Rough Ride I need help

[superdave]

this may sound nuts, but i had been carrying 60 lbs front and rear in my 99 3500 stock with camper and towing pkg. had the tires balanced and rotated and increased to 80 psi... . believe it or not it actually helped smooth out my ride. . weird i know but true. . i carry a 14000# fifth wheel sometimes and when i hook it up, the rear end on the truck only drops about 1 3/4 inches. this is with a 1900# tongue weight... i guess this is normal...

 

[RADdodge]

When I first got my 3500, I was thinking I would need air bags too. But when I put the camper on, (3,860 lbs. ) the truck was level. With the camper off, it doesn't come close to resting on the overloads. The best improvement (so far) in my empty ride was the Rancho 9000's. Since I can't use the spare tire anyway, I am thinking of putting in a Transfer Flow Aux. fuel tank to add some weight in the back (instead of sand bags). I purchased a Roadmaster system a year ago but haven't installed it. One of the members posted a bad experience with them and another member loved them. Someone also posted some pictures of the Roadmaster system and air bags. I believe they were going to publish an article in the TDR on that setup. I'm still waiting. Do yourself a favor and treat your body right, get the Rancho 9000's. You will probably get them sooner or later. Life's too short, get them sooner! They help a lot but they're not the final answer.

 

[Guest00]

Originally posted by Bruce Radford

When I first got my 3500, I was thinking I would need air bags too. But when I put the camper on, (3,860 lbs. ) the truck was level. With the camper off, it doesn't come close to resting on the overloads. The best improvement (so far) in my empty ride was the Rancho 9000's.

The overload springs sit a couple of inched off the o/l spring saddles and do not come into use untill the rear is loaded and is less than level (reg springs are compressed)the o/l's contact o/l saddles. Even with 2100# pin wt on the truck I still sit 1. 5" off the o/l saddles. The only time the o/l's contact the o/l saddles is when I hit a very large bump,then there is a clunk, but no jolt.

The 2k and down have 2 leafs on the o/l's and the 2k1's have a single leaf o/l.



I have never hit the o/l's while m/t even when off road.

 

[SMorneau]

I added airbags to my truck at about 25k miles. There was no difference in the empty ride with 5 psi in the bags. Tire pressures are a much bigger factor when empty. The only reason I would ever remove the airbags is they needed replaced. The truck with a 2500lb camper and NO airbags rides like total crap and the handling is downright dangerous. With the airbags and Rancho 9000 shocks on all four corners you will get far better handling with the camper.



There has been a lot of good advice in this thread. But I personally don't see how the overloads could significantly effect your handling when the airbags pretty much eliminate them from the picture. You may just need a car

 

[Cobra]

Superdave



You are right on. Just today I happened onto your fix. I had 80 PSI in all four tires with the camper on the back. I had to take the camper in for dealer to fix refrig. I left it there and came home empty but with the 80 psi. Truck rode as good as it did with my 3200# cochman. I like it but I am wondering if the tires will wear out faster, being too round. Does ride nice tho.





I want to thank all who replied. I love this TDR.