RAM 3500 Bait and Switch Rear Air Suspension

[SnoKing]

Well this does not look good folks! This is what RAM announced earlier.

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And here is what people are receiving! Two main leafs, two addition half leafs forward of the axle and "helper" air bags! Reported that ride height is now adjustable empty!

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RAM you have really screwed up! SNOKING

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http://cdn.coverstand.com/33804/233371/a2f888e9dc29b6be4b5cafa9c78cd2c6fddf3fb3.55.pdf

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/250284-2500-vs-3500

 

[Deleted member 995608]

So what? Don't like it? Don't buy it.

You haven't been happy with any Dodge/Ram trucks since 2001.5. Im hoping that you buy a Ford or Chevy so that you can do your Dodge bashing on their forums.

 

[Brocky]

Why all the engineering problems??? Pete, KW, Freightliner, IH, Volvo/Mack have all had Air Ride suspensions for the last 25 or more years. There might be some slight variations to avoid patent infringements. So WHY not have Fiat/Ram copy theirs????

 

[SnoKing]

So what? Don't like it? Don't buy it.

You haven't been happy with any Dodge/Ram trucks since 2001.5. Im hoping that you buy a Ford or Chevy so that you can do your Dodge bashing on their forums.

Say what? OH! Wrong forum A! Get a life, you are experiencing spill over! SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

I will be talking to the salesman about this. Not sure with that spring pack it will be much of an improvement in ride.

We will see!

 

[SnoKing]

Ron, I do not understand how U-bolts will stand up to half leafs. I think they put them there as a cheap solution to axle wrap, but relying on the U-bolts does not seem right! This is a colossal mistake to release a helper air system when they stated air ride!

 

[Stab]

/snoking1127/3500Air_zps315a46f7.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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RAM you have really screwed up! SNOKING

This an actual photo of an '15 3500 dually w/factory air ride. Is that correct snoking?

And I'm to assume it can only be adjusted empty??

Can you get us a shot from the rear please?

 

[SnoKing]

This an actual photo of an '15 3500 dually w/factory air ride. Is that correct snoking?

From all reports that is correct. That is reported as an actual users photo of his new air rear 3500 suspension. Which matches the link to the RAM glossy showing the same thing.

Here is a quote from the picture taker! "Here is his report:
I took delivery of my 3500 with air suspension on Monday. Driven about 500 miles so far... But only empty. The ride does not feel any softer than the 3500 I test drove, but that was months ago not side by side. I took a look under the axle and still a lot of leafs under there wonder if any difference than the non air option? Perhaps someone more familiar with Ram specs can confirm?
I can tell you though the button on the dash has no effect until loaded when I push it says load too light. I have a 8000lbs toy hauler that's the heaviest load I'll have for while, but will report back after I have some experience with that, it's pretty wimpy load for 3500 though just don't expect a heavy duty review - pic of rear leafs:"

Here is another link to the same glossy. SNOKING

http://cdn.dealereprocess.com/cdn/brochures/ram/2015-3500.pdf

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Here's a link to the Ramforumz. Check out the 2015 section to do some reading about air suspension.

http://www.ramforumz.com/forumdisplay.php?f=284

 

[SnoKing]

Here's a link to the Ramforumz. Check out the 2015 section to do some reading about air suspension.

http://www.ramforumz.com/forumdisplay.php?f=284

I do not think many are going to consider this an air suspension. It is not much different that someone adding their own supplemental air bags! And it is not at all what RAM announced earlier in the year! People like Cummins12V98 will most likely cancel orders for this band-aid!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Leaf sprung suspensions have been reliable and effective since the days of horse drawn wagons.

 

[TCDiesel]

Snoking... Ram may have misled some, but plenty of warning to wait was available. I posted that the early version would NOT work, I'm glad to see RAM did not put it into production. I also think that adding air bags to current spring design is equal in the DRW and superior in the SRW, The cost of Bags $350-$600 with accessories, heck I put 12psi in My RideRite and still are 12 PSI today.

