I am considering a Ram 3500 but am concerned about the ride compared to the 2500. One of the options is air suspension. I am trying to find out how this option affects the unloaded ride. I think that I understand that the air suspension replaces all but one of the springs in the standard leaf spring setup. That would seem to suggest that the air suspension is operative when unloaded. The salesmen are not very helpful, giving conflicting information.So any of you have a Ram 3500 with the factory air suspension option? How does it affect the unladen ride?Thanks for your help.

I believe the computer tells the bags when to inflate or deflate for a level ride. Yes I have read the AS does still have a single leaf. It would be a must have for me.

wgriswold wrote:I am considering a Ram 3500 but am concerned about the ride compared to the 2500. One of the options is air suspension. I am trying to find out how this option affects the unloaded ride. I think that I understand that the air suspension replaces all but one of the springs in the standard leaf spring setup. That would seem to suggest that the air suspension is operative when unloaded. The salesmen are not very helpful, giving conflicting information.So any of you have a Ram 3500 with the factory air suspension option? How does it affect the unladen ride?Thanks for your help.The 3500 air has a half spring full multi leave spring pack on each side to a standard frame mount in front of the axle. From the axle back there is no spring, so these half springs hold the axle in place and control axle wrap. ALL THE WEIGHT is carried on the air bag system. Cummins12V98 should be along to give you a detail report. He really likes the setup.Chris

I have that setup on my RAM, it's nice. It works like the air bags on the big trucks, there's a control arm attached to the axel as the chassis "sags" the control arm "tells" the compressor "we need more air" to keep this thing level. It doesn't matter how much weight you put on the rear axel, the truck won't sag. No more head lights pointing into the sky at night with a load/RV on!Here's a couple of shots I took of my truck suspension right after I picked it up.One shot from the rear and one from the front, not the best, sorry it was five below zero the day I shot these pictures.Dan

I should've said in my first reply, in my opinion the truck does ride smoother than springs. It's hard to say though, I had an '06 3500 RAM with springs and I added Firestone Ride rites to cut down on the sag. So going from an "old" truck to a brand new truck was over whelming to me. So many nice new upgrades! The pulling power, the EB and the solid ride itself, very nice!! What's not to like about a new truck right?It's nice that the truck sits level with OR without weight on it. I like the ride it gives but I was used to the ride I got from my '06.I'm sure Cummins will chime in as well, I love my truck, it's a towing beast and he will probably reiterate..... I'd say go for it, you'll love it!Dan

How's the suspension travel with that setup? It seems like the airbags would be pretty limiting in terms of allowing axle droop offroad.

Ram 3500 and air suspension option | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

Me_Again
Explorer III
Dec 19, 2015
wgriswold wrote:
I am considering a Ram 3500 but am concerned about the ride compared to the 2500. One of the options is air suspension. I am trying to find out how this option affects the unloaded ride.

I think that I understand that the air suspension replaces all but one of the springs in the standard leaf spring setup. That would seem to suggest that the air suspension is operative when unloaded. The salesmen are not very helpful, giving conflicting information.

So any of you have a Ram 3500 with the factory air suspension option? How does it affect the unladen ride?

Thanks for your help.

The 3500 air has a half spring full multi leave spring pack on each side to a standard frame mount in front of the axle. From the axle back there is no spring, so these half springs hold the axle in place and control axle wrap. ALL THE WEIGHT is carried on the air bag system. Cummins12V98 should be along to give you a detail report. He really likes the setup.

Chris
45Ricochet
Explorer
Dec 19, 2015
I believe the computer tells the bags when to inflate or deflate for a level ride. Yes I have read the AS does still have a single leaf. It would be a must have for me.

Forum Discussion

Ram 3500 and air suspension option

32 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Suspension Options

3500 Ram factory air suspension

RAMs's 3500 Air Suspension Update

Ram 3500 rear Air Suspension Capacity

2020 Ram 3500 OEM Rear Air Suspension