I know this has been beat to death but still having trouble deciding which is best for my truck. Really hated to start another thread on this but kind of need to figure this one out. I have a 1999 Ram 2500 and pull a Wave 26RLS with just over 800lb tongue weight, 7200lb unloaded/ 8600lb loaded. In the late 90's Dodge went with longer softer springs. While it does improve the unloaded ride it really sags when hooked to the trailer, and at the same time allows quite a bit of sway. We do use a WD hitch and dual friction sway bars. I've read all the post on the different systems, air bags/helper springs/Tembram/RAS, but can't decide which would be the best for my use. I'm looking for something to help level the truck when hitched, and also help a little with the sway, without killing the ride. My truck didn't come with factory overload springs so not sure that isn't all I need. While it pulls just fine the way it is setup it sits so low in the rear I have to run an extended receiver bracket to keep the trailer level. That also interferes with the trail gate opening. What do y'all think?

Correctly sized (bar strength equal to 15% of the trailers gvwr) and correctly set up wd system should be all you need. Gives a good ride and keeps tow vehicle level. I'd loose the friction bars and install a duel cam with integrated anti sway or even an equalizer if you want to stay with a friction system. Either one exerts much more force than the friction bars. Good luck / Skip

I agree it should but it doesn't. CW spent quite some time trying to set it up but wound up having to go with the larger offset extension to level the trailer, never did level the truck. Would love to go with a dual cam setup but this is the hitch I have right now. CW thru it in on the deal because the Reese we had was only a 750lb unit and that wasn't enough for this trailer.

Timbrens, or other suspension improvements will help level your tow vehicle.

Aftermarket heavy duty leaf packs will fix it right up. Check SD Truck Springs, or Stengel Bros. for leaf pack kits for your truck.My F350SRW has heavy duty Dayton leaf packs, from Stengel Bros. With 4000 lbs loaded in the bed, the truck sits level and rides solid. :)

Thanks for the replies. SoCalDesertRider, I've kind of been thinking that also. I got it used and it is setup for a 5'er to so it is possible they are worn out, even though it only has about 100k on it. Just hate to do that first and find out it still needs help. TomG2, Timbrens or the RAS are the ones I've been leaning toward because of ease of install and would help with sway at the same time. Plus they can still help even if I do wind up replacing the spring packs.

Load leveling | Good Sam Community

Keith_Haw
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
I'll check but sure it says it's an 80 on the sticker, but I've been known to be wrong before. My understanding is the 80 was in the manuals and V10's, mine is a V10.

Ran the VIN and all it tells me is; Dodge/ Ram Pickup 2500/ 4DR/ Laramie SLT/ST 4DR Pickup RWD 0/ 8L Gasoline V10 and was built in Mexico. So no help there
wilber1
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
My 01 had the Dana 70 but did have the tow package with overloads. It was my understanding that manual transmission trucks got the 80 because of the higher tow rating but autos got the 70 that year.
Keith_Haw
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Well the sticker under the hood says it's a Dana 80
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Keith Haw wrote:
Well it does have the dana 80 but no sway bar or overloads. Kind of weird because kind of thought it would have the sway bar beings it's setup for a 5'er. So, guess it's time to look at HD springs and sway bar. Should make it handle better anyway.
Are you sure that's not a Dana 70? They look similar...

The springs and sway bar will indeed help. :)
Keith_Haw
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Well it does have the dana 80 but no sway bar or overloads. Kind of weird because kind of thought it would have the sway bar beings it's setup for a 5'er. So, guess it's time to look at HD springs and sway bar. Should make it handle better anyway.
wilber1
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Keith Haw wrote:
Yeah, the more feedback I get the more I'm kind of thinking the springs might need replaced. I know it's rated for 8800#, at least according to the sticker under the hood, but it doesn't have factory overloads. Don't know if that's normal or not but seems kind of strange to me.

Interesting. My 01 was rated for 8800 and did come with overloads. I thought they were basically the same truck.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
If it doesn't have the rear sway bar, rear upper overload leafs and Dana 80 rear axle, it doesn't have the 1-ton Camper package.
Keith_Haw
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
I'll have to check that out. Don't know if mine had the 1 ton springs but didn't have the sway bar. But I'm planning on adding that when I can.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Dec 11, 2013
Keith Haw wrote:
Yeah, the more feedback I get the more I'm kind of thinking the springs might need replaced. I know it's rated for 8800#, at least according to the sticker under the hood, but it doesn't have factory overloads. Don't know if that's normal or not but seems kind of strange to me.

Would be interesting to know, my 8,800# GVWR 01 also has the Camper Package, which included the one ton springs and a anti-sway bar.

You can go on line to Chrysler / Dodge web site there is a screen where you can type in your VIN and get back a build sheet via Email.
Keith_Haw
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Yeah, the more feedback I get the more I'm kind of thinking the springs might need replaced. I know it's rated for 8800#, at least according to the sticker under the hood, but it doesn't have factory overloads. Don't know if that's normal or not but seems kind of strange to me.

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