DesertDogs wrote:
Assuming airbags are not needed for leveling, do they make a significant difference in ride quality when NOT towing?
And, are after market air bags as suitable as factory air bags on the RAM?
Would we notice any difference in ride quality with a RAM having no air bags and one with air bags?
I'm trying to decide if I should pass on buying a Ram 3500 because it does NOT have the auto leveling air bag option?
Assuming your first question infers that the truck has enough suspension for the load without airbags then you wouldn't even need to install them, but, no, aftermarket airbags will not affect the ride when the truck is empty if you let the air out of them. That's the while point of airbags. Even the more economical ones that claim you need to keep minimal air in them to prevent damage if bottoming out the suspension don't need any air on an empty 1 ton. If you bottom out the springs on a 1 ton truck with no load in the bed, pinching an airbag will be way down your list of concerns for potential issues because you'd have to jump it like the General Lee for that to happen.
The Ram 3500 air assist rides softer than a full leaf truck when empty because it has less weight capacity until the bags start kicking in. It is Rams attempt at making 1 ton trucks more plush with no load.
