softening the ride on a Doege 3500

Best solution is to add some weight to the back of the truck. I use a 200# fiberglass camper shell and it makes a big difference with my truck. With an empty bed I would add a couple hundred pounds of concrete. Another possible change is to go to adjustable air shocks or the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. They do not make a big difference but they may help with your truck.

Anything you do to change the ride with the bed empty is going to affect how it handles and the safety of you and your passengers both when it is empty or with a full load.

afishinado wrote:
If a 3500 is twice what you need, sell it and buy a 1500. That might work.

For one thing, a 1500 would not have a Cummins.

Given how little I have in it and its potential longevity, I'd rather turn this truck into the perfect family car / TV even if i have to give up some of its designed capacity.

If a 3500 is twice what you need, sell it and buy a 1500. That might work.

ScottG wrote:
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with WC Jeep on the tires. I was talked into putting D load range tires on a HD truck one time instead of the stock "E"'s and it destroyed the handling when hooked to a trailer. I'd never had sway before but those D's, even though they had a similar weight rating in lbs, we're way too soft in the sidewalls. That was the worst mistake I ever made to a truck.

I don't see a disagreement. I never mentioned D rated tires. Only talking about differences among " E" tires. I've seen high mileage rated "E" tires made with hard compounds. These tires are easy to spin with stock power. They offer little traction in bad weather.

I use 19.5's when hauling. I run soft compound "E" tires for winter use.

Check out airbagit. Then you can go full air ride.

I cut of the ends of the bottom OLs and put on airbags with a homemade expansion tank to supplement the bags. It rides very good... Better than the 1/2t I used to have. Craig

astraelraen wrote:
Drive around with 1500lbs in the bed?

That's sort of a joke....

My 3500 rode like a dream (almost) with a 2200 lb pin weight fifth wheel attached to it. Not so much with our current TT with a third of the hitch weight on the ball. :B

wcjeep wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Well the 3500 as a DD is one thing, as a "Family Car" is a bit tougher. I DD my 01 2500 W/Camper package (3500 springs) I feel most bumps in the road, best you can do is put a great set of shocks on it.

On your 2nd Gen, are you running a steering brace? Not as important on the newer trucks. Should have been factory equipment on the 94 - 02.



I've heard good things about Bilsteins. Never ran them. I use the adjustable Rancho 9000's. When empty I run them at level 3 of the 9 settings. When empty, be sure to lower your tire pressure to whatever the door sticker says.

What tires are you running? Softer rubber will usually give a nicer ride with lower lifespan. Avoid high mileage "E" rated tires. The harder compound does not usually perform well in bad weather.

Yes, to the steering brace, and I have a full set of Bilstien 5100's also.
The truck has the Camper Package and Tow, has 3500 springs, that is why I thought I was OK, with an 11,000# 5er! :B

Yes, no issues with towing, or handling, just a bit over the GVWR for the TV, still well below axle and tire.

You can dump the air pressure when not towing but when you hitch up, jack that pressure back up to at least 65~70 psi or it will feel squirly.

Rancho adjustable shocks will make a big difference. The first I did on all four of my dodge trucks was to install adjustable shocks. The key word is adjustable! Air bags will make your ride stiffer.