Will air bags solve the problem

[JFK]

I have 2 RV rigs, a 26’ travel trailer and an 8’ slide in camper, both are within the weight limits of the trucks’ towing & hauling capacity, however the camper is VERY close to the cargo weight limit. The truck is a ’14 Big Horn, 2500, long bed, crew cab and is “stock” from the dealer. The problem is both rigs will cause the truck to porpoise under certain road & driving conditions. The camper causes an additional truck handling problem due to its’ high profile, rocking. Cross winds & traversing uneven driving surfaces causes the truck to rock from side to side. In each situation I’ve found slowing down will solve the problem but I’m getting tired of driving 50MPH on the Interstates. I’m thinking of adding air bags to supplement the HD shocks & coil springs. I’d appreciate any thoughts & actual experience with air bags. Thanks.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

The tongue weight of the TT is likely putting you over truck capacity. It's possible airbags might help.. but you would still be beyond ratings. From most I've read, the 1 ton, DRW is the best set-up for a camper, that not being an easy fix for you perhaps suspension and also check your tires for load ratings as well, a stiffer heavier load rated tire could help as well, then verify wheel ratings, etc.

 

[Hoefler]

I would bet your steer axle weight is too light.

 

[SnoKing]

Coil springs and truck camper are a not so good situation. Yes air bags might help, however if you blow on and the wrong time, you might find yourself and the rig on its side.

RAM bought back a 2500 when the owner had issues with a Lance Camper. You might find somewhere in your paper work that RAM does not recommend truck campers on their 2500's.

SnoKing

 

[JR]

Doesn't Ram specifically recommend against hauling slide in campers with the 2500's due to the coil spring set ups?

 

[NIsaacs]

Doesn't Ram specifically recommend against hauling slide in campers with the 2500's due to the coil spring set ups?

Here is a link to Ram's 2015 Slide in camper guide, all models. Scroll down about half way for the 2500's. The purple shading means not recommended.

I checked out a '15 2500 crew cab, long bed, 4x4, 9900 gvw...not recommended with a bench seat, lol...with bucket seats a 942# camper is allowed:-laf

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrSbnfMMH9ZB7sA9YpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyaDFiaXVrBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwM3BHZ0aWQDQjM5MTlfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1501536588/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ramtrucks.com%2fdownload%2fpdf%2fmanuals%2f2015-RAM_15_25_35-Camper-Guide-3rd.pdf/RK=1/RS=GIyPJZoG5AHQEXJfmIgQOXtHPbA-

Nick

 

[B.G. Smith]

You mention HD shocks, are they oem? A good set of adjustable HD shocks might help. bg

 

[JFK]

NIsaacs,


Thanks for the info. I found it to be not only informative but somewhat confusing as well. As you noted when you found "not recommended" with bench seats but ok with "bucket" seats. The more I looked, the more confused I became. I too saw the same entry and the "bucket" seat model has a lower CWR than my ride which has bench seats!
Thanks again, Jim.