RAMs's 3500 Air Suspension Update

Hey guys, just saw this thread. I've been curious about how the Ram 3500 would work out with air when it finally arrived. I've gone to the build and price ever couple of months for a year and never seen it as an option as, as you all know, it's been delayed. However just last week I found that it is now available on the build and price section of the Ram site. Is that wrong or is it finally a real option?

"If any vehicle manufacture does get an air suspension system working reliably in a production vehicle at an affordable cost, it will be quite an accomplishment that is worthy of praise, regardless of the brand."

Yes, it sure would.......:C

Sam

I see.

Well, no matter what the dynamics are between the personalities on this forum, my interest in this thread solely revolves around the dynamics of tow vehicle suspension... and specifically, why air suspension systems have such a difficult time making it to market in production light trucks.

It is clear that everyone recognizes the problem that air suspension in a heavy tow vehicle could solve (the same problem it solves in Class 8 tractors). But factory produced systems still seem to hit a brick wall.

I had one of those air suspension Lincolns, and would often find the car resting on it's haunches.

I also had the opportunity to retrofit a parallelogram air suspension system (an earlier, more robust version of the system that Ford was going to use) to my F-550. At the final hour to make a decision, I passed. Not because of cost, but because of my fears regarding reliability. In the years that followed, i read of several reports of that system resting on it's haunches.

If any vehicle manufacture does get an air suspension system working reliably in a production vehicle at an affordable cost, it will be quite an accomplishment that is worthy of praise, regardless of the brand.

BigToe wrote:
Ford announced the availability of an air suspension system for their F-450 pickup. The RPO was even issued a code, and printed in the order guides. But Ford cancelled the air suspension prior to making it to market, earlier in the marketing cycle than Ram did.

The reason? I don't know all of the Ford reasons, but I did talk with two of the supplier engineers who worked on the system. There were a few failures in testing. From an existing frame bracket issue to electronic monitoring and controls. And it was in developing all the electronic monitoring and control hardware, logic, and vehicle network integration that Ford demanded which caused the supplier to have lost a fortune when Ford said, "No thanks". It was quite bitter.

Ford also ended up cancelling the F-450 pickup. This was about 10-12 years ago. Later, in 2008, the F-450 pickup finally appeared on an F-350 frame, without any hint or promise of an air suspension.

But it had come close 6 years prior. Yet Ford pulled the plug. So you can't say that the quote below is always true. Sometimes consumers are spared from the task of R&D.

Ram4Sam wrote:
I guess they could do like Ford does, sell it before the bugs are worked out, let the customers be the test guinea pigs and keep the lemon law attorneys busy........ Sam

As you can see in my post, I didn't use the word always.....Given the obvious trolling by the author of this thread, I just thought I would point that out to him.;)

sam

Ford announced the availability of an air suspension system for their F-450 pickup. The RPO was even issued a code, and printed in the order guides. But Ford cancelled the air suspension prior to making it to market, earlier in the marketing cycle than Ram did.

The reason? I don't know all of the Ford reasons, but I did talk with two of the supplier engineers who worked on the system. There were a few failures in testing. From an existing frame bracket issue to electronic monitoring and controls. And it was in developing all the electronic monitoring and control hardware, logic, and vehicle network integration that Ford demanded which caused the supplier to have lost a fortune when Ford said, "No thanks". It was quite bitter.

Ford also ended up cancelling the F-450 pickup. This was about 10-12 years ago. Later, in 2008, the F-450 pickup finally appeared on an F-350 frame, without any hint or promise of an air suspension.

But it had come close 6 years prior. Yet Ford pulled the plug. So you can't say that the quote below is always true. Sometimes consumers are spared from the task of R&D.

Ram4Sam wrote:
I guess they could do like Ford does, sell it before the bugs are worked out, let the customers be the test guinea pigs and keep the lemon law attorneys busy........ Sam

leave it to a car company to turn a tested idea into a joke... :S
would have made more sense to keep it based more on existing otr truck systems that work leave the fancy stuff where it belongs..on a sheet of paper on a desk.. heck our one truck has over 2 million miles on it and the air ride still works great...

I was getting all excited about the air until I read that link and saw there's no user adjustability. I cut off the bottom OLs and added bags w/incab controls and it only takes about 5 psi + or - to the bags and/or to the Ranchos to turn a terrible road into an OK road. I think I like mine better! Craig

Here's a video of a demo on a air suspension system on a 3500.

Link

BTW... I bet FCA will go with a air bag supplement system in addition to the standard leaf spring setup just in case the air system develops a failure there's redundancy in the suspension system.

It was not that there is anything wrong with my truck. It does a great job. I have PacBrake air bags not that I need them for the heavy 4,500# pin weight but they really help smooth out the rough roads when set at only 30#. I also know the same truck with the Aisin and 4:10's will do better. I liked the idea that unloaded the truck would ride near level as well when loaded.

I know this will sell especially when all you hear about on these forums is the truck bed is too high now what do I do?

I'm still sniveling!

It was not that there is anything wrong with my truck. It does a great job. I have PacBrake air bags not that I need them for the heavy 4,500# pin weight but they really help smooth out the rough roads when set at only 30#. I also know the same truck with the Aisin and 4:10's will do better. I liked the idea that unloaded the truck would ride near level as well when loaded.

I know this will sell especially when all you hear about on these forums is the truck bed is too high now what do I do?

I'm still sniveling!