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RAM AIR SUSPENSION - 3500 Truck Owners - We Want Your Input

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RAM AIR SUSPENSION - 1500 Truck Owners - We Want Your Input

Transfer Flow Wants Your Feedback (March, 2016)

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Staff Member
RAM AIR SUSPENSION – 3500 Truck Owners - We Want Your Input

Straight to the point. The folks at Ram Truck Engineering read your comments in our Issue 89 article about the Ram factory air suspension packages (pages 18 – 21). As they further refine these three distinct air suspension options (yes, the 1500/2500/3500 trucks all work a little differently), they would like your further comments and suggestions.

Here is the format we will use. The Ram folks and I have made separate areas for each truck – 1500/2500/3500. There is an introduction/principle-of-operation area (for folks like me who didn’t bother to read their Owner’s Manual). This is followed by a description of the time delays that are programmed into each system. Next (again for those like me that did not read the Owner’s Manual), they give you the proper way to hook up a trailer. Follow this data which is in your Owner’s Manual (yep, I learned something new), and you will better understand the design parameters of the air system. Finally, “The Request for Input.” Here is your chance to tell the Ram staff the good/better/best or good/bad/ugly from your perspective.

Thank you for your participation.

Ram
3500 Supplemental Air Suspension

The 3500 differs from the 2500 system in that it has rear leaf springs to support the truck's higher GVWR ratings. The addition of these springs can prevent some vehicle configurations from being able to obtain the lower “alternate trailer height” when unloaded as the leaf springs alone hold the vehicle at the normal ride height when unloaded. Therefore, these vehicles must be loaded before alternate trailer height can be obtained.

Auto Leveling – Time Delay
Like the 1500 system there is an added delay to give a “steel suspension like” behavior. However, with the additional load capacity of the 3500 system, a two stage strategy was developed. When lighter loads are applied the delay time is 10 seconds. Heavier loads will trigger a 20 second delay. Just like the 1500 truck, the engine should be left running when loading the vehicle if auto leveling is desired.

Key Off Strategy
Like the 1500 truck, the 3500 system will also make adjustments to maintain a target ride height after the ignition has been turned off. The air suspension system will stay active for 10 minutes after key off. However, the 3500 system will only lower during this time frame and the compressor is not allowed to run.

Door Open Strategy
Since the 3500 system is a rear axle only system, lowering of the suspension may occur while any door is open.

Trailer Hookup/Unhooking
The alternate trailer height may be used as a way to raise and lower the truck to minimize trailer jacking. The vehicle will always adjust to meet target ride height when using this feature as long as the air suspension system is not being overloaded. However, the following guidelines should be adhered to when hooking up and unhooking a trailer:

  • When using load distribution bars for conventional towing, select the height you plan to tow at (Ram recommends alternate trailer height) and then adjust load bars as needed (see "Hooking up a Trailer With a Weight Distributing Hitch").
  • When hooking up or unhooking a fifth wheel trailer, place the vehicle into Tire Jack Mode to prevent automatic height adjustments easing the ability to slide the kingpin out of the head without binding.
  • Never hook/unhook a trailer or place a load in the bed of the vehicle while it is in transport mode. Transport mode deflates the air bags to lowest safe level possible when selected and the air bags may be damaged by applying additional loads to the vehicle.
Hooking up a Trailer with a Weight Distributing Hitch (all trucks)

  1. Set air suspension to normal ride height. No action is required if already in normal ride height. NOTE: The vehicle must remain in the engine running position while attaching a trailer for proper leveling of the air suspension system. NOTE: For Ram 2500/3500 trucks equipped with rear air suspension, normal ride height or alternate ride height can be used.
  2. Position the truck to be ready to connect to the trailer (do not connect the trailer).
  3. Under radio suspension settings, turn on jack mode. Jack mode will be canceled and procedure must be restarted if the vehicle is driven at speeds above 5mph (8kph).
  4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H1.
  5. Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distribution bars connected.
  6. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H2.
  7. Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars so that the height of the front fender is approximately H2-H1)/3+H1 (about 1/3 the difference between H2 and H1 above normal ride height

    ).
    [*]The truck can now be driven. Jack mode will be canceled when driven at speeds above 5mph (8kph).


Request for 3500 Input
Ram truck engineering wants your input on the delays implemented during the auto leveling strategy to provide the “steel suspension like” behavior. When replying please include the following information:
  • Length of time owning a Ram truck with the factory air suspension system
  • Typical usage in which you interact with the air suspension (type of trailer being hooked up/unhooked, type of loads going the bed, etc.)
  • Suggested delay time
  • Description of why does the delay time need to change or why should it stay the same
Note: This delay is in addition to the amount of time it takes the system to assess the change in height, actual response times to applied loads will vary.

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