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

[jyoutz]

I’d like to have a pickup with 100 percent air ride like class 8 trucks. There’s no need for springs and air. That’s just more complexity that isn’t needed. The reason I’d like air ride is to air up and down under the trailer hitch. Yes I realize they make hydraulic jacks but it isn’t practical to get every trailer with that.

Air shocks and air bags

 

[Jstpssng]

So what are you doing to destroy leaf springs?? Been through a lot of vehicles in my time...both pickups I currently own are over 20 years old. I have NEVER had to replace leaf springs and don't know of anyone else who had to replace theirs. My 2004 dually lives with a 3000+ lb camper in the bed and has for many years and the springs are still going fine. No sagging.

Hauling snow sleds, ATVs and firewood. A lot of rough roads.
I had 2 Rangers and replaced springs on each one to get the rear end back up in the air where it belongs; my 2004 had a complete set. Both times the springs were fatigued when I bought them.
Springs on my '81 F100 were fatigued when I got it; I added a leaf to each one to get it back up in the air.
Springs on my '84 F150- the last truck that I bought new- wore out from use. I replaced the entire set.
For several years, GM had a batch of bad leaf springs. Every 1/2 ton truck in the company had the center springs replaced at least once.

It's not the weight that breaks them, it's the sudden release.

 

[paulsharvey]

The Lincoln navigators had air ride, but also had a very expensive system (atleast through the OEM), because when they failed, people often just didnt replace/repair.

Its not really a complex system, or atleast doesnt Have to be. It can be as simple as a belt driven compressor, clutch, 30 ft of hose, and air bags; or it can be as complex as matching air pressure to terrian and speed...

I have considered adding them to my Ram, but just manual bags, and did some breif searching for larger, stronger brake systems that are direct replacements.

 

[WinterDeere]

Don't hear of leaf springs failing!

Others beat me to it, but I've also broken leaf springs, and I'm only a weekend warrior.

Ironically, for all the shade thrown on coil springs, I've never broken one of those.

I will say that my 1/2 ton Dodge (coils) sags more under hitch weight than prior pickups, without resorting to air bags or weight-distributing hitches, tho. That's more about the chosen gauge and length of the coils than the fact that they are coils, though.

I think truck makers are trying to make the ride too comfortable, at the expense of stability and towing capability. Real shame, as a 1/2 ton "truck" should still be a truck, the listed capacities are ideal for most pulling personal trailers, etc.

 

[RB5]

A couple of my friends had broken springs on their old chevy 1/2 tons from the 70s. Even with all the riding off the pavement I did in mine I never broke one. I used to load the 8' bed up above the top of the bed with green oak and drive 15 minutes to the house to unload it in my heavy half. I never had a leaf spring issue.

 

[RB5]

I was talking Ram HD Cummins, not 1/2 tons.
A 1/2 ton in MY operation would be useless as teets on a bull.

Got it. For me I could even tow my 4000 pound tractor with my 1/2 ton. If I'm only going to do that once or twice a year at most I don't need the added cost of a heavier duty truck. I have a friend with a Ram and a Cummins in it. Those things are beasts. A tradesman in 3/4 or in a 1 ton might be a better deal than the 1500 vs others. I considered a 3/4 ton when I bought my current ruck, but I could not justify the extra expense that I would rarely if ever need.

 

[Hay Dude]

Got it. For me I could even tow my 4000 pound tractor with my 1/2 ton. If I'm only going to do that once or twice a year at most I don't need the added cost of a heavier duty truck. I have a friend with a Ram and a Cummins in it. Those things are beasts. A tradesman in 3/4 or in a 1 ton might be a better deal than the 1500 vs others. I considered a 3/4 ton when I bought my current ruck, but I could not justify the extra expense that I would rarely if ever need.

It’s really hard to explain to people the feeling of Cummins Power in a pickup when you drive it. It’s a smooth as silk torque monster. It feels like it’s always in its’ power band. You hook up a trailer and it wants to pull as much weight as you can throw at it.
I have had numerous powerstrokes, a 2007 Duramax and this 20 Cummins and the Cummins just has a completely different “vibe” to it. It begs to be worked hard. It gives you everything you need in a small 1000-2500RPM powerband. It needs no revving.
If you want red light to red light speed, it’s not your truck/engine.
If you want a truck with an engine that feels like it was designed & powered by a heavy duty diesel manufacturer, it’s like truck paradise.
6 cylinder diesel power has a completely different feel than V-8 diesel, or gas power.

 

[sd455dan]

Me - definitely avoid. Can't beat the simplicity and load-carrying ability of leaf springs. These new trucks are complicated enough without adding air suspension to the mix. I've read of multiple cases of air suspension failure, disabling the vehicle. Don't hear of leaf springs failing!

If they do that, it better include a full floater rear axle for the increased payload as well.

I also "Hope" in RAM's case it has not blown it on the HD diesels by going to this New CP8 injection Pump on the Cummins.

It is a derivative of the CP4 and for once agree with AI

"In summary, while the CP3 is a proven workhorse, the CP8 is a new design intended to address the flaws of the CP4. It is too early to definitively say it is having widespread problems, but the diesel community remains cautious given the previous CP4 experience"

 

[Hay Dude]

If they do that, it better include a full floater rear axle for the increased payload as well.

I also "Hope" in RAM's case it has not blown it on the HD diesels by going to this New CP8 injection Pump on the Cummins.

It is a derivative of the CP4 and for once agree with AI

"In summary, while the CP3 is a proven workhorse, the CP8 is a new design intended to address the flaws of the CP4. It is too early to definitively say it is having widespread problems, but the diesel community remains cautious given the previous CP4 experience"

If the CP4 pump was designed properly, it would have been an improvement, but it wasn’t.
I have a tractor with a CP-4 and it runs awesome (so do lots of other AG tractors). 9500 AG hours and no issues because its fed fuel properly by its supply pump.

Of course nobody knows, but if the CP-4 is redesigned properly, and fed fuel so it won’t glitter bomb, it will be capable of more injection cycles at faster rates. Diesels will run smoother, quieter and more efficiently.

Lots of ifs, but we shall see.

 

[sd455dan]

Actually yes you do. Class 8 trucks break springs all the time. It’s common enough that you’re supposed to look through over the spring packs in the pre trip inspection. Breaking them in pickups is less common but they do wear out. I changed them on my last ton truck because it was riding on the overload spring unloaded. The air ride assist idea isn’t new either. My mom had a suburban in 2002 with air assist suspension. I bought a Nissan armada from a guy I worked with that needed cash and it had the same thing.

I have a 1983 Chev 2500 farm truck with a cracked main leaf, It broke right where it wraps around to make the front bushing eyelet. Parked because of it for now. Broke the left main leaf on the Trans Am right at the locating pin.