Seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on a Kelderman 4 link rear air ride suspension. Does anyone have any experience with these systems? The F550 Super Duty has a very stiff suspension even with the camper is loaded. I figure it will soften the ride both loaded and especially unloaded and eliminate the squat when the trailer is hooked up.

These Class 5 trucks do have stiffer suspensions to handle their payloads - I don't even use the jacks to stabilize the camper when it sits on the truck. I felt it was harsh at 15-16K lbs GVW and is much better now at 17-18K lbs GVW on my Ram 5500 - It is rare for me to run the truck empty when it only weighs around 11K lbs GVW. I added upper StableLoads once I started loading my Ram over 17K lbs GVW - That was about the weight where the rear of the truck started to lag in height compared to the front. What is your scale weight when you are packed up? I'm sure the ride would be better on the Kelderman bags, but my application works fine with the springs and reduced cost.

I am also interested in hearing more about the Keldermen suspension. Mainly how it handles the sway of a large TC. I have heard that the bags can be individually aired with a pretty decent range of heights possible. That could be very handy leveling the rig right from the cab of the truck rather than using the wheel ramps.

When I would love to have air suspension on my F350 and I followed the pictorial on this forum showing the conversion, it is costly addition to not too cheap new truck, while putting warranty in question. So I went for alternative Sulastic Hangers, who did smooth empty ride. Probably the best $300 I spend on my combo.On my bus conversion air bags gave me about 8" of total adjustment, or +5 and -3. That was nice for leveling, but aged system in the rear leaked, so I had to put rocks under after getting it level. That made for rock-solid stay while camping ;)

I have the Kelderman Two-Stage on my truck. It’s the one that replaces the rear shackles with a hinged bracket on air bags. It’s not exactly the one you’re looking at, but I will say the truck rides much nicer, especially empty. In big-trucks, air ride makes a huge difference. I’m not at all a fan of the “Stable Loads” or other spring spacers, IF it’s a truck you drive all the time both empty and loaded. Empty, it’ll beat you up. Air is where it’s at!!

What really upsets me is that air suspension in heavy vehicles is used for like 100 years. For last 15 luxury car manufacturers commonly use it. Yet pickup are still waiting for manufacturer who would get the message. Anyway, since we are converting to electric trucks in next few years ;), I only hope their manufacturers will make it right.

Air ride suspension | Good Sam Community

work2much
Explorer
Mar 13, 2019
I am also interested in hearing more about the Keldermen suspension. Mainly how it handles the sway of a large TC. I have heard that the bags can be individually aired with a pretty decent range of heights possible. That could be very handy leveling the rig right from the cab of the truck rather than using the wheel ramps.
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 13, 2019
These Class 5 trucks do have stiffer suspensions to handle their payloads - I don't even use the jacks to stabilize the camper when it sits on the truck. I felt it was harsh at 15-16K lbs GVW and is much better now at 17-18K lbs GVW on my Ram 5500 - It is rare for me to run the truck empty when it only weighs around 11K lbs GVW. I added upper StableLoads once I started loading my Ram over 17K lbs GVW - That was about the weight where the rear of the truck started to lag in height compared to the front. What is your scale weight when you are packed up? I'm sure the ride would be better on the Kelderman bags, but my application works fine with the springs and reduced cost.

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