2020 3500 Ram with rear air suspension leveling

[Plumber]

Love my new truck but can’t figure out this air suspension. Was looking forward to the 4” drop mode to load and unload but doesn’t seem to even have that mode ! What am I missing ? Help
note; this is the tradesman

 

[MikeXM]

Love my new truck but can’t figure out this air suspension. Was looking forward to the 4” drop mode to load and unload but doesn’t seem to even have that mode ! What am I missing ? Help
note; this is the tradesman

Yeah, it won't work.
From what I understand, only the 2500 will do it as its suspension is fully air when you have that option.
The 3500 is a regular leaf suspension with air bags. So, unless it is loaded, it won't go down much. Even the alternate height mode won't work unless you have a load.

 

[Plumber]

Ain’t that just wonderful
biggest reason for paying $1,700 extra
i do see that it has 2,3,or4 less leaf springs
i wonder if the lowering could be gotten thru external switches?
got an ambulance as a service Vehical with air rear suspension that has a dump switch. Drops it 4-6”. Flip switch back and it goes back up
computor probably won’t let that work so simple !

 

[Brutal_HO]

There's not enough weight on the bags empty to get the rear of a 3500 to lower more than about 1". Some don't see that.

It's also (some dispute) a closed nitrogen charged system.

The sales brochures and youtube vids are misleading, that 3-4" drop is only the 2500 with air.

 

[Plumber]

I like your rig !!
I would think the 2500 has a couple leaf springs at least ?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I like your rig !!
I would think the 2500 has a couple leaf springs at least ?

2500 has coils normally but the bags replace the coils so no physical springs.... the 3500 has no reason to have springs and bags rams failure was to not ditch the leafs and go bags only.... even a dump switch would never work because you still sit on the springs....

 

[Brutal_HO]

2500 has coils normally but the bags replace the coils so no physical springs.... the 3500 has no reason to have springs and bags rams failure was to not ditch the leafs and go bags only.... even a dump switch would never work because you still sit on the springs....

I think the choice to stick with leaves has a lot to do with common hardware for both the non-air and air equipped trucks. I believe it's only one overload leaf difference, for which the air trucks have the "supplemental" bags.

While I never had trouble with my air lift setup, I don't know that I'd trust (yea I know HDT can be air only) bags only on my pickup with a heavy load.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I think the choice to stick with leaves has a lot to do with common hardware for both the non-air and air equipped trucks. I believe it's only one overload leaf difference, for which the air trucks have the "supplemental" bags.

While I never had trouble with my air lift setup, I don't know that I'd trust (yea I know HDT can be air only) bags only on my pickup with a heavy load.

I would be more than confident on bags only we have built a few bagged 3500 duallys that haul even built an old 53 international COE with a 12valve the guy uses to haul cars its a custom bag setup and he puts lots of weight on it...... i have seen more broken leaf springs then blown bags and the bags take 5mins to change out on the side of the road.... thats my experience anyhow... i have considered doing a bag only setup on my 2500 and my still do it

 

[Plumber]

So would it be not smart to remove a leaf spring or two ?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

So would it be not smart to remove a leaf spring or two ?

Personally i would remove the heavy springs below the main leaf... i would add traction bars though because with the couple leafs removed you may end up with spring wrap without the traction bars or as some refer to them as ladder bars

 

[Brutal_HO]

If you're payload heavy, I would be hesitant to remove leaves as the air bags are only intended to be supplemental and you could trigger an overload if they hit max pressure trying to compensate for the loss of the leaf.

Just an uneducated guess on my part.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

If you're payload heavy, I would be hesitant to remove leaves as the air bags are only intended to be supplemental and you could trigger an overload if they hit max pressure trying to compensate for the loss of the leaf.

Just an uneducated guess on my part.

Good point i have no clue how they work with computers involved and what pressures they max out at... but i assume they should be able to run at least 100psi which would be more than enough for the rated payload

 

[Johnnynapalm]

This is a good post. I just got a 3500 with the air suspension so it has leafs and the bags. The lowering can be controlled via the uConnect but it doesn’t lower much. I agree with the others here. The leafs provide a lot of the cargo capacity (mine is 3800 lbs) and the bags help keep the truck level under heavy load. Good post and good questions!

 

[TimW]

Love my new truck but can’t figure out this air suspension. Was looking forward to the 4” drop mode to load and unload but doesn’t seem to even have that mode ! What am I missing ? Help
note; this is the tradesman

There should be a switch on the center control with the toggle switches that turn on or off the engine retarder, front and rear sensors

 

[MikeXM]

There should be a switch on the center control with the toggle switches that turn on or off the engine retarder, front and rear sensors

I guess you didn't read any of the 12 replies...