVTRKN]

I will be close to GAWR when my 5ver is attached, my 04.5 2500 was just at the GAWR but without water in the 70 gal fresh water tank. I don't want the squat, that even the regular 3500 DRW will have compared to my C&C. It is not a waist of money for the air bags, if I try to keep normal hight when 5ver is attached. This will be a big learning curve for me with air bags, but isn't that the point of air bags. Seems to me to be a waist of money if you hardly inflate them. I will find out, that is for sure.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Is this RV LOADED with all your stuff?