Ordered the new 3500 Dodge DRW with the air suspension anyone on here have it on there truck is it user friendly and how happy are you with it. Truck should be by the middle of June.

I had ordered a ram 3500 drw gas 6.4 truck last fall and did not get the factory air system because I had found that there are no after market suspension products for that system such as sway bars, that said, I later found that there are no sway bars available for the 6.4 gas rams due to the exhaust system location( with out major modifications) so if I knew then that I could not add a sway bar on the regular suspension due the exhaust system I may have gone with factory air . I have read people are happy with factory air for TC use, have also read it shuts down if overloaded but someone that has it may have first hand knowledge of the operation.Mike

I have factory air bags. If I were to do it over I would go with the std leafs. As mentioned above, no aftermarket upgrades available. Would like to add sway bar, but helwig doesn’t make one for these trucks. May end up replacing the rear suspension or possibly the truck.

Are you able to add rancho shocks or is something in the way of doing that.

Gary3 wrote:Are you able to add rancho shocks or is something in the way of doing that.. No problem adding Rancho shocks.

I’ve read about issues with them in cold climates. Google search it or check the Ram forums.

3500 Ram factory air suspension | Good Sam Community

work2much
Explorer
May 24, 2018
Helwig says they should have a product/part number in about 2 weeks. Hopefully this will be a very valuable upgrade for our truck.
work2much
Explorer
May 23, 2018
Gary3 wrote:
Good news for those with sway problems just read on the LOA site Hellwig is near completion on a rear swaybar for the factory air suspension on 3500 Rams.

I just sent them an e-mail again regarding this. Interested to see. I think it would just involve an axle clamp that would be relieved around the factory air lines. Will post if there is a response from HW
work2much
Explorer
May 23, 2018
Gary3 wrote:
Good news for those with sway problems just read on the LOA site Hellwig is near completion on a rear swaybar for the factory air suspension on 3500 Rams.

Intersted for sure! Link?
Gary3
Explorer
May 22, 2018
Good news for those with sway problems just read on the LOA site Hellwig is near completion on a rear swaybar for the factory air suspension on 3500 Rams.
OutdoorAddict
Explorer
May 18, 2018
I have had a 2500 with air and now a 3500 DRW with air. The 3500 is much better than the 2500 because it works with leaf springs. True, currently there are no after market suspension products that you can use with the factory air ride, but I have found no need to upgrade the suspension and I am hauling a AF 1150 and often tow a boat. The Only downside to the air is that you cannot add air to just one bag to offset the additional weight of the slide, I have a very slight list to the side of the slide with TC on truck. I don't think cold weather affects the air bags because the bags work on a closed system and are filled with nitrogen.
GpnAZ
Explorer
May 17, 2018
Gary3 wrote:
Is the factory air suspension completely auto or do you have to push a on off button when you load the camper.

It's completely auto, there is a button to lower the suspension, but when button is on, it will auto level as soon as you load the rear.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 17, 2018
^ Exactly, so it is not of any use in add on airbags unless they are plumbed together and likely not useful for Ram air assist as I believe that is separate lines per side.
Gary3
Explorer
May 17, 2018
Is the factory air suspension completely auto or do you have to push a on off button when you load the camper.
noteven
Explorer III
May 07, 2018
....
burningman
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
stevenal wrote:
My experience with a factory air suspension was with a '97 light duty F250. They would blow, frequently. And since it was an integrated system, loss of a bag left one with a very harsh ride with the frame sitting on the stops. It got to where I began carrying a spare bag, and ultimately had a spring shop add a few leaves. In my opinion, air bags are better as an aftermarket add on.

That’s like saying “My ‘76 Vega was junk, so, all cars are junk”.
Almost every big truck runs on air bags. They’re extremely reliable.
I’ve had air bags on pickups for decades. My own pickup has an air ride conversion on the rear, plus regular overload-type airbags too. None have ever failed.

Grit dog wrote:

If not air assist, what would you call it? When I think air ride, I think air only , not air over springs.

The springs merely locate the axle. Something has to. The airbags take all the weight.

Donvel valves control the rate air flows through them and work wonders for ride quality, but they only make big-truck stuff as far as I know.