New Ram coil spring 2500

Of course lets not mention that a coil spring is much cheaper to manufacture than a leaf spring pack is and that coil springs have absolutely no rebound damping and are thus wicked on shock life, whereas a leaf spring pack has built in damping due to the inherent friction between the leaves.

I'd say it's more of a cost saving measure on the part of Fiat-Chrysler than any other reason. Gotta keep that P&L statement well on the P side.

For truck use (other than getting groceries or hauling a couple bags of fertilizer), coils suck, plain and simple.

Show me any vehicle with coils springs (on the rear) after 20K of American roads and I'll call it a pogo stick on wheels.

Some suggestions to help handling using coils:

1. Heavy stabilizer bar on the front and rear axles
2. Heavier rated coils on the rear
3. Timbrens, Sumo Springs or Work Rites to help the coils
4. Heavier dampened shocks on the front and rear corners

I have a nephew with the ram with coil springs .... he just bought a 5th wheel and the first time he pulled the camper it went into a strange oscillation and almost flipped the rig.
I can't imagine the control with a truck camper on there would be any better.

Bob B wrote:
I have a nephew with the ram with coil springs .... he just bought a 5th wheel and the first time he pulled the camper it went into a strange oscillation and almost flipped the rig.
I can't imagine the control with a truck camper on there would be any better.

Bob:

I'd say worse with a TC. Lots more weight on the rear axle than with a 5er, even a big one.

What was the outcome? Did he loose the truck or modify the suspension?

SidecarFlip wrote:

Bob B wrote:
I have a nephew with the ram with coil springs .... he just bought a 5th wheel and the first time he pulled the camper it went into a strange oscillation and almost flipped the rig.
I can't imagine the control with a truck camper on there would be any better.

Bob:

I'd say worse with a TC. Lots more weight on the rear axle than with a 5er, even a big one.

What was the outcome? Did he loose the truck or modify the suspension?

The just happened very recently. He inquired if there was a leaf spring kit he could put on his truck and was told no.
He is planning to replace the truck.

RAM should honestly post and advertise that the 2500s are not recommended to carry a Truck Camper.

I don't think a coil sprung rear automatically disqualifies it from hauling a truck camper, but there are less suspension aids offered to tune this setup for that application which is a problem.

From the time when I was doing equipment hauling, I remember that none of the pickup till 550/5500 series are design for hauling heavy weight in the bed.
Take a look where the rear axle is placed? On trucks less than above the axle is placed at about 50 percent of bed length. That makes it good for 5th wheel, or grocery getter.
You hook up heavier trailer and you need WD bars to compensate for "grocery getter design" with huge rear overhang. To top it, the manufacturers have no idea how truck camper affects the trucks.
For my new dually camper package was offering ONLY stiffer FRONT stabilization bar.
My camper takes the weight off front axle.:S

Kayteg1 wrote:
My camper takes the weight off front axle.:S

Based on lots of empirical evidence of posts here, that's similar to other trucks that still perform better with improved front suspensions. Maybe counter intuitive, but true nevertheless. In other words, carrying a TC better isn't just about the rear of the truck.

12V Cummins wrote:
RAM should honestly post and advertise that the 2500s are not recommended to carry a Truck Camper.

I don't think they give a poop. I live up here (Michigan) and TC's are a distinct minority, in fact I hardly ever see any pickup truck with a TC in the bed, maybe 3 times in 10 years.

Don't believe TC's even enter into the corporate equation, probably don't even know they exist.

People, in general buy a 2500 or 3500 truck for towing things like 5ers and pull behinds or for a work truck / farm truck.

Are any of the domestic builders honest? Don't think so. It's all about making profit, not about honesty.