air bags and rear ends

12772 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Katoom250SX, Oct 4, 2014

dhe9

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2014

Hello,
Dealer is getting a Tradesman quad cab with 3.55 gears and tow package. From what I am reading here I should be fine towing my 21 foot travel trailer weighing in at 5k pounds. Trailer is 8 foot wide and about 11 foot tall, is my thinking correct? Also I read about "air bags" and wondering what they are needed for? I would think the truck suspension won't need them? Thanks.

David
San Diego

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

10%More

· #2 · Sep 22, 2014

Probably closer to 8' 6" wide. Height sounds typical. I tow something like that that's heavier in a toy hauler with the same truck you are getting.

You can get the automatic air bag option from Ram. I would not and did not. It's both expensive and complicated with questionable reliability. For what you are towing you don't really need anything done to your suspension. it might be big to you but essentially it's not and actually relatively light.

On mine I did change the rear bumper stops to Timbren's. They are like a helper springs that takes over after about an inch of rear sag. I have a large generator and twin 30 lb propane tanks on my toy-hauler tongue. That's a lot of weight. It tows fine with no weight distribution bars and the Timbrens. Still, I use weigh bars on my trailer.

Enjoy the truck. It is more than up to the task.

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 30, 2014

Thanks 10%. I received build and ship date of 16 October and will test the truck stock with my trailer. With 60 lbs of propane and two 6 volt AGM batteries my tongue weight will be about 540 lbs which is neighborhood of 12% of trailer weight. I'll have a Honda 2k genny in bed of truck and a few odds and ends. After a test run with trailer I'll see how it handles. If need be I'll get after market WDH and airbags.

Haulin

· #4 · Sep 30, 2014

What do you think are the chances you may need to go after market WDH and airbags?

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 30, 2014

Hauling, I've been asking lots of questions on this board and one other. My trailer wet comes in at less than 4800 lbs. Downsized my trailer and just didn't need a 3500 dually but was unsure what to expect with the half ton. Salesmen will tell you whatever to make the sale and they just were not up to par on this new EcoDiesel. With all the information folks have provided me on these boards I'll be fine. Piece of cake, no?

David

zoomie

· #6 · Oct 1, 2014

dhe9 said:
My trailer wet comes in at less than 4800 lbs. With all the information folks have provided me on these boards I'll be fine. Piece of cake, no?

David

You're well withing the towing capacity of the ecodiesel in any trim level. You need to consider the tongue weight as well, that's where AirBags, or Load Leveling Hitches come into play. Your truck can handle the weight, you need to make sure the trailer is connected to it properly to provide a safe towing experience. The local trailer place is the best place to start.

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 1, 2014

Tongue weight comes in at about 560 pounds. I have two 6 VOLT AGM batteries under trailer front seats. Normal tongue weight is 440. If my math serves me that's about 12% of trailer weight so I think it's ok. I'll know first tow and go forward from there.

honda

· #8 · Oct 2, 2014

added 25% heavier coil springs

Instead of adding air bags, I replaced the coil springs with 25% higher capacity coils. the ride did not change but the truck holds the tongue weight of my trailer much higher (approx 550#)

mattyj724

· #9 · Oct 2, 2014

honda said:
Instead of adding air bags, I replaced the coil springs with 25% higher capacity coils. the ride did not change but the truck holds the tongue weight of my trailer much higher (approx 550#)

How much were they, and where did you pick them up??? A mopar part?

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 2, 2014

I'm also interested in the answer to this. Something I may look into.

Katoom250SX

· #11 · Oct 3, 2014

For the cost of an airbag set up and super ease of installation, it's tough to beat. I just installed mine this past Sunday in just a fuzz over an hour. I did not get an on board compressor so I literally have under $90.00 in the set up. I've seen em in the $70.00 range in some online stores. I can't see how a stiffer coil wouldn't change the ride quality. I know my bags with some air in em make a noticeable difference.

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 3, 2014

Katoom250SX said:
For the cost of an airbag set up and super ease of installation, it's tough to beat. I just installed mine this past Sunday in just a fuzz over an hour. I did not get an on board compressor so I literally have under $90.00 in the set up. I've seen em in the $70.00 range in some online stores. I can't see how a stiffer coil wouldn't change the ride quality. I know my bags with some air in em make a noticeable difference.

Katoom, what did you install?

Katoom250SX

· #13 · Oct 3, 2014

Air lift 1000 air bag kit. Comes with a lifetime warranty. If you are mechanically inclined in any sort these are a breeze to install. I actually could have had it done quicker but I goofed around with my line routing a couple times.

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Katoom250SX

· #14 · Oct 3, 2014

60818 is the airlift part # for the ram 1500.

dhe9

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 3, 2014

Katoom250SX said:
Air lift 1000 air bag kit. Comes with a lifetime warranty. If you are mechanically inclined in any sort these are a breeze to install. I actually could have had it done quicker but I goofed around with my line routing a couple times.

So these are a Mopar product?

Katoom250SX

· #16 · Oct 3, 2014

No. It's aftermarket. The nice thing about airbags are they can be adjusted to your load. If you are heavy, run em up to 35psi. If you have a light load, drop some air pressure. If you are empty simply drop the air pressure to the minimum recommended 5 psi and the truck rides like stock. There are air valves just as a tire would have and it's as easy as adding or letting air out of a tire. I ran my valves into my upper bolts of my rear license plate, but you can put them wherever you want. Here's a pic of my valves......

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zoomie

· #17 · Oct 3, 2014

Katoom250SX said:
I ran my valves into my upper bolts of my rear license plate, but you can put them wherever you want. Here's a pic of my valves......

THAT, is a great idea!

Katoom250SX

· #18 · Oct 3, 2014

Thanks! I like it there....easy to access, & out of the way. The kit comes with a "t" so I could have had one supply line for both bags but I decided I wanted them independent.

Kancho

· #19 · Oct 4, 2014

Factory Air Suspension

dhe9 said:
Hello,
Dealer is getting a Tradesman quad cab with 3.55 gears and tow package. From what I am reading here I should be fine towing my 21 foot travel trailer weighing in at 5k pounds. Trailer is 8 foot wide and about 11 foot tall, is my thinking correct? Also I read about "air bags" and wondering what they are needed for? I would think the truck suspension won't need them? Thanks.

David
San Diego

Mine came equipped with the factory air suspension and I absolutely love it.

My wife and I both have health issues that make for getting in and out of a truck a chore. With the factory air suspension, we can drop the height of the truck for entry/exit mode and makes it much easier to get in and out.

As well, whether hooking up the trailer or carrying my sister-in-law, the suspension adjusts itself to a level ride height without the need to find a compressor to pump air into an aftermarket system. I just like the convenience.

A week ago I loaded 1400 lbs of cement into the truck and it automatically leveled itself. You wouldn't know I had a load of cement bags in the back under the tonneau cover.

I will reserve total judgment until after this winter when I see how it works without an air dryer on the system, but so far, I'm impressed. As it stands at this moment, I would be inclined to make sure it was ordered on my next truck down the road.

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honda

· #20 · Oct 4, 2014

I bought them online from "Tufftrucks", they have 3 variants, the 25% higher capacity being the lowest increase. they don't affect the ride with no bumper load but come into play quickly when the trailer is latched on.
The springs I installed are constant rate (same as the originals) but Tuffsprings also sells a 50% over capacity variable load replacement as well as a 50% over constant ratio spring.
Bear in mind that you are not "increasing" your capacity, only making the truck handle the load with less rear end sag, 25% over seems to do that well.

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