 

[SnoKing]

Snoking... Ram may have misled some, but plenty of warning to wait was available. I posted that the early version would NOT work, I'm glad to see RAM did not put it into production. I also think that adding air bags to current spring design is equal in the DRW and superior in the SRW, The cost of Bags $350-$600 with accessories, heck I put 12psi in My RideRite and still are 12 PSI today.

Look back at my post last spring, I was saying the same thing about the announced 3500 air suspension! "The air bags are to far inboard!"

I posted this on 3/11/2014:

"The 2500 with coil rear springs is going to become a grocery getting and not a truck that does rear work. Tall loads like Campers are completely out of the picture now with the 2500. I also think the jury is still out on the 3500 rear air suspension. They placed the air bags way inboard on the axles in a similar position to the rear coils on the 2500. This is not going to be good with any tall load! Somehow Fiat engineers never took basic physics classes in high school and learned about levers. I will bet this is a one year flop and will be changed next year.

The 3500 with traditional springs would be a better rig and as Joe pointed out you can get the Aisin transmission vs the 68RFE. Do it right."

I posted this on 4/24/2014:

"If one is counting on the pin weight of a 5th wheel settling the rear down for a level tow, the air with auto leveling suspension might be an issue. Who wants to be FIRST??? I personally think they placed the air bags way to far inboard from the pictures I have seen.

Our Buick Rainier SUV with a similar setup, always has its rear in the air!!!

If ram set the ride level, that might be a different matter.

Again, who wants to be First?? Cummins12V98????"

ON 5/5/2014 I posted:

"Well you already know my opinion in that they placed the air bags way to far inboard. Our Buick Rainier has air bags on the rear and they go on the same mounts at the Springs on Trailblazers.

I think Dodge is going for ride quality and Truck Campers will not be very happy just like the guy with the 2500 air bagger! How they do with a low COG load might be ok. Rainier wants to maintain the same height with or without load. So unless they sit low in the back without load 5th wheel users can not count on pin weight leveling the truck.

I am very tempted to adjust the links on the Rainier to make it ride level rather than tail high all the time!

Let someone else be first!"

RAM missed the mark!


SNOKING

 

[gsbrockman]

First........capless fill...now this!!!! :-laf

 

[DonFitzwater]

First........capless fill...now this!!!! :-laf

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[AH64ID]

I don't seem to ever recall that the 3500 was an air ride in the initial advertising, it has always been advertised as a supplemental system.

I have used suspensions with 1/2 leaves before, they control axle wrap and don't effect the ride. Any time a spring wraps there is strain on the u-bolts, size everything properly and it's not an issue.

Time will tell on how it works.

 

[brillmtb]

Now what

Great, just when I thought I had the 2500 vs 3500 choice figured out, aisin transmission and rear air to split the ride quality difference between the 2500 and 3500 with springs only. I wonder if the 2015s already ride better than my 2500 2003 anyway then just go with the standard springs and put my own air bags in like I did with my 2500? I would hate to give up the more powerful motor and aisin combo.

 

[SnoKing]

Go drive a 2500 and 3500 leafer! There is no reason to pay the RAM cost for the 3500 air package they are currently delivering! SNOKING

 

[NC Hauler]

Question: Is the GVWR on the 15' 3500 dually still 14,000# with the air suspension assist? If that hasn't changed, and no drop in GVWR, what's the big deal?

Greg, Chicken Little looks like he got run over by a dually

Ron, if GVWR or RAWR hasn't changed, still seems like an ok deal, but have to agree it sounds more like an "airbag" add on that some would use...

 

[Cummins12V98]

Question: Is the GVWR on the 15' 3500 dually still 14,000# with the air suspension assist? If that hasn't changed, and no drop in GVWR, what's the big deal?

Greg, Chicken Little looks like he got run over by a dually

Ron, if GVWR or RAWR hasn't changed, still seems like an ok deal, but have to agree it sounds more like an "airbag" add on that some would use...

The ratings are the same with or without air. The dealer said my truck is in D status which means it has a firm scheduled build date but no ship or delivery date het. He said he would have that info in about a week.

He did not reply to my concern about the different suspension then I based my order on.

I will wait and see how people react to the system as they start putting them into service.