Softening the ride

[hogsty]

2012 2500 4x4 on the way. This may seem silly to some, but what I would like to do is soften the ride a little. just a little, I don't need to give up a bunch of payload, although I know you probably can't get a softer ride without giving up something. So, are there softer springs, airbags, air shocks, etc. I think the front will be fine, it's the rear when empty. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[AEdelheit]

Carli is the best way to go, there starter system will really help and still maintain load capacity Dodge Ram Suspension and Lift Kits - Carli Suspension's Dodge Ram Starter System

Shocks cant change to much with a heavy spring rate so unless you change the springs its hard to do much. Only other option would be a taller tire with more sidewall would probably soften it up a little bit.

 

[Tinman]

Lots of good options. In the rear, the single best thing you can do is a new leaf pack. But that's expensive and you'll loss your weight carrying capacity, unless you add air bags (the best possible combination for a open bed truck that still works for a living). Second to that, is a set of mini packs which will allow you to have more that 1 inch of rear travel (unloaded).



Up front, Thuren springs are the plushes (but designed for his shock valving) followed by Carli's. Not sure where Lorenz's "plush" springs fall in spring rate. Stay away from KORE stuff, way too stiff, I've used their stuff and it's in the garage now. Any of these will give you about 3" front, 1" rear lift necessitating larger tires.



If you don't mosh it off road, a 5100 series Bilstien shock from the above vendors will do very well. Remember, you get what you pay for and the bigger the shock, the better the ride.



If you want to keep stock springs, and tires, get some Bilstiens and some mini- packs and don't use all of the stock rear axle spacers.



Oh, BTW, you'll have to call or email Don Thuren as his web page is woefully behind is actual offerings.

 

[tempforce]

rear non parallel 4 link air bag system...

 

[hogsty]

Thanks for all the info. It looks like there are options, only limited by the size of my wallet. What are mini packs?

 

[1972JohnBoy]

Thanks for all the info. It looks like there are options, only limited by the size of my wallet. What are mini packs?

A set of leafs that you put in the bottom of your rear leaf spring in place of the thick bottom "overload'' spring leaf, which is straight. There are 5 in Carli's mini pack and they are curved like the rest of your spring leafs. They are about 1'' thicker than the straight overload leaf. They might help you a little, but IMO hardly noticeable. Progressive rate coils in the front with 7100 Bilstein shocks on the other hand are a huge improvement for these trucks.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Please dont take this as being a smart A** drive a car then when you need to haul something drive the truck. (personally I cant stand the car) My 2500 lbcc is just fine when hooked up with about a 1000lbs of tung weight and if it has no weight I just live with it after all IT'S A TRUCK

 

[AEdelheit]

Please dont take this as being a smart A** drive a car then when you need to haul something drive the truck. (personally I cant stand the car) My 2500 lbcc is just fine when hooked up with about a 1000lbs of tung weight and if it has no weight I just live with it after all IT'S A TRUCK

Well why not have a nice riding truck as long as it still meets all your towing abilities? Good suspension was one of the best things I did.

 

[Regcabguy]

I didn't have a choice. When I mounted my 2000# popup on the truck it was a danger to humanity. It came hopelessly undersprung from the factory.



The right suspension upgrades out there are costly,but well worth it.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I didn't have a choice. When I mounted my 2000# popup on the truck it was a danger to humanity. It came hopelessly undersprung from the factory.



The right suspension upgrades out there are costly,but well worth it.

I have the Firestone air bags with the compressor and they are a great addition to the truck at times when you need just a little more truck. But what ever mod you make air/springs or what ever. By putting a 2k camper in the truck bed you are still libel for any thing that goes south and causes an accident even if it is not your fault. You are from Calif. and know how sue happy these folks are. A 2500 is still a 2500 in the eyes of the law. Just a thought.

 

[Regcabguy]

I have the Firestone air bags with the compressor and they are a great addition to the truck at times when you need just a little more truck. But what ever mod you make air/springs or what ever. By putting a 2k camper in the truck bed you are still libel for any thing that goes south and causes an accident even if it is not your fault. You are from Calif. and know how sue happy these folks are. A 2500 is still a 2500 in the eyes of the law. Just a thought.

My regcab GVWR is 9000#. Truck w/wet camper and two occupants is 8650#. I'm legal by a few hundred #'s. I actually have an OK from Dodge via the pamphlet in the owner's manual. A 2500 qc does not. My truck weighs 6375# on the Mayflower public scale,way under a qc.



The same camper on my similarly configured '98. 5 handled the weight much better. This 3rd had longer rear springs and mushy coils and of course the sponge stock shocks were overwhelmed.



Thanks to Carli,Thuren and Lorenz the truck handles the camper with ease.

 

[DougL]

It can be done. I have an 07 2WD that I wanted to be as low as I could get it and have it set nearly level loaded or empty so I could have more room between the bed and the 5th wheel trailer. I don't have a budget for a full 4 link suspension so I used the leveling system from a cadilac and air bags and mounts from air lift. It's not very expensive and not that hard to do. On mine I took out the spacers between the spring and the axle which made it level front to back then put the air bags on and adjusted the leveling sensor to come on and keep it just above that height which is about 5psi. I added switches to it so I could raise or lower it if I wanted to or just let it level it self on its own. I did all this when the truck was new in 07 and I have had no problem with it at all.