I bought a new Ram 3500 DRW with factory airbags for my camper. I just loaded the camper on it for the first time and it looks great. The issue I have is after loading camper the airbags brought the truck up to the same height as it was when unloaded so the overloads are not touching the rubber stops and are not in play. There is a 1 to 1 1/2 inch gap between the rubber stops and bottom of springs. It doesn't make sense that they would even have the overload springs on the truck if they aren't going to be used. I would like the overloads to help the airbags so all weight is not on the airbags. Am I overthinking this or does someone make a bigger rubber stop or something else to put on the overloads. Here is a photo of front stop.

I recall you might be 1st person coming to the forum with factory air suspension, so new subject to discuss. I used to have coaches with air suspension and they had automatic valves at each wheel to keep the same level regardless the load. Full air suspension doesn't have overloads, so can you post a picture of your setup?

I don’t know what your bump stops look like, but I use Energy Suspension bump stops. They make a few different types. In my case, I removed the factory ones and the bolt went through the same hole. I added large fender washers to give the nuts something to keep them from pulling through.

I don’t understand, the Ram air suspension is just that two light leaf springs to locate the rear axle, and air bags to support the load. There should not be any “overload springs”. This system is just like air suspension on a semi, the air bad supports the full load, the springs like the tram bars on a semi locate the axle.

Maybe I am ovrethinking it. Ram may have to make all the rear suspensions the same but when the airbag system is installed the airbags are suppose to carry all the load like a semi as rhagfo stated above.Attached is a picture of the overloads after truck is supporting weight of camper.

Technology those days make 1000's of variations, but looks like you don't have air suspension, only air helper springs. Just like hybrid is not electric car.

Ram 3500 with factory airbags | Good Sam Community

Gary_Morency
Explorer
Jan 14, 2021
You can buy thicker bumpstops and they will take up the space your talking about I installed them on my 18 and they help a lot with sway but give you a harder ride empty. That space we have with the factory ones is there for that reason. I just remove them when the camper isn;t going to be used for a while.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Jan 13, 2021
The RAM air suspension is certainly not full air suspension as you might see on a semi. Many differences starting with the semi-elliptic spring to locate the axle.

But I'd agree that the thing being called an "overload" is actually intended to prevent axle wrap, not carry any load. That system will also have some problems with torque jacking of the suspension - they should have stuck with and refined their first attempt. Or better still, licensed the system from Autoflex, who solved this problem (how to easily install true air suspension with no frame mods).
bwlyon
Explorer
Jan 13, 2021
You’re overthinking. The Ram air suspension is doing exactly what is supposed to do. If you want your suspension to sit a little lower use the Alt Ride Height button. Otherwise, don’t worry about it.
towpro
Explorer
Jan 12, 2021
Kayteg1 wrote:
towpro wrote:
lots of replies on here have never seen the ram air suspension. .

Neither did you.
It doesn't exist.

why do you need to treat people like this?
Maybe its time you give the internet a rest?

PS: Here is the name right out of the place you order the "automatic level-rear air suspension
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 12, 2021
So one more post to add clarity.
The 1st gen of the Ram Air Suspension came out in 2013 or 2014 and looked like the picture below.

Then in 2018 they appear to have made changes to make the addition of the Air Suspension a easier process. Now instead of having to add a bracket to the frame for the upper link arm, now it all goes in the leaf spring brackets. Now there are basically traction bars under the single leaf to prevent axle wrap. That bar only goes forward of the axle.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 12, 2021
billsnp5 wrote:
it does exist as I have one. I have a 5K+ camper on the truck and you can look at picture I posted of the overload spring and they are not being used with 5K+ sitting on truck. I measured the distance from trailer ball to ground before and after loading camper and it measures the same. I cannot say for sure but seems as tho this is a full air suspension rear end.

I don’t think the lower leafs with the bumper is an overload spring. I believe it replaces the link arm of the earlier version to prevent axle wrap.
Looking at the design, with the newer version there is no difference in the frame, no need for a link arm bracket.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2021
billsnp5 wrote:
I cannot say for sure but seems as tho this is a full air suspension rear end.

Are you saying you don't have steel springs?
billsnp5
Explorer
Jan 12, 2021
it does exist as I have one. I have a 5K+ camper on the truck and you can look at picture I posted of the overload spring and they are not being used with 5K+ sitting on truck. I measured the distance from trailer ball to ground before and after loading camper and it measures the same. I cannot say for sure but seems as tho this is a full air suspension rear end.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 12, 2021
Kayteg1 wrote:
towpro wrote:
lots of replies on here have never seen the ram air suspension. .

Neither did you.
It doesn't exist.
The pictured is mixed suspension aka hybrid.
Probably called air suspension to fool uneducated buyers.

Well it does exist, just slightly different way of locating the axle. While you believe that to be a true air suspension it requires a four link with trak bar to locate the rear axle.
Ram uses a single leaf spring to locate the axle. The weight on the rear axle is still carried on the bags.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2021
towpro wrote:
lots of replies on here have never seen the ram air suspension. .

Neither did you.
It doesn't exist.
The pictured is mixed suspension aka hybrid.
Probably called air suspension to fool uneducated buyers.

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