Air ride suspension or not?

[fowlthing]

I currently have a F350 towing a Solitude 375RES. and don't have air ride suspension.

Looking at a new Ram 3500 do I get it or not? What do you like about your air ride ?

[Grit_dog]

Dudes, no bad....
It’s all good. Track bar vs trac (traction) bar. You guys understand, some don’t

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
And by track bar, 12V means traction bar (aka ladder bars for the old school guys!) not track bar as in keeps the axle located transversely. In this case the leafs do that

Sorry Tonto I did not mention track bar. Looks like Russ is the guilty one. :B

Hand up, my bad!:S

[Cummins12V98]

Grit dog wrote:
And by track bar, 12V means traction bar (aka ladder bars for the old school guys!) not track bar as in keeps the axle located transversely. In this case the leafs do that

Sorry Tonto I did not mention track bar. Looks like Russ is the guilty one. :B

[Grit_dog]

And by track bar, 12V means traction bar (aka ladder bars for the old school guys!) not track bar as in keeps the axle located transversely. In this case the leafs do that

[dodge_guy]

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

fowlthing wrote:
I currently have a F350 towing a Solitude 375RES. and don't have air ride suspension.

Looking at a new Ram 3500 do I get it or not? What do you like about your air ride ?

It's not air ride, it's air assist. Similar to adding bags to a normal leaf sprung truck, except on the Ram, the bags do more of the work and they're integrated for ride height.

True DAT!!!

dodge guy wrote:
The Ram 3500 air ride is more than just add on air bags. the leaf it has is just to locate the axle, the airbag is there to support the weight. the leaf springs alone cannot support the empty weight of the truck.

Definitely get it. I would also recommend some type of air supported hitch!

Air Ride or Air assisted ride, it still depends on the Air Bags to support the load.

The early version had upper Track Bars and a single leaf spring. The current version has two leafs, and a third lower heavy leaf which is actually the Track Bar. I think the current design doesn't require an additional bracket for the Track Bar.

Yes, the early design was to eliminate axle wrap. the current design does the same while providing some support in the event of a system failure.

[cummins2014]

4x4ord wrote:
If I was buying a new Ram I’d get it. If I could add it to my Ford I wouldn’t be willing to pay the 1500 Ram wants for it. Because it’s a factory option on Ram I think you’re apt to get something back on the resale so you might just as well get it. Have you test drive one with and one without? I wonder if you can notice the difference?

I can't tell any difference between my sons 2016 3500 crew cab short bed with factory air ,and my 2014 3500 Megacab without, they both ride a bit rough, mines not bad with the rear tires down around 45 psi unloaded .

[4x4ord]

If I was buying a new Ram I’d get it. If I could add it to my Ford I wouldn’t be willing to pay the 1500 Ram wants for it. Because it’s a factory option on Ram I think you’re apt to get something back on the resale so you might just as well get it. Have you test drive one with and one without? I wonder if you can notice the difference?

[Cummins12V98]

Top pic is what they advertised leading up to the release for 2015. When I looked under my Factory ordered truck when it came in to the Dealer I was surprised to see pic two. I told the Manager I was not happy. He said if you don't like it bring it back. I liked it!!!

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

fowlthing wrote:
I currently have a F350 towing a Solitude 375RES. and don't have air ride suspension.

Looking at a new Ram 3500 do I get it or not? What do you like about your air ride ?

It's not air ride, it's air assist. Similar to adding bags to a normal leaf sprung truck, except on the Ram, the bags do more of the work and they're integrated for ride height.

True DAT!!!

dodge guy wrote:
The Ram 3500 air ride is more than just add on air bags. the leaf it has is just to locate the axle, the airbag is there to support the weight. the leaf springs alone cannot support the empty weight of the truck.

Definitely get it. I would also recommend some type of air supported hitch!

Air Ride or Air assisted ride, it still depends on the Air Bags to support the load.

The early version had upper Track Bars and a single leaf spring. The current version has two leafs, and a third lower heavy leaf which is actually the Track Bar. I think the current design doesn't require an additional bracket for the Track Bar.

[rhagfo]

fowlthing wrote:
SRW

You should be considering a DRW with that large of 5er. You will likely use most of your payload just on pin weight.

[Cummins12V98]

BarneyS wrote:
Don't know about the 3500 but when I was driving my 2500 with the air ride, it was the most comfortable truck to drive I have ever had - both towing and not.
Barney

I can say for comparison my ride with 35psi In rear tires was better than a friends GMC 3500 SRW SB 4x4.

[dodge_guy]

The Ram 3500 air ride is more than just add on air bags. the leaf it has is just to locate the axle, the airbag is there to support the weight. the leaf springs alone cannot support the empty weight of the truck.

Definitely get it. I would also recommend some type of air supported hitch!

[Cummins12V98]

Grit dog wrote:

fowlthing wrote:
I currently have a F350 towing a Solitude 375RES. and don't have air ride suspension.

Looking at a new Ram 3500 do I get it or not? What do you like about your air ride ?

It's not air ride, it's air assist. Similar to adding bags to a normal leaf sprung truck, except on the Ram, the bags do more of the work and they're integrated for ride height.

True DAT!!!

[fowlthing]

SRW