Should I get airbags

[myerstk]

New to forums and just upgraded to a fifth wheel I picked up last weekend. I was trying to decide if I should get airbags to supplement the factory springs. I have a 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel and fifth wheel with a pin weight right at the trucks rating of 2300lbs. The 2 hour trip back home from the dealer it towed amazing and I didn't feel like my headlights were in the air. Very smooth but I was on a good road. When hooked up the rear sags 2.5" at the axle and the front is pretty much the same. The only reason I'm considering airbags is I will sometimes put a 120lb generator in the bed of the truck and I'm right at my payload limit. Also at $350 the airbags are a relativity cheap upgrade. I know these trucks are made to be loaded so if I got airbags I would probably just put just enough pressure to cut the sage down to a 1".

I have a picture. Hopefully I can figure out how to post it.

[JIMNLIN]

justafordguy wrote:

Road Phantom wrote:
Going over the GVWR will compromise your brakes, bearings, rear end, etc.

How can that be true if the 2500 and 3500 have different GVWRs but have the same brakes, bearings, rear end, etc?

Brakes are a function of a vehicles FAWR and RAWR.
Bearings/rear end/etc are rated by AAM for the 11.5" axle on the 2500/3500 trucks at around 10800 lbs. The 2500 truck is rated at 6000/6200 or 6500 lbs at max load...... won't even make the rear axle sweat.
A 3/4 ton truck today is the most under rated truck of any of the LDT out here.

[justafordguy]

Road Phantom wrote:
Going over the GVWR will compromise your brakes, bearings, rear end, etc.

How can that be true if the 2500 and 3500 have different GVWRs but have the same brakes, bearings, rear end, etc?

[Road_Phantom]

airbags don't increase your truck's carrying capacity. It's set at the factory. It will raise your bed up for level headlights. Going over the GVWR will compromise your brakes, bearings, rear end, etc.

[davisenvy]

One word of advice to the OP, NEVER POST WEIGHTS ON THIS FORUM! Your question will be drowned out by numbers.

I started off with Timbrens and didn't like them at all. I then went to airbags and love them. I don't really need them, but the ability to adjust is wonderful. Mine were about $300 and took me 2hrs to install.

[Me_Again]

Here is what our 2015 3500 Laramie 4x4 CC SB weights ready to tow. B&W RVK3270 manual slider on Demco 6099 picture frame and OEM pucks.

5140 Steer
3760 Drive
8900 Total

[rhagfo]

justafordguy wrote:
Also keep in mind that the 6500lb RAWR is limited by the springs not the axle itself.

That and possably the tires.

[LIKE2BUILD]

justafordguy wrote:
Also keep in mind that the 6500lb RAWR is limited by the springs not the axle itself.

Right. I think AAM rates the 11.5" full floating axle well above 10,000lbs.

[justafordguy]

Also keep in mind that the 6500lb RAWR is limited by the springs not the axle itself.

[myerstk]

IdaD wrote:

myerstk wrote:

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
If your '15 is like my '03 it has no aux upper overload spring pack. Mine squats in the rear with 1600 lbs in the bed over the axle.

Completely different. Starting in '14 the RAM 2500 has a 5-link, coil spring rear suspension.

I've thought about replacing my jounce stops with Timbrens but I only squat about 2" with the 5er on the hitch. Everything rides so nice that I really don't think I need anything else.

KJ

That's exactly how it is. It rides great so I don't necessarily want to mess with it but I am supposed to be at the top end of the truck limit.

The payload rating on your truck is artificially low because it's heavy and 2500 series trucks are limited to 10k GVWR because that's the max for the class (payload = GVWR - curb weight). If you look at your tire and axle ratings you will get a much clearer picture of what your truck is actually rated to carry. It weighs about 3000 lbs empty at the rear axle, which with the 6500 lb RAWR gives you about 3500 lbs to play with on the rear axle, give or take. Your tires are rated for 7280 lbs so they are not a limiting factor. In reality you aren't really very close to the top end of the truck's limit with 2300 lbs of pin weight.

Awesome. Thanks.

[IdaD]

myerstk wrote:

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
If your '15 is like my '03 it has no aux upper overload spring pack. Mine squats in the rear with 1600 lbs in the bed over the axle.

Completely different. Starting in '14 the RAM 2500 has a 5-link, coil spring rear suspension.

I've thought about replacing my jounce stops with Timbrens but I only squat about 2" with the 5er on the hitch. Everything rides so nice that I really don't think I need anything else.

KJ

That's exactly how it is. It rides great so I don't necessarily want to mess with it but I am supposed to be at the top end of the truck limit.

The payload rating on your truck is artificially low because it's heavy and 2500 series trucks are limited to 10k GVWR because that's the max for the class (payload = GVWR - curb weight). If you look at your tire and axle ratings you will get a much clearer picture of what your truck is actually rated to carry. It weighs about 3000 lbs empty at the rear axle, which with the 6500 lb RAWR gives you about 3500 lbs to play with on the rear axle, give or take. Your tires are rated for 7280 lbs so they are not a limiting factor. In reality you aren't really very close to the top end of the truck's limit with 2300 lbs of pin weight.

[myerstk]

Also I've read enough forums to know that unless I am towing a pop up with dually that the conversation will always end with a argument about tow ratings. I am well aware of all my trucks tow ratings. My last setup was a 2011 ecoboost F150 (rated at just over 9000lbs) with a 34ft 7000lb travel trailer (Yes I had a sway bar and weight distribution). With that f150 set up I was well under the trucks ratings but my 2500(with 5er) pushed a little past it's "tow ratings pin weight" tows like a dream compared to the F150. The steering is tight and the engine brake makes my tires feel like they are in sand when stopping. So which one is "safer". The F150 is supposed to be safer but I would argue that numbers aren't everything. Yes a f450 dually would be better but I think it's unnecessary.

[myerstk]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
If your '15 is like my '03 it has no aux upper overload spring pack. Mine squats in the rear with 1600 lbs in the bed over the axle.

Completely different. Starting in '14 the RAM 2500 has a 5-link, coil spring rear suspension.

I've thought about replacing my jounce stops with Timbrens but I only squat about 2" with the 5er on the hitch. Everything rides so nice that I really don't think I need anything else.

KJ

That's exactly how it is. It rides great so I don't necessarily want to mess with it but I am supposed to be at the top end of the truck limit.

[LIKE2BUILD]

JIMNLIN wrote:
If your '15 is like my '03 it has no aux upper overload spring pack. Mine squats in the rear with 1600 lbs in the bed over the axle.

Completely different. Starting in '14 the RAM 2500 has a 5-link, coil spring rear suspension.

I've thought about replacing my jounce stops with Timbrens but I only squat about 2" with the 5er on the hitch. Everything rides so nice that I really don't think I need anything else.

KJ

[Cummins12V98]

Russ, not everyone has one uh dem special 2500's lik u du. 😉