Testing 2500 Diesel Flex

[Lumpskie]

So, I'm really interested in comparing my AEV Prospector (stock 2500 springs) to power wagons to learn more about what limits and increases articulation. I saw a video on Youtube of a power wagon climbing an RTI ramp. It reached 23.5 inches of height bone stock. I did a similar test this morning on my Ram. With stock springs and front swaybar attached, I climbed 16.5 inches. I pulled an end link off and retried. This time I got 19.5 inches. I measured the bump stop clearance at all 4 corners for each test. Here's the breakdown:

Swaybar Connected: 16.5"


Front:
Compressed side - 1.5" to bump stop
Extended side - 3.25" to bump
Difference: 1.75"

Rear:
Compressed side: 1.5" to Bump Stop
Extended side: 7" to bump stop
Difference 5.5"


Lesson Learned: Front sway bar is much stiffer than the rear...

Test 2 - Swaybar Disconnected: 19.5"

Front:
Compressed Side - 1.25" to bump stop (.25" improvement)
Extended side - 4" to bump stop (.75" improvement)

Seems like the front springs might be a little stiff?


Rear:
Compressed side - 1.75" to bump stop (.25 reduction in compression)
Extended Side - 7" to bump stop (no change)

Overall: It seems like the rear end moves pretty well but the front might be a little stiff... That being said, it seems like, even with the small flex I'm experimenting with, bushing in the radius and control arms might be reaching the end of their travel:

Does it seem like we might be getting some deflection of the radius arm down its longitudinal axis here?

Looking at the rear bushing, it seems like there might be a little more movement available before it is fully bound up:

So, here's where you knowledgeable guys can help me by answering my question:

Are the power wagon radius arms and standard diesel 2500 radius arms identical? (If so, I would be looking at softer front springs. If not, I might be seeing radius arm bind)

Also, power wagon owners, have any of you RTI ramped your rig? How high were you able to climb?


Thanks, in advance, for all of your help,

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Are the power wagon radius arms and standard diesel 2500 radius arms identical? (If so, I would be looking at softer front springs. If not, I might be seeing radius arm bind)

No, the power wagons have “articulink” radius arms. We just recently had a discussion here about them.

Truck looks good and Truck flexes pretty good for being designed for hauling heavy loads safely, imho

 

[Lumpskie]

No, the power wagons have “articulink” radius arms. We just recently had a discussion here about them.

Truck looks good and Truck flexes pretty good for being designed for hauling heavy loads safely, imho

Thanks for this information! So, feel free to call me an idiot... I googled and tried to figure out if the articulink radius arms would fit on a standard 2500... I couldn't find anything. Have you heard of anyone trying that? (I believe that standard Ram and the Power Wagon have different front axles, are the power wagon housings different or just the internals?)

 

[Brutal_HO]

Articulink? Technical discussion

My brain kinda smooth today. I was thinking about the PW suspension and cant really figure out what the Articulink on the front radius arms do. In general: the Ram front suspension is a 3 link: 2 radius arms + track bar. Track bar prevents lateral movement, while the radius arms prevent...

hdrams.com

 

[Lumpskie]

Thanks for the lead @Brutal_HO . I am learning more in a couple of days here than I could have learned in a month on my own.