Leveling w/ the camper on

[VicR]

Hi all - I love my 14 3500/ Hallmark Everest, but I would like to see if I can address a minor bit of rear end sag when the camper is on. Per the CAT scales I'm under GVWR (11,700), but I'd just like to get the rear back up a little bit. I've looked at both the Torklift stableload and the Timbren Suspension Enhancement System and both get good reviews - any thoughts on the best way to approach this?

Long term plans include a relocation of the spare to the front bumper which should also help - but that's a ways down the road until I can save up for the bumper I want.

Thanks in advance - Vic

 

[LandShark]

I'm surprised at the amount of sag you have. What does the camper weigh and do you have any idea where the CG is? Forget the Timbrens, unless you like a really hard ride. Air bags are the best way to go.

 

[Bob4x4]

over 2k depending how much gear is loaded in

 

[KenHwy61]

I have Timbrens on my truck. Easy to install and nothing really to ever go wrong. They eliminated sag and rear end porpoising when towing on rough roads. The ride is typical HD truck and can be stiff at times. Air bags have the advantage of being adjustable to the load and would be able to deliver a smoother ride.

 

[VicR]

I have to find my notes but I recall it was actually around 2500 wet with gear for 3 people. - its pretty well optioned. I don't know the CG - but I do have a suspicion that moving the spare to the front will only help that - and I have nightmares about changing a flat with the current set up - it would be a royal pain to access the winch right now - so that addresses 2 problems.

Thanks Ken - I'm leaning towards the Timbren solution myself - the reviews I've read seem to indicate its good for no load (most of the time for me) or full load (the rest of the time) and the ride suffers with light-moderate loads which I hardly do. I've thought about airbags but had a bad experience with them once and like the no maintenance aspect of Timbren.

 

[mwilson]

I chose airbags with the handheld remote control, you can either run the bag pressures together or individually....bought them to level me up just that little bit to keep headlight adjustment correct when towing the fifth wheel....then bought a used Lance slide-in...that's where the air bags really shine....

 

[Regcabguy]

Timbrens are fail safe.
I saw some just today installed on an '12 dually that hauls cars. His bags had seen better days.

 

[mwilson]

If the slide-in stayed on the truck all of the time I agree with the Timbrens.

But if you want to use the truck for other things the Timbrens will beat you to death. I have them on the '97 (came with them) and it will bang your teeth together on a fairly small bump.

 

[mwilson]

The site apparently thought that I needed to say the above twice......

 

[mpaulson]

I'd go with air bags but throw out the "quick connect" fittings that come in the kits and buy proper ones with furls and inserts and you will have a more durable air system especially if you get into fairly cold temperatures. With bags you can actually adjust your height by air pressure unlike Timbrens which are a set height.

 

[mbrink]

Just did my first trip with 2018 3500 CC Short Bed with our 2011 Artic fox 811 that weighs over 3000 pounds. What a difference from the 2001 Ford 7.3 PSD. Ford had plenty of power, but had sway and hard to control descents. I had an exhaust brake, but you really had to manage the trannie. The new Auto exhaust is amazing. Plenty of control.

The truck also felt much more stable. My old truck was an F250 with airbags. Suspension would squat a lot with the camper, then I would level out with air bags. But then had a lot of sway. That likely was due to the 3/4 ton springs, vs air bags.

Was very please with the new 3500 with no air bags. I think the bed settled about 3" with the weight, but was pretty level. Handled great. A lot of that likely is due to comparing 17 year old 3/4 ton springs to new 1 ton. I still may get air bags to level out with camper, and also to trailer. Plus helps leveling in camp.

sold my old, very reliable Ford 7.3 to get more stability and braking. I got both and am amazed at the difference. Lets just hope my Ram is as reliable has my old Ford - zero, zero issues in 17 years / 145k miles. Trucks sure have come a long ways in 17 years.

 

[josephc1]

I have had both and would much prefer the air bags. Ran with the bags for over 8 years and never a problem. I did not have the on board compressor, just aired them up to level when I was hauling and bleed them down to almost nothing with an empty bed. Timbrens were pretty harsh loaded or not.

 

[TCDiesel]

X2 I put the Rid-rites on in June 13 put 13 PSI Just had to add 4PSI 4.3 years later.

 

[Cummins12V98]

OP IMHO your truck looks great! LEVEL is good as it has engaged the overloads. I would not do a thing.

 

[TCDiesel]

The SRW 13-18 do Not have overloads (6102) Spring, DRW do (6101) spring does , I can't remember the Part# for the additional 2 leaf over spring., the 6102 spring leafs are 1.3mm thicker than the 6101 spring and has a 1.5 inch arch the 6101 spring is, that's why the DRW bed height is 3.5 inch lower 1.5 on the spring and 2.0 inch on tire size.. 275/70R18 = 33.2x10.8R18 / 235/80R17 = 31.8x9.3R17

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks ^^^^^

Truck still sets fine.

 

[mbrink]

My old 2001 Ford had "camper overload" springs that were above and separate from the main rear springs. Does Dodge offer that on some model, and could they be added to a SRW 2018?

 

[Bob4x4]

I have a custom rear spring from Carli suspension that is progressive and airbags to end up with a great ride under any load.The bags have separate plumbing side to side-helps prevent the sway with high center of gravity and can fine tune for any irregular loadingI can only imagine the degradation of ride quality sitting on a bump stop all the time,no timbrens in my future.

 

[GMconvert]

Just did my first trip with 2018 3500 CC Short Bed with our 2011 Artic fox 811 that weighs over 3000 pounds. What a difference from the 2001 Ford 7.3 PSD. Ford had plenty of power, but had sway and hard to control descents. I had an exhaust brake, but you really had to manage the trannie. The new Auto exhaust is amazing. Plenty of control.

The truck also felt much more stable. My old truck was an F250 with airbags. Suspension would squat a lot with the camper, then I would level out with air bags. But then had a lot of sway. That likely was due to the 3/4 ton springs, vs air bags.

Was very please with the new 3500 with no air bags. I think the bed settled about 3" with the weight, but was pretty level. Handled great. A lot of that likely is due to comparing 17 year old 3/4 ton springs to new 1 ton. I still may get air bags to level out with camper, and also to trailer. Plus helps leveling in camp.

sold my old, very reliable Ford 7.3 to get more stability and braking. I got both and am amazed at the difference. Lets just hope my Ram is as reliable has my old Ford - zero, zero issues in 17 years / 145k miles. Trucks sure have come a long ways in 17 years.

If you pump up with airbags and take it off of the lower overload, it will still have sway...ask me how I know, even with a sway bar. I would air up to level some but not take it off the lower overloads. I got some free lower Stableloads and don't even really need the bags now.

Timbrens shouldn't be engaged when unloaded.

I believe your truck can have the upper overload spring perches bolted on. I plan to install the upper overload perches on my 2012, but they need to be welded on...I already have the perches, just not the time to do it.

 

[TCDiesel]

Not doubt four point load distribution overloads are the trick for sway, If you go that way check out the energy Bump -stops on the Perches.