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3500 SRW Automatic-Leveling Rear Air-Suspension

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Maynard1302

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I'm ordering a 2022 3500 SRW and was wondering if anyone does NOT like their 3500 SRW with the factory auto leveling. I've read a lot of posts about 1500 & 2500's with air but haven't found much from the 3500 guys. Thanks!
 
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I have not seen many complaints other than bed lowering is useless with out weight to compress the leafs and if you do get it check the alignment of the left and right sides as some have reported them being out of alignment
 
I tow a fifth wheel trailer . I ordered my 2020 with factory air . Its a world of difference between the 3500 air and the 1500 -2500 . basically it is an air bag on a leaf spring with a compressor which is controlled by the sensors and the ECM. With weight on you simply push the button and it will level your truck . It has worked very well for me.
 
Nick said:
I tow a fifth wheel trailer . I ordered my 2020 with factory air . Its a world of difference between the 3500 air and the 1500 -2500 . basically it is an air bag on a leaf spring with a compressor which is controlled by the sensors and the ECM. With weight on you simply push the button and it will level your truck . It has worked very well for me.
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What is the pin weight of your fifth wheel?

Does the factory air bring it back up to the unloaded height in the rear or does it sit a tad lower?
 
Pin weight is 3000 and it levels your truck which causes it to drop in the rear about an inch to an inch and a half.
 
Thanks! So the factory air with that much weight is not expected to bring it back to unloaded height. It just levels it enough so front/rear sit level?

Trying to figure out if I can get away with a 1.75 inch thuren spring or if I should go with a .5 inch to be safe. I do not want to squat when towing.
 
Vr6mole said:
Thanks! So the factory air with that much weight is not expected to bring it back to unloaded height. It just levels it enough so front/rear sit level?

Trying to figure out if I can get away with a 1.75 inch thuren spring or if I should go with a .5 inch to be safe. I do not want to squat when towing.
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Alt trailer height will make it level. Without, it's going to sit ~1" higher than level.

The air trucks sit lower in the rear unloaded than the non-air trucks.

I haven't measured, but I want to say that you're only going to drop .5-1" with a load with air compensating (depending on tire squish). Use Alt trailer and that drops 1" to level.
 
Brutal_HO said:
Alt trailer height will make it level. Without, it's going to sit ~1" higher than level.

The air trucks sit lower in the rear unloaded than the non-air trucks.

I haven't measured, but I want to say that you're only going to drop .5-1" with a load with air compensating (depending on tire squish). Use Alt trailer and that drops 1" to level.
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Was hoping you'd respond, thank you!

Was aware that the air trucks have less factory rake which is why I want to be careful on how much I lift the front.

Sounds like as long as I don't use alternate trailer height, I can safely raise the front up to 1 inch and remain level with a 3k pin weight?

Thuren makes a .5 inch and a 1.75 inch spring. Sounds like I need to wait for my truck to arrive and measure things out before I order, based on their guidance.
 
I have a question concerning the use of the alt trailer height on my 2019 SRW 3500. If I am towing my travel trailer with a Weight Distribution Hitch(WDH) can I use the alt trailer height with the WDH? If so, do I use the alt trailer height before or after hooking up the WDH.
 
Sapper-8 said:
I have a question concerning the use of the alt trailer height on my 2019 SRW 3500. If I am towing my travel trailer with a Weight Distribution Hitch(WDH) can I use the alt trailer height with the WDH? If so, do I use the alt trailer height before or after hooking up the WDH.
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I use the Alt trailer height towing with my WDH. It drops the rear of my truck 1 1/4" which is perfect for my trailer.
You do it after hooking up as it needs the trailer tongue weight. If you try it before loading the trailer on the ball it will tell you no go.
 
Vr6mole said:
Was hoping you'd respond, thank you!

Was aware that the air trucks have less factory rake which is why I want to be careful on how much I lift the front.

Sounds like as long as I don't use alternate trailer height, I can safely raise the front up to 1 inch and remain level with a 3k pin weight?

Thuren makes a .5 inch and a 1.75 inch spring. Sounds like I need to wait for my truck to arrive and measure things out before I order, based on their guidance.
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1" may still be too much of a lift. I would 100% wait till you get the truck before you buy any suspension parts. There is quite a bit of valence between trucks so you don't know how much of a lift is needed if any. My truck is a DRE not a SRW, but it should be similar between 3500's my truck is about a 1/4" from level with completely factory suspension.
 
I have the auto level on my 2020 3500, and I can tell you makes a HUGE difference in the ride quality. Makes towing much more enjoyable.
 
MY question concerning the alternate trailer height is this......do you adjust the weight after you have hooked up your WDH(I have the 4 point equalizer hitch) or do you adjust the weight when you put the weight on the ball without the 4 point sway bars installed on the WDH?
2019 3500 - HO Laramie SRW
 
Sapper-8 said:
MY question concerning the alternate trailer height is this......do you adjust the weight after you have hooked up your WDH(I have the 4 point equalizer hitch) or do you adjust the weight when you put the weight on the ball without the 4 point sway bars installed on the WDH?
2019 3500 - HO Laramie SRW
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I'm not sure what you are asking. What do you mean by how do you "adjust the weight."

I set my WDH with 4-way sway the same as I did without a self-leveling truck. Alternate height only operates when weight is on the ball, only lowers the truck hitch 1-1 1/4 " and has nothing to do with the WDH settings. When I set my WDH correct the rear of the truck is still approx 1" high. I run with the alternate height which then makes my trailer level. If my adjustable hitch shank had a 1" lower setting I would still use the alternate height because I feel a slight rake is better than running level.
 
Sapper-8 said:
MY question concerning the alternate trailer height is this......do you adjust the weight after you have hooked up your WDH(I have the 4 point equalizer hitch) or do you adjust the weight when you put the weight on the ball without the 4 point sway bars installed on the WDH?
2019 3500 - HO Laramie SRW
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John Jensen said:
I'm not sure what you are asking. What do you mean by how do you "adjust the weight."

I set my WDH with 4-way sway the same as I did without a self-leveling truck. Alternate height only operates when weight is on the ball, only lowers the truck hitch 1-1 1/4 " and has nothing to do with the WDH settings. When I set my WDH correct the rear of the truck is still approx 1" high. I run with the alternate height which then makes my trailer level. If my adjustable hitch shank had a 1" lower setting I would still use the alternate height because I feel a slight rake is better than running level.
Click to expand...

I believe what he's asking is, with the trailer weight on the ball, do you set Alt trailer height before you attach the WDH bars or after?

If I was pulling a TT, I would lower the truck using Alt trailer height with the load weight before attaching the bars...
 
Brutal_HO said:
I believe what he's asking is, with the trailer weight on the ball, do you set Alt trailer height before you attach the WDH bars or after?

If I was pulling a TT, I would lower the truck using Alt trailer height with the load weight before attaching the bars...
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Gotcha, you made sense out of it.
 
Question I have is if you use the trailer tongue jack to raise it to attach the bars as many require, do you lock out the air or does it not matter since you're lifting?
 
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