Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[WinterDeere]

Hellcats don't ride like Caddy's either! It's cool tech, and actually would be very useful in any tall pickup or SUV, for managing side roll. It'd also be a nice feature to soften the suspension when the truck isn't loaded, since any static suspension always has to be built stiff enough for maximum load conditions.

 

[jjeff]

Hellcats don't ride like Caddy's either! It's cool tech, and actually would be very useful in any tall pickup or SUV, for managing side roll. It'd also be a nice feature to soften the suspension when the truck isn't loaded, since any static suspension always has to be built stiff enough for maximum load conditions.

I think independent (meaning not using a combiner coupler) air bags in the rear axle would be helpful to balance out a top heavy class c seems no matter how I load my class c it always seems to want to slightly lean to passenger side. Shocks and sumo springs definitely helped though. Standalone meaning not on board I have to use my air compressor or tire inflator to fill my truck have really worked great several yrs using them never a problem pretty easy to install, when I load the bed up or tow something larger and tongue heavy for rear axle suspension sag. I do have a combiner on my truck meaning each side can't be inflated separately. So both sides are
at same psi.

 

[WinterDeere]

Which air bag system did you go with? I only have a half ton, but I'm regularly pulling a 7k trailer with it, and it's forever tongue heavy.

I want to avoid a WDH, because I off-road the trailer and end up having to jack knife it into some real tight spaces in the woods. WDH's really don't like massive articulation, I'm afraid I might break something.

I'm in the middle of a trailer rebuild right now, relocating the two heavy group 39 batteries from the tongue of the trailer, to aft of the fenders. That should help a little, but I've been thinking that air bags would help even more.

Of course there's still concern with overloading the rear axle, only a WDH will help with that. But I've been pulling this trailer regularly for 10 years on two different half-ton vehicles, and the tongue weight is within their specified limits. I just don't love the way it sits when the trailer is loaded to full capacity with logs.

I do have half a mind to cut the suspension off the trailer and move the axles forward a bit, as I think all of these manufacturers tend to err to far aft with their axle placements to gaurantee tongue will never end up too light. But that would also mean moving fenders, railings, and everything else. Just not worth the massive effort.

 

[jjeff]

Firestone ride rights, no drilling on frame took the place of the rubber bump stops ran lair line out by spare tire lock on back bumper. You do need to keep minimum 5 psi in them all the time I can say I've never once had to add air to them because they deflated. If I was planning on keeping that truck I'd problaby zip tie a rubber sheath over the air lines. Although they have held up well as is.

 

[jjeff]

Cripes did the price of those go up since I got mine. There called Firestone ride rites. They have a schrader valve if running stand alone for adjusting them.

 

[WinterDeere]

Cripes did the price of those go up since I got mine. There called Firestone ride rites. They have a schrader valve if running stand alone for adjusting them.

Price is cheap for 1/2 ton Ram, only $189. I just remembered I had a whole thread on this, awhile back:

truck rear suspension - air bags & Jounce springs

... I was looking at the style with chain link to the arms, rather than resting on tabs, thinking they'd be less likely to "pop off" in a tight turn. Of course, some of those models come with sway control links that would cause the same problem, but some do not. Thinking one like this...

www.tractorbynet.com

I've been using that trailer a whole lot less than previously, the last two years, so this issue hasn't been a big priority. But with most of the EAB-killed ash in my neighborhood now harvested and already in my stacks, it looks like I'm going to be needing that trailer again to haul wood from afar, on a regular basis.

 

[jjeff]

Price is cheap for 1/2 ton Ram, only $189. I just remembered I had a whole thread on this, awhile back:

truck rear suspension - air bags & Jounce springs

... I was looking at the style with chain link to the arms, rather than resting on tabs, thinking they'd be less likely to "pop off" in a tight turn. Of course, some of those models come with sway control links that would cause the same problem, but some do not. Thinking one like this...

www.tractorbynet.com

I've been using that trailer a whole lot less than previously, the last two years, so this issue hasn't been a big priority. But with most of the EAB-killed ash in my neighborhood now harvested and already in my stacks, it looks like I'm going to be needing that trailer again to haul wood from afar, on a regular basis.

I think they almost doubled in price for my truck definitely one of the best aftermarket upgrades I've bought for that pretty base truck especially when I owned and hauled around my steel track over tires JD 326 ss. For my pretty base 4500 cutaway I either couldn't find them at the time or it required drilling in frame rails. My apprehension of screwing around with the frame stems from owning perforated rusted out Tacoma frames. Anyways don't know if I saw your original thread on airbags/ air helpers. But I'd praise them for what they did for my truck anyway.

 

[RB5]

When I need to get in the bed of the F350, especially if the tailgate is down, I step on top of the tire and swing over like getting on a horse. Sounds weird but it's easier than crawling up on the tail gate.

I do the same thing in my 2013 F150. When I first bought I parked next to my 97 Ram and took pics. The 2013 looks like a monster truck compared to the 97. The bed floor is way higher off the ground. Now my 2013 doesn't look as big compared to some of the other newer trucks.

 

[Jstpssng]

Anyways I've never intentionally disabled "stabilitrak" never saw a need to do it

You must not need 4wd much either. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a run for a snow covered hill, only to get halfway up when the TC kicks in.
It feels like somebody suddenly retarded the spark.
Or going down a gravel road during spring breakup when the bottom drops out of it.
So you step on the gas and the truck goes "bleah". Then there you sit.

 

[jjeff]

You must not need 4wd much either. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a run for a snow covered hill, only to get halfway up when the TC kicks in.
It feels like somebody suddenly retarded the spark.
Or going down a gravel road during spring breakup when the bottom drops out of it.
So you step on the gas and the truck goes "bleah". Then there you sit.

Don't seem to have that problem much with my Duramax turning now discontinued cooper at 3's (which btw was the best tire I've ever owned , used, bought). problaby cuz all the low end torque it produces I've only really gotten it stuck once where I needed assistance I'm sure the Mopar guys will like this, a jeep pulled my GMC out .