Suspension Question

[augustpilot]

I have 2014 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.7 Eng. 30 ft Autumn Rideg trailer . Tongue weight 900 lb. equalizer hitch. All hooked up the rear of truck is down about 4 inches. Folks have suggested Firestone airbags, stronger springs, etc. looking for help from folks who have experienced this and the ways you cured problem and got your dodge 1500 approx level. Thanks

[goducks10]

Glad you got it sorted out. Probably saved some money and hassle not needing airbags.

[Nvr2loud]

I personally would avoid air bags inside the coil springs, I have AirLift bags installed in my Acadia and they only last approx. one year before splitting. I have never had so many problems with AirLifts on leaf springs, but they seem to be weak for coil springs. I have heard that the Firestone bags are even worse for wear.

It might be the cold temperatures I'm exposing my AirLifts to daily up here, but I will never purchase them again for coil springs.

[augustpilot]

UPDATE!!! Thanks again for all the information. Took my unit into a business yesterday. They only do hitches, were trained in the load leveler hitch install. They took all the measurements. Hooked up and unhooked. When they finished the job, my truck was down 2 inches in rear, stayed same in front, truck fender measurements are the same in front and rear, also trailer is level. Happy with setup.

[Huntindog]

Pickup trucks are different than other TVs such as SUVs. Most pickups are not level when empty. The bed is higher than the front. This is because pickups are designed to carry a substantial load in the bed. SUVs for example are not... Their payload carrying design generally is for a more evenly distrbuted load. That is why they sit more level when empty.

So a pickup sagging in the rear compared to empty is not necessairly cause for concern. Heck my one ton dually drops a few inches when loaded up. It is designed to. As others have said, the front axle weight is the key. You want to maintain at least as much weight on the front axle when hitched up as what it has unhitched. Different vehicles have a variety of measurements to replicate actual scaled weights for this. Read your manual to see what yours says. Or take it to the scales and get the exact numbers.

[augustpilot]

Thanks everyone for all the help, have manual and all the info that you have provided, start work on it tomorrow.

[Passin_Thru]

Weigh the truck and trailer and make sure you are legal gross wt for your truck. Adjust hitch so the front tires are the same distance from the fender as when trailer is unhooked. I have Airlift on the rear and Firestone 1003 airshocks on the front of my pickup. They are easy to install.
sounds like you are over GVWR.

[DustyR]

Major Dad wrote:

augustpilot wrote:
I have 2014 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.7 Eng. 30 ft Autumn Rideg trailer . Tongue weight 900 lb. equalizer hitch. All hooked up the rear of truck is down about 4 inches. Folks have suggested Firestone airbags, stronger springs, etc. looking for help from folks who have experienced this and the ways you cured problem and got your dodge 1500 approx level. Thanks

Here's the manual with step by step instructions. I would first check the inside of the driver's side door to see if your Ram model has enough payload for that trailer's loaded tongue weight. The unloaded tongue weight of my 33.5' trailer is nearly 1000lbs unloaded, and my 2010 Ram 2500 Megacab tows my loaded trailer almost exactly level. Without the spring bars, the rear end squats significantly. The manual shows you how to measure and adjust your weight distribution bars if the rear end is squatting and front end rides high.Equalizer manual.

X-2

I have had this conversation a number of times, follow the vehicle mfg's instructions along with the hitch setup instructions. This will get you in the ball park, followed with some slight adjustments for a safe vehicle towing.

[NinerBikes]

Does anyone ever read their owners manual anymore for the correct set up? Try it.

[gtkato]

I have the HD coil springs and shocks. I added the "AirLift" adjustable 1000lb air bags that insert into the springs. Also added the Timbren Helper springs that engage after 1 1/2" of sag in the rear. The Ram rides perfectly level.

[pira114]

The Ram's rear springs are well known for sagging. I'd adjust the WDH and make sure it's correct. But I'd also add the air bags.

[Lspangler]

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 also. The coil springs seem to sag quite a bit with even a modest load on them. I added airlift 1000 air bags to mine. They are $100 and easy to install.

I have heard that the 2015 Ram has dual rate springs in the rear which should help.

Linc

[GaryWT]

As most have said, tune you hitch. As someone state, the Ford owners manual says to bring the front back down half way so my front end went up one inch so I brought it down a half inch and all is good. Read the manual to see where Ram wants it and then read the equil I zer manual to see how to get it there. Equil I zer has the manual online if you need it. Good luck.

[beemerphile1]

cyntdon2010 wrote:
Beemerphile, said
don't worry about rear sag. It's supposed to sag when loaded.

Don't listen to him..
If your front end is Up.. and back is Down. be safe and purchase the airbags there is a how to video on youtube.

It is perfectly normal for the rear of any vehicle to sag a few inches under load. The manufacturers take that into consideration when designing the vehicle. The only thing important is that adequate weight is restored to the steering axle.

[Lynnmor]

Getting a truck level with weight distribution is not always possible. I have the snow plow springs on the front and rather soft springs on the rear. Transferring the correct amount to the front changes the rock hard front very little, but the rear still sags a lot. I installed Air-Lift bags with a wireless remote and can now adjust for any load.