Dodge 2500 suspension ?

[MERC225]

Hello all,

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 v-8. I carry a S&S 9.5 FBSC non-slide camper which is a pretty heavy unit. The truck has a Roadmaster sway bar and SuperSprings (heavy duty model) as well as Rancho adjustable shocks. I have had this setup for the past 4 years with no problems and the truck sat level completely loaded with water ready for a 3 week vacation (completely loaded with food and all). The rig has handled very well in the past considering it is a heavy camper for my truck. The truck has 83k miles on it, 45k of those with this camper.

This summer I am noticing the rear of the truck is sagging more than usual and has more sway on the highway. Does this mean the rear springs are weakening and are in need of replacement? Is this normal for springs to lose their weight carrying ability? Looking for suggestions, I do not plan on buying a new truck for at least another 2-3 years.

Looking for suggestions on what to do, as well as if anyone else has run into this?

Thanks in advance.

[jefe_4x4]

I would only council: no re-arching of leaf springs. I did that once, using a reputable spring house re-arching my stock springs to a 3" lift (oil bath, right temp and tempering, added leaf) and after two years, they were right down flat again.
Mine is a 2500, camper package 2G, so it was really a SRW, one-ton in disguise. After leaving the camper on a lot, it seems to have not lost its arch. Of course, I added another set of one-ton secondaries (helpers/overloads) to the upper pack, Stable Loads, and it seems just right for the load: i.e. just about the same height loaded as unloaded.
Choose the suspension you need based on it's simplicity. Complicated levers and U-bolts look like a caution to me.
jefe

[d3500ram]

bikerdib wrote:
So if I'm reading that right, the 2500 uses the same pack as the 3500??

Yes. On the 3G Dodge trucks, the spring pack is the same, the only difference is the additional upper helper springs on the 3500 series that engage the frame mounted perch when load is applied.

[covered_wagon]

This is the reason I like airbags for keeping the springs in good shape

[bikerdib]

So if I'm reading that right, the 2500 uses the same pack as the 3500??

[MERC225]

This is an example of the springs I found, they would give an additional 400 lbs. of capacity. I am waiting for a phone call from a nearby spring shop for similar spring packs.

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7666

[bikerdib]

I looked at a DRW 3500 on the dealers lot this evening and like d3500ram wrote, the 3500 has the frame mounted stops for the upper overload springs to contact and those stops are welded to the frame so a simple swap isn't really that simple. The lower overload spring on the 3500 is the same as the lower overload on my 2500 (maybe thicker though).

merc225, can you elaborate on what you found please? Even with the mods listed in my sig, I'd still like to improve the resistance to side to side sway since I want to pull a trailer. My mods have pretty much stopped the sway but I still think there would be room for improvement. I like having some safety margin.

[MERC225]

After some research, I have found new replacement springs that have additional capacity above what the stock ones had. The new springs along with my current Supersprings should bring things back to level or even better. These are spendy by the time I buy new U bolts and such. I am able to do the work my self which should help.

It's always something, still cheaper than truck payments!

[d3500ram]

...There's no upper overload on the 2500.
Some have a lower overload, some don't.
I think there was a camper/payload package that gets the lower overload.

The 3500 has an upper and lower.
So it's a (sorta) simple addition, or just swap the whole pack.

There was no "camper package" pe se offered on the 3G Dodge trucks. There was an RV option which was 7pin, higher amp alt, etc, but nothing for hauling a camper. Heck 3G's didn't even come with a stinking sway bar!

As far as swapping the "whole pack"... I do not believe that 2500 series Dodges have the upper perch mounted to the chassis... that
"thingy" for the upper overloads to contact when weight is applied. With the exception of this item I will agree that a direct swap would be relatively easy, but not necessarily cost efficient.

[serpa4]

Even with aftermarket overloads and timberins, my AF1150 bent my truck springs after a couple years. Its possible.

[pronstar]

MERC225 wrote:
I assume you mean the lower overload leaf from the 3500? The 3rd gen 2500's do not have upper overloads. What would the 3500 lower overload do, are they thicker and stronger?

There's no upper overload on the 2500.
Some have a lower overload, some don't.
I think there was a camper/payload package that gets the lower overload.

The 3500 has an upper and lower.
So it's a (sorta) simple addition, or just swap the whole pack.

[Ski_Pro_3]

I added this to my 2500 Dodge and it really did the trick;



I got it from Amazon;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UFRV9M/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It requires a mounting kit;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UFRWDW/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[MERC225]

I assume you mean the lower overload leaf from the 3500? The 3rd gen 2500's do not have upper overloads. What would the 3500 lower overload do, are they thicker and stronger?

[pronstar]

The overload from a 3500 leaf pack is a simple addition.

[d3500ram]

Bedlam wrote:
...If I were to go the re-arch method, I would simply the suspension setup by selling off the SuperSprings and beef up the stock spring pack at this time instead.

Ditto.