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*Breaking News* 2025 Orders from MARK DODGE **

So currently you can order a 3500 SRW Megacab with Airbags? But they still don’t offer a silver paint color yet? Let me know. Thanks
 
Karogar said:
So currently you can order a 3500 SRW Megacab with Airbags? But they still don’t offer a silver paint color yet? Let me know. Thanks
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JUst out of curiosity. Why is everyone adamant over factory airbags that you can't adjust the ride as opposed to Firestone's with a built in compressor that you can adjust on the fly.
 
MadMedic117 said:
JUst out of curiosity. Why is everyone adamant over factory airbags that you can't adjust the ride as opposed to Firestone's with a built in compressor that you can adjust on the fly.
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While it may seem like the aftermarket bags with “more” adjustability are a better option it’s just not the case.

For starters the standard spring 3500 has stiffer springs, so it rides rougher empty. The auto-level 3500 has softer main leaves so it has a more compliant ride empty.

The auto-level trucks have 2 settings, which based on how the suspension is designed is all you need. Normal ride on the two mentioned softer main leaves. The bags adjust as required to maintain that ride height. The other height is alternate ride height which engages the lower, stronger, overloads. The mains and overloads together are a stronger more stable leaf pack than the standard spring suspension is. The airbags are then adjusted by the computer to maintain a set ride height. This combination gives a much more stable, yet better, ride while loaded heavy than the regular leaf springs and aftermarket airbags ever will.

I’ve ran standard 3500 springs with aftermarket airbags and while it was a good setup the factory auto-level is simply better at everything, period. There is no need for any adjustments other than normal or alternate.

As others have stated I wouldn’t own one of these trucks without auto-level.
 
AH64ID said:
While it may seem like the aftermarket bags with “more” adjustability are a better option it’s just not the case.

For starters the standard spring 3500 has stiffer springs, so it rides rougher empty. The auto-level 3500 has softer main leaves so it has a more compliant ride empty.

The auto-level trucks have 2 settings, which based on how the suspension is designed is all you need. Normal ride on the two mentioned softer main leaves. The bags adjust as required to maintain that ride height. The other height is alternate ride height which engages the lower, stronger, overloads. The mains and overloads together are a stronger more stable leaf pack than the standard spring suspension is. The airbags are then adjusted by the computer to maintain a set ride height. This combination gives a much more stable, yet better, ride while loaded heavy than the regular leaf springs and aftermarket airbags ever will.

I’ve ran standard 3500 springs with aftermarket airbags and while it was a good setup the factory auto-level is simply better at everything, period. There is no need for any adjustments other than normal or alternate.

As others have stated I wouldn’t own one of these trucks without auto-level.
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My 24 lets me adjust on the fly @65 mph while towing. My 21 would not.
 
AH64ID said:
While it may seem like the aftermarket bags with “more” adjustability are a better option it’s just not the case.

For starters the standard spring 3500 has stiffer springs, so it rides rougher empty. The auto-level 3500 has softer main leaves so it has a more compliant ride empty.

The auto-level trucks have 2 settings, which based on how the suspension is designed is all you need. Normal ride on the two mentioned softer main leaves. The bags adjust as required to maintain that ride height. The other height is alternate ride height which engages the lower, stronger, overloads. The mains and overloads together are a stronger more stable leaf pack than the standard spring suspension is. The airbags are then adjusted by the computer to maintain a set ride height. This combination gives a much more stable, yet better, ride while loaded heavy than the regular leaf springs and aftermarket airbags ever will.

I’ve ran standard 3500 springs with aftermarket airbags and while it was a good setup the factory auto-level is simply better at everything, period. There is no need for any adjustments other than normal or alternate.

As others have stated I wouldn’t own one of these trucks without auto-level.
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Can you forward where you saw that the 3500 has a softer main leaf and still is able to maintain its load rating? I have both 2020 Ram 3500 with auto-level and one with out and cannot tell the difference at all. Maby it's just me but others that have driven both of my trucks also can't tell any difference, both ride as a 3500 should ROUGH but tamed at the same time.
 
Xflight29 said:
Can you forward where you saw that the 3500 has a softer main leaf and still is able to maintain its load rating? I have both 2020 Ram 3500 with auto-level and one with out and cannot tell the difference at all. Maby it's just me but others that have driven both of my trucks also can't tell any difference, both ride as a 3500 should ROUGH but tamed at the same time.
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There is a very night and day difference, and as mentioned before your sensors may be out of adjustment with too much air in the bags unloaded.

The softer main leaf can be felt just by bouncing the tailgate, and the load rating is on the door jam. There is no difference in the suspension on my truck or a DRW of the same year. Auto-level trucks have the same load rating as their standard spring suspension counterparts.

Both my auto-level 3500’s have ridden better than coil spring 2500 and handle weight better than other suspension I’ve had.
 
AH64ID said:
There is a very night and day difference...

Both my auto-level 3500’s have ridden better than coil spring 2500 and handle weight better than other suspension I’ve had.
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It sure does suck that we can't order rear air on 3500 Tradesman or Big Horn anymore. Anthony said now it's only on Laramie and up, which makes absolutely no sense to me since the working class truck's are the one's probably more likely to be utilizing/wanting this feature. It's a deal breaker for me.
 
AH64ID said:
Very cool. Can you tell if it actually changes height on the fly? Or does it just enable it and change height when you stop?
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It did exactly the same things it does when at a stand still. Then is has the indicating light on solid and says "Alternate Ride Height Achieved". No way can I tell a difference towing at 65 MPH. I normally run normal height. I lowered it, raised it, lowered it and then raised it back up to normal. Each time it went through it's procedure. I just wanted to see if it would do it. I always think I can change it to keep from dragging the back of the trailer on a steep driveway. But I never have time to actually do it. In my 21 it said this feature not available now lower vehicle speed or something similar and refused to activate.
 
@AnthonyRI any word on whether Olive Green will be a color option for the Big Horn 3500's? I stumbled on some pics of one yesterday and I think I'm in love. The two tone black stripe on the bottom makes it

1742856259122.png
 
AH64ID said:
While it may seem like the aftermarket bags with “more” adjustability are a better option it’s just not the case.

For starters the standard spring 3500 has stiffer springs, so it rides rougher empty. The auto-level 3500 has softer main leaves so it has a more compliant ride empty.

The auto-level trucks have 2 settings, which based on how the suspension is designed is all you need. Normal ride on the two mentioned softer main leaves. The bags adjust as required to maintain that ride height. The other height is alternate ride height which engages the lower, stronger, overloads. The mains and overloads together are a stronger more stable leaf pack than the standard spring suspension is. The airbags are then adjusted by the computer to maintain a set ride height. This combination gives a much more stable, yet better, ride while loaded heavy than the regular leaf springs and aftermarket airbags ever will.

I’ve ran standard 3500 springs with aftermarket airbags and while it was a good setup the factory auto-level is simply better at everything, period. There is no need for any adjustments other than normal or alternate.

As others have stated I wouldn’t own one of these trucks without auto-level.
Click to expand...
That's a fair assessment. I wasn't aware of the difference spring packs. Thank you for clarifying.
 
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