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

54 Replies

Blanco1
Explorer
May 19, 2018
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.
rexlion
Explorer
May 19, 2018
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.
donn0128
Explorer II
May 19, 2018
Might want to swap it for a much newer 2500 with coil rear suspension. That will give you the soft ride.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
May 19, 2018
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.

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I want to soften the suspension on my Tow Rig?

54 Replies

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