When I bought my Tow rig ( 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 Dually ) it seemed very stiff & then we put the truck camper in its bed & that was what it needed it was a much nicer ride with the camper in there.But I sold that & now I'm towing a travel trailer with an empty bed & the wife hates it!I must admit its VERY STIFF!Its a work truck suspension & being all the miles we have already towed our new trailer ( About 2000 miles on our very 1st trip ) we both can agree it would be nice to soften up the ride a bit.My 1st thought was Shocks?What are your thoughts?I have disengaged the awesome lower Stable Loads I have from TorkLift before our trip.Would shocks alone make much of a difference?

I think it is more that the springs are stiff. I don't think the shocks cause the stiffness. Might be able to remove a leaf and see if that helps.

Might want to swap it for a much newer 2500 with coil rear suspension. That will give you the soft ride.

Change the springs, not the shocks. The shocks lessen the 'rebound' but the springs are causing the uncomfortable 'bound' which you feel. Imagine putting nice shock absorbers on a springless buckboard wagon; what good would it do? Your lightly loaded rear end is almost like a buckboard.

Well my rear shocks have helper coils over them....But your probably right about the springs?& I love this truck & would love to keep it.At least till the trailer is paid off & then I'll consider a newer truck.I wanted a Ca. Pre-Smog diesel 4x4 ClubCab dual with a 5 speed & its a built hot rod with 500 HP.Yet with all that, I'm considering maybe one day going newer with an automatic.Starting from a stop on steep hills with the weight a of Truck Camper before & now our new Travel trail is not fun with a manual trans.

Well at least lose the helper springs. Stiff shocks are needed for stiff springs so maybe you have shocks that are contributing to the problem.

I want to soften the suspension on my Tow Rig? | Good Sam Community

Groover
Explorer II
May 20, 2018
I had a 1991 F250 that was brutal until I put Rancho 9000s on it in 2009. My only regret was not having done it sooner. That is the first thing that I would do if I was in your position.
rhagfo
Explorer III
May 20, 2018
Blanco1 wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Rancho 9000 shocks(set to one) and 35 pounds of air in the rear tires empty will greatly improve things.

Interesting thought , yet I wonder how that would effect my tire wear?

Well weigh your rear axle both loaded and unloaded, then check a load inflation chart for your tires.

If empty and rear axle weighs 3,000# that is 750 ea. on the four rear tires. Double that for loaded, to 6,000# and you get 1,500# per tire loaded, I wouldn't run the tires much above 65 psi loaded at 6,000#.

I will add that our 2001 2500 with Camper Package has the same springs as the 3500 DRW, I run my tires at 45 to 50 psi empty. I carry about 2,400#+ for pin weight on our 5er.
filrupmark
Explorer
May 20, 2018
Call General Spring in Kansas City. I was surprised on pricing when I Replaced our rear leaf springs. They could downsize or soften your spring pack. It cost me about 350.00 with shipping for new F350 springs . The sales guy was very knowledgeable on different options.
steve-n-vicki
Explorer
May 20, 2018
put a 150 gallon fuel tank in the bed and fill it up
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 20, 2018
Look into a Kelderman Kit. this will give you what you want. A nice smooth ride with the simplicity, power and economy of the 12V Cummins! The Kelderman is pricey though!
Blanco1
Explorer
May 20, 2018
dodge guy wrote:
Look into a Kelderman Kit. this will give you what you want. A nice smooth ride with the simplicity, power and economy of the 12V Cummins! The Kelderman is pricey though!

What is in the Kit?
& how pricey?

You say its worth the price?
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 20, 2018
Blanco1 wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Rancho 9000 shocks(set to one) and 35 pounds of air in the rear tires empty will greatly improve things.

Interesting thought , yet I wonder how that would effect my tire wear?

4 LT235/85R16E has a dually axle rating(4 tires) of 6340 pounds at 35 pound inflation for the tires. If you have a smaller size tire, they are in the table linked below.

And at 65 pounds inflation the axle is good for 9524 pounds. No need to ever inflate the tires to 80 pounds. For a bumper pull trailer there would never be a need to inflate the tires above the 35 pounds, as at 35 pounds inflation you have over 3,000 carrying capacity available on the rear axle.w

On my old 2001.5 SRW the ride difference between the Ranchos turned up and 80 pounds inflation in the LT265/75R16Es and 40 pounds and Ranchos on one was very noticeable.

https://www.michelintruck.com/reference-materials/manuals-bulletins-and-warranties/load-and-inflation-tables/#/
C_Schomer
Explorer
May 20, 2018
I cut off the ends of the bottom OLs and moved some spacers so the top OLs engage sooner and they are softer than the bottom OLs. I have airbags to make up for the bottom OLs. I did my 03 like that and I just did my 12 that way and it works great. Or take it to a spring shop. Craig
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 20, 2018
donn0128 wrote:
Might want to swap it for a much newer 2500 with coil rear suspension. That will give you the soft ride.

You buying it for him or what?
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 20, 2018
Blanco1 wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Rancho 9000 shocks(set to one) and 35 pounds of air in the rear tires empty will greatly improve things.

Interesting thought , yet I wonder how that would effect my tire wear?

Shocks aren’t what makes it stiff. 35psi is not a lot. That’s the equivalent of 70 psi in 2 tires.
If you’re driving with full tires, drop them to 35psi or lower even, before you spend money on the truck.
Unless the tires are squatting , no problem with tire wear.