Community Forums

rarebear.nm · 04-29-2015, 09:09 PM

With my 5Th hitched to my Dodge RAM 3500 I get a small drop from level on the rear axle. What have others done and recommended products to level the load. Thanks for any advice.

glennwest · 04-29-2015, 09:54 PM

I use air bags.

wowlites · 04-30-2015, 12:05 AM

X2 air bags. And if you don't go the compressor route, mount the fill valves inside the fuel filler door for easier access. If you are at all handy it's a pretty easy install on the Dodge.
Cheers Rick T.

Dtwallace · 04-30-2015, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowlites

X2 air bags. And if you don't go the compressor route, mount the fill valves inside the fuel filler door for easier access. If you are at all handy it's a pretty easy install on the Dodge.
Cheers Rick T.

If you want to have a fully automatic level system, you can either duplicate the air ride system of what you find on the big trucks, plus keeping your original springs in place, buying the parts separately, or one of the complete kits offered online.
I'd like to mention a mistake I made when I made this mod to my truck. I had a bad porpoising issue on this one section of road at the (MM) 17 area on I95 in Virginia, northbound.
The air ride addition I had put together myself worked very well keeping the truck at the proper ride height. But when the suspension system came down onto the factory over load springs, it would bounce back up wat to fast.
I had the overload springs removed to let the added air springs I had installed take over the complete range of suspension movement hopping it would take out the bounce. It didnt work, the bounce was still there, but was just a little less.
I think newer, heavy duty shocks would have helped.
Second, if you do go with an onboard air compressor, be sure to use a 100% duty cycle unit, and a manual power shutoff switch for backup if or when you break an airline. A fully automatic system is worth the extra expense.
Dtw

suiteowner · 05-01-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rarebear.nm

With my 5Th hitched to my Dodge RAM 3500 I get a small drop from level on the rear axle. What have others done and recommended products to level the load. Thanks for any advice.

Just a few questions is your truck a DW 3500 and what year?What is your 5th wheel and what is its pin weight...My reason for asking is my truck is a 2009 Ram 3500 DW and I pull a 38' very heavy Mobile Suite 5th wheel and it sets perfectly level...I know my pin weight is in excess of 4500 pounds...No air bags or spring modifications what so ever...

going_postal · 05-02-2015, 09:54 AM

My 3500 only has air bags, no sag with load, rides pretty good.

caissiel · 05-02-2015, 06:45 PM

I think that 2 x 4 will level off and the 4 x 4 will drop due to higher front ends.

Bill Davey · 05-02-2015, 07:58 PM

I used air bags with on board compressor controlled manually. Like DT above, my truck was just above the helper springs with the trailer hooked up. Going over even small bumps would squat the truck fully onto the helpers and then bounce it back up. I used the bags to raise the truck about an inch above the helper springs which improved the ride greatly.

caissiel · 05-03-2015, 02:39 AM

Yes all trucks are set up that way. They look like the old style helper springs but really set up as overloads. They keep the drive train in line in case of a bump.
I found the ride really harsh when they were loaded. I just allow them to touch on the support.
And don't let the heavy plate under the spring plies hold the load neither they just cause the main ply to be overloaded by the supports.

Timon · 05-03-2015, 11:19 AM

So how well does the stock air leveling system work on the new RAM 3500s work compared to say a Kelderman system. Is it worth the added expanse of the Kellerman over the Ram air system?

Also, what does the Ram factory system use for a compressor?

going_postal · 05-03-2015, 01:41 PM

Dealer_E-Mail_Ad_120409

This is what I have.

SDCOToyhaul · 05-03-2015, 07:12 PM

Well, just purchased and received my Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 Ultimate air bag system for my 2014 Ram 2500. Ordered it through Auto Anything last Thursday for just slightly over $300. After getting the manufacturer and pricing the bags locally, ($600 not installed), decided to try on line. Auto Anything gave me a delivery time of approx. 2 weeks. (free delivery). Well imagine my surprise when I got them in 3 days.( This Sat at 1 pm. Being a nice evening and all "Honey Do's" done, decided to start the project. Started about 6:30 and was done by dark. No garage, no cement pad, and 100' from the shop. Well, everything fit as advertised, no drilling, and all the parts that were required were there. As I raised the axle and removed the rear tires, plus jacking up the body about 5", had the complete install done by dark to include re torqueing the rear tires. Coupled to 5'er this morning and raised the body 2" to level with just 35 to 40#. 3200# pin weight. ( max inflation is #100) Very impressed. Hope to tow it in a couple of weeks but so far, very satisfied.