Opinions on suspension for a custom order

[Scooter29]

So I’m ordering a truck and stuck on wether I should get factory air bags on a 3500 mega cab? I was looking to order a 2500 with the air bags but know that with the mega cab I lose a lot of payload and want to be sure no matter what trailer I get in the future I can tow it. So im
considering a 3500 more now. With a 3500 is the rear suspension sufficient unless your hauling max weight 5th wheel? And will the airbags smooth the 3500s rear leaf spring ride at all?

 

[RAMMIT]

Scooter29 You have to figure out what you want to tow there,s alot of variables come into play with payloads, As for as ride goes the 2500 rides smoother and the bags have more range because of coils, But if going into it with being able to tow anything than a 3500 dually is a beast not something you want to use as a daily driver and the air bags on the 3500 only have an alternate ride height that only lowers by an inch but it will pull an apartment building and with weight on it it will ride alot better than empty. I have 2000 dodge dually and tow 8000lbs everyday with air bags and never air up the aftermarket bags until i put a 2k camper in the back with the trailer and that is when everything works the best, I can only imagine what the new duallies ride like their payload is even higher than mine new tech I guess. I bought a 21 3500 SRW it will probably have a payload of about 4 k with my camper 2k and trailer maybe 800lb tongue and a couple crew I,m not near being maxed out, it will have the aftermarket airbags because my loads will change up the ride height and they give me better control with having a level kit, I,ve had a few trucks with this set up and it works for me, but it will still ride like a 3500, maybe go test ride one empty and get a feel for it but these trucks don,t like being grocery go getters they want to work and thats why I drive them.Man I can,t wait for the new one

 

[Scooter29]

Scooter29 You have to figure out what you want to tow there,s alot of variables come into play with payloads, As for as ride goes the 2500 rides smoother and the bags have more range because of coils, But if going into it with being able to tow anything than a 3500 dually is a beast not something you want to use as a daily driver and the air bags on the 3500 only have an alternate ride height that only lowers by an inch but it will pull an apartment building and with weight on it it will ride alot better than empty. I have 2000 dodge dually and tow 8000lbs everyday with air bags and never air up the aftermarket bags until i put a 2k camper in the back with the trailer and that is when everything works the best, I can only imagine what the new duallies ride like their payload is even higher than mine new tech I guess. I bought a 21 3500 SRW it will probably have a payload of about 4 k with my camper 2k and trailer maybe 800lb tongue and a couple crew I,m not near being maxed out, it will have the aftermarket airbags because my loads will change up the ride height and they give me better control with having a level kit, I,ve had a few trucks with this set up and it works for me, but it will still ride like a 3500, maybe go test ride one empty and get a feel for it but these trucks don,t like being grocery go getters they want to work and thats why I drive them.Man I can,t wait for the new one

So after some research I went with the SRW 3500. To start out we’re looking at towing about a 25ft tohauler or possible looking into the camper option. I like the smoother ride of the 2500s coils but I know I’ll have the toy hauler and camper at least so I’d rather be more setup for heavier loads with the leaf springs. Also seeing the 3500 factory air suspension has less features I’ll just add an aftermarket kit later if needed. I also wanted to have a truck that can grow into any changes in trailers we may make later on so it seemed like the best option. Of course a rougher ride in the rear is the trade off but I had a 2004 3500 cc 8ft bed and it wasn’t horrible so this has to be a smidge better. Now just the waiting for the truck to be built and arrive.

 

[RVTRKN]

The Air bags on the SRW 3500 has a lighter spring pack with the air bags, so it makes a much smoother ride, although it not by much. I was disappointed in the function of the OE bags, but just this weekend as I hitched up to my pontoon I could hear the automatic adjustment of bags. I did not switch on the function, it is designed to auto level, even if its off. The alternative hight level, is only with a heavy load that will adjust to the alternate hight, when turned on, but it will constantly adjust as the level changes for what ever triggers it.

 

[Scooter29]

The Air bags on the SRW 3500 has a lighter spring pack with the air bags, so it makes a much smoother ride, although it not by much. I was disappointed in the function of the OE bags, but just this weekend as I hitched up to my pontoon I could hear the automatic adjustment of bags. I did not switch on the function, it is designed to auto level, even if its off. The alternative hight level, is only with a heavy load that will adjust to the alternate hight, when turned on, but it will constantly adjust as the level changes for what ever triggers it.

Ya from what I read it had a slightly softer leaf pack but not substantially different ride. It would be nice like you said just the automatic level adjustment with the factory bags with no input from you needed. But I don’t feel I’d have enough weight routinely to take advantage of them vs just installing bags if needed and airing up when I tow. When I had my 04 3500 and a bumper pull 27ft toy hauler I didn’t need bags with the weight distribution hitch and the 3500s suspension. Not even when we had a 32ft 5th wheel toy hauler so I’m confident the 3500 suspension will be sufficient for a 25ftish toy hauler and air bags added if we go the camper route.

 

[RVTRKN]

Ya from what I read it had a slightly softer leaf pack but not substantially different ride. It would be nice like you said just the automatic level adjustment with the factory bags with no input from you needed. But I don’t feel I’d have enough weight routinely to take advantage of them vs just installing bags if needed and airing up when I tow. When I had my 04 3500 and a bumper pull 27ft toy hauler I didn’t need bags with the weight distribution hitch and the 3500s suspension. Not even when we had a 32ft 5th wheel toy hauler so I’m confident the 3500 suspension will be sufficient for a 25ftish toy hauