Need Suspension Advice, 2016 Ram Dually

If you want it level, you'll need air bags, timbrens, super springs, and/or stableloads.

Take a look at this thread ... 2016 RAM DRW with Arctic Fox 1150.

My father is carrying a Bigfoot 3000 series camper which weighs about 5,000 wet and loaded on that exact truck configuration. He added a rear Hellwig anti-sway bar and only problem was a little bit of sag but I didn't think it was bad. Drove almost as nice as my 2015 SRW with only a 2,400 pound camper. It was either adjust the headlights or add air bags which he what he did. Have not reloaded the camper but will know here in about a week how much they help and any negative effect.

He would have added stable loads except when we tried to install they would not fit. Did not need more/heavier springs etc.

I have the 15 version of that truck.
first I do recommend the Big Wig sway bar. really helps stop the sway (the correct way).

But I disagree with air bags. The truck is designed to drop some before the over load springs contact the frame perches. Put on air bags and the truck never drops down to make contact.
I would put Upper Stable loads rubber blocks on the frame perches. what this does is cause the over load springs to kick in sooner, with less drop. this along might save you 2 or 3" of suspension drop.
they also give a rubber damping affect for a little more ride confort if your right at the point the over loads are starting to hit.

With my wolf creek on running around 3500 lbs plus a trailer with 500lb tong load I am not quite level, high in the back. if I park on a level spot I might need 1 layer of plastic yellow blocks under front tires (1"?).

on my 2006, I ran energy suspension blocks on the spring perches. Below picture is after 9 years and maybe 60K miles. I think the energy suspension blocks cost $50.0o for 2 pair. Direct bolt on solution. The torklift upper stable loads are like what I am showing below, only they are solid so they might work better.
On my 2006 the most I ever loaded was 3500 lbs, and they would look pretty squished but they did the job for me.



PS: not sure what our driving now, but the rear torqlift hold downs off my 2006 SRW 350 fit the rear of the new truck.

towpro wrote:
on my 2006, I ran energy suspension blocks on the spring perches. Below picture is after 9 years and maybe 60K miles. I think the energy suspension blocks cost $50.0o for 2 pair. Direct bolt on solution. The torklift upper stable loads are like what I am showing below, only they are solid so they might work better.
On my 2006 the most I ever loaded was 3500 lbs, and they would look pretty squished but they did the job for me.

I second this mod over air bags. It increases roll-resistance much more than a set of bags, even independently plumbed.

A stock post-14 3500 DRW should handle 5000 lbs and sit level. In the heaviest configuration, Cummins HO and 4x4, it can still haul 5680 lbs. OEMs always design the suspension to be perfectly level at max GVW. Most of us are so used to seeing the rake of an empty truck, our brains correlate a perfectly level truck to "sagging".

FYI, the 6.4 hemi DRW crew cab can haul up to 6670 lbs!

Agree with the last 2 posts except that the Hemi dually will only haul more on paper. Real world, the load capacity between the gasser and diesel will be very similar. Slight advantage to the gasser, hit not 1000lbs.

Geez, A BIG Thanks to everybody for such very fine and constructive feedback, this is EXACTLY what I was hoping to learn - we have a desert trip planned shortly after truck christening, so I can now 'firm-up' a solid plan!!

Best Regards All,

3 tons

jimh425 wrote:
If you want it level, you'll need air bags, timbrens, super springs, and/or stableloads.

Take a look at this thread ... 2016 RAM DRW with Arctic Fox 1150.

Thank You Sir for the link ;)

Grit dog wrote:
Agree with the last 2 posts except that the Hemi dually will only haul more on paper. Real world, the load capacity between the gasser and diesel will be very similar. Slight advantage to the gasser, hit not 1000lbs.

Not sure what you mean by "real world". Those numbers are strictly based on GVW - curb weight. The 6.4 w/ 4.10 weigh 990 lbs less than a 6.7 Cummins with Aisin.

The Cummins can tow a lot more of course, but modern diesels with their complex emissions (exhaust treatments, urea tank, etc) are very heavy.

Look for my thread ''2016 Ram plus AF 1150 plus SuperSprings''

Stableloads didn't do much for me. So I went SuperSprings (again, had them on my 2011 too) Very very happy with SuperSprings and for only about $400 to boot!!

My end game is a little different though, i will end up with a dually on 34*10.5*17 BFG KO AT ready to haul my AF 1150 and tow my enclosed trailer from Oregon all over the west. And still daily drive to work and tackle poor mucky forest service and snow in the winter on the passes fully loaded up.

And yes, the BigWig sway bar is amazing and should be the first add.