Hi,I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Diesel long bed and tow a new Open Range 371mbh which is about 13k loaded (12.5K dry) and probably has about 2700 pound pin weight loaded (2400 dry). I am well within the payload of the truck which is 4250 and the truck sits pretty level when hooked up. It handles okay towing, but I know it’s back there and I get chucking and harsh bounce over overpasses and bumps. I am putting on a TrailAir RotaFlex (much like the Morryde) to address the chucking and am considering putting on some Firestone air bags as well. Will air bags improve my ride quality and handling even though I my truck is not squatting below level? It does squat a couple of inches but there is enough rake in the rear to keep the truck above level. I have heard some say that air bags are really just to bring your truck back up to level if it is squatting too much, and have heard others say that it cushions the ride regardless of whether you experience excessive squat.Just wondering what your opinions and recommendations are. I would like to improve my handling and ride quality, but don’t want to waste my money if I don’t need air bags. thanks for your helpMatt

bowler1 wrote:Hi,I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Diesel long bed and tow a new Open Range 371mbh which is about 13k loaded (12.5K dry) and probably has about 2700 pound pin weight loaded (2400 dry). I am well within the payload of the truck which is 4250 and the truck sits pretty level when hooked up. It handles okay towing, but I know it’s back there and I get chucking and harsh bounce over overpasses and bumps. I am putting on a TrailAir RotaFlex (much like the Morryde) to address the chucking and am considering putting on some Firestone air bags as well. Will air bags improve my ride quality and handling even though I my truck is not squatting below level? It does squat a couple of inches but there is enough rake in the rear to keep the truck above level. I have heard some say that air bags are really just to bring your truck back up to level if it is squatting too much, and have heard others say that it cushions the ride regardless of whether you experience excessive squat.Just wondering what your opinions and recommendations are. I would like to improve my handling and ride quality, but don’t want to waste my money if I don’t need air bags. thanks for your helpMattIf the truck is level when towing I don't think air bags on the truck will help as much as you would like.What hitch do you have in the truck? Have you considered a TrailerSaver hitch? I just put the BD5 on my Ford and that thing is great best tow upgrade to date.

Air bags are like supplemental springs, they work alongside the factory springs to help resist body motion and therefore can help to stabilize the ride. You dial in how much additional stiffness by what psi you run the bags at. You can keep them at nominal 5 psi when not towing and dial them up to take some of the bounce out with the trailer hitched.It's common to use air bags to help level a rig, but that's not all they're for...Try the Rota Flex hitch first, that may be all you need. If it still chucks more than you like air bags will probably help.

BurbMan wrote:Air bags are like supplemental springs, they work alongside the factory springs to help resist body motion and therefore can help to stabilize the ride. You dial in how much additional stiffness by what psi you run the bags at. You can keep them at nominal 5 psi when not towing and dial them up to take some of the bounce out with the trailer hitched.It's common to use air bags to help level a rig, but that's not all they're for...Try the Rota Flex hitch first, that may be all you need. If it still chucks more than you like air bags will probably help.Agreed. Your truck may not "need" bags but you might prefer the ride with them. My truck sat level loaded with my setup and didn't need any supplemental help but I prefer the way it goes down the highway with Timbrens. The rear suspension feels more planted and it handles bumps at speed better. Bags would have the advantage of being adjustable, with the trade off of higher cost and more complexity. Same concept, though.

Air Bags or Not for My Truck--- already sits level

Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 18, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
Based on the way my new 2019 Ram rides with the air suspension, I would go with the bags.
Barney

That is pretty much an apples to oranges comparison except for the fact that the words Ram and air are common to both.
To the OP, yes a little extra support from the dynamic loads will help (adding airbags). But whatever weight you take up with the bags will raise the truck back up.
God forbid this be spoken on rvnet, but sometimes the right "balance" is offset by having too much suspension.
For the bags, 15psi supports roughly 1000lbs. So even with a low 15psi in them if it squats 3" with 2700lb pin, 15psi will bring it back up about an inch. Just food for thought. The bags don't stiffen up dynamic loads as well until you get a little higher psi. Just food for thought.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2018
Based on the way my new 2019 Ram rides with the air suspension, I would go with the bags.
Barney
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2018
Adding bags WILL improve ride dramatically! On my 11 HO Dually it sat level with 4,500# pin weight but some of our wonderful roads were not very forgiving. I added Bilstein 4600's and air bags, what a difference!!! I only ran 30psi LOADED as that was just enough to dampen the roughness and did NOT increase the rear ride height. I would do this before wasting money on the RotaFlex!
IdaD
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
BurbMan wrote:
Air bags are like supplemental springs, they work alongside the factory springs to help resist body motion and therefore can help to stabilize the ride. You dial in how much additional stiffness by what psi you run the bags at. You can keep them at nominal 5 psi when not towing and dial them up to take some of the bounce out with the trailer hitched.

It's common to use air bags to help level a rig, but that's not all they're for...

Try the Rota Flex hitch first, that may be all you need. If it still chucks more than you like air bags will probably help.

Agreed. Your truck may not "need" bags but you might prefer the ride with them. My truck sat level loaded with my setup and didn't need any supplemental help but I prefer the way it goes down the highway with Timbrens. The rear suspension feels more planted and it handles bumps at speed better. Bags would have the advantage of being adjustable, with the trade off of higher cost and more complexity. Same concept, though.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2018
Air bags are like supplemental springs, they work alongside the factory springs to help resist body motion and therefore can help to stabilize the ride. You dial in how much additional stiffness by what psi you run the bags at. You can keep them at nominal 5 psi when not towing and dial them up to take some of the bounce out with the trailer hitched.

It's common to use air bags to help level a rig, but that's not all they're for...

Try the Rota Flex hitch first, that may be all you need. If it still chucks more than you like air bags will probably help.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2018
Not needed if it's level.
bowler1
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
I have a b and w hitch
2naEagle
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
bowler1 wrote:
Hi,
I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Diesel long bed and tow a new Open Range 371mbh which is about 13k loaded (12.5K dry) and probably has about 2700 pound pin weight loaded (2400 dry). I am well within the payload of the truck which is 4250 and the truck sits pretty level when hooked up.

It handles okay towing, but I know it’s back there and I get chucking and harsh bounce over overpasses and bumps.

I am putting on a TrailAir RotaFlex (much like the Morryde) to address the chucking and am considering putting on some Firestone air bags as well.

Will air bags improve my ride quality and handling even though I my truck is not squatting below level? It does squat a couple of inches but there is enough rake in the rear to keep the truck above level. I have heard some say that air bags are really just to bring your truck back up to level if it is squatting too much, and have heard others say that it cushions the ride regardless of whether you experience excessive squat.

Just wondering what your opinions and recommendations are. I would like to improve my handling and ride quality, but don’t want to waste my money if I don’t need air bags.

thanks for your help

Matt

If the truck is level when towing I don't think air bags on the truck will help as much as you would like.

What hitch do you have in the truck? Have you considered a TrailerSaver hitch? I just put the BD5 on my Ford and that thing is great best tow upgrade to date.

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Air Bags or Not for My Truck--- already sits level

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