Rear suspension help !!

[BSchulte]

All,

Just purchased a 31' 5er for my 04. It takes the weight and load O. K. and obviuosly pulls great. However, it does squat a little when the trailer is hooked up. Anyone have any idea to help level it out? Do the air bags work good for this situation? If so, what do you folks recomend.

Any other suggestions other than air bags?

Thanks for your reply's

 

[Big Mike]

Air Lift bags

I have the Air lift air bags on my 94 2500, very little squat and an improved ride, you just can't go wrong. I pull a 2004 American Star 5'er with this set up. The best price I found on them was Summit Racing.



Mike

 

[bombero]

I second Tembrens also. Once installed you can forget about them. No airing up or installing a compressor

 

[PWelsh]

I installed the air bags and love them. I don't know how to post pictures here but if you send me your e-mail address I will send you some photos of them installed. I carry a Lance camper. I don't have the compressor, I just put them up to 30# with the lance on and drop them to 10# when it's off. It's easy, you can do it with a bike pump. My e-mail address is -- email address removed -- if you want to send my yours for the photos.

Paul Welsh

 

[SRadke]

If you've got time to read a three page thread I highly recommend this one:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78907&highlight=bags



It starts a little off topic but goes into some good airbag info on third gens.



-Scott

 

[JeffWhite]

another vote for airbags here - I haven't had any experiance with Timbrens,

but have air ride super duties and love 'em. I run about 60 lbs. of air, no

compressor - yet. bumps that used to rattle everything in camper awfull,

now it just floats over. And when I bought new brackets to move from my

dear departed 6. 5 Chevy to the dodge (reused bags themselves) people

at air ride were great! I bought new brackets direct and they faxed me

installation istructions for Dodge.

 

[bcpalmer]

I also needed just a little lift and Timbrens worked perfectly.

 

[CLAYTON]

Airbags

I put the Ride rites on my 03 2500 and my father inlaw put the Air Lifts on his. Booth work equally as well. Install was easy on both types. You can't go wrong with the adjustability of air bags IMO.

 

[BSchulte]

Thanks for all the great info guys!

With installing air bags, will there be interferance with a hitch installation? I have a pullrite supergilde, and the way they mounted it (straddle clamped around the frame)

it looks like it could potentially cause interferance with an air bag installation.

Thoughts or experiences?

 

[EricBu12]

The 3rd gens sag more than the older ones



I use this for my 01, I tow a 15K 5th wheel... Sits level



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[CUMMINZ]

added carrying cap

I looked at air bags and Timbrens. I have flipover ball hitch will interfere with bags but Timbrens would work. I checked with spring shop in Charlotte and I plan to add one long leaf to my leaf pack. In the long run I think that will be better.

 

[CLAYTON]

Hey CUMMINZ. . what kind of turn over ball do you have? I know that it doesn't matter with the B&W? Did your hitch interfer with the bump stops in the back of your truck? If not I don't think you would have a problem with bags.

 

[SRadke]

No problems with my turnover ball and airbags.



-Scott

 

[CUMMINZ]

Flipover ball

I have a flipover ball brand. It has a plate on the outside of the frame. Some airbags I have seen mounted to the outsideof the frame and some mounted at the spot where the rubber bumper is mounted.



CUMMINZ NC

2004. 5 CTD, Flip-Over/RV2, 32' KeyStone Sprinter, Tornado, TST, AMSOIL, 4x4, 4. 10LS, 315x70Rx17 BFG, 8" Factory cast aluminum, 2" front lift/w RC shocks, Line-X, Hellwig sway bar, Banks monster exhaust

My Truck at www.GoRowan.com/2004ram

 

[CLAYTON]

The ride rites and the air lifts mount where the bump stop goes.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Thanks for all the comments about the air bags and where they mount. I ordered a set from Summit yesterday for my '04. This is a great place for info!

 

[BSchulte]

Good info folks.

But does anyone have a 5th. hitch with a frame clamp installation? And does it/could it interfear with the brackets for an airbag install. ie ride rites or airlifts

thanks

 

[SRadke]

My gooseneck has a frame clamp and it didn't interfere with the airbags. I had to slightly modify one of the brackets to work with the panhard bar of my 4-link but that's a totally diffrent situation than yours.



-Scott

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I have had both Timbrens and air bags. Timbrens work good, but can not adjust. I currently have Air Ride bags and have had very good luck with them. I haul and live in a 32' 5th wheel(weighs around 18000#). I have a fold down ball and when I installed the bags I had to buy longer bolts for the bag mounting brackets. The supplied bolts were too short to fit thru the frame and the hitch brackets. Other than that, the installation is simple, took about 2 hours per side. If you decide to go with bags, I would recommend putting limiter straps on as well(costs about $40). If you ever bring the truck in for new tires or maint. and they lift the truck with a frame hoist letting the suspension hang freely, sometimes it will pull the bags apart and that is not covered under warranty. I bought my bags at Camping World for $218, pretty good deal. Also, if you go with bags, run seperate lines for the bags-do not put in a "t" adapter. I know others who put a "t" adapter in to only have one air fitting to fill both bags at the same time. Problem is, when going around a corner with a load on the truck, the air will run from one bag into the other causing sway. Hope this helps you out!

 

[RClark]

My 92 came with the Factory overloads. My 13000 5th does not drop the truck more that 2" (unless my wife goes wild while loading).

The overloads do not all contact the pickup pads at the same time. The dealer said that was normal/OK.

Would I be better off going to Timbrens, Air bags or the Mr. Bob setup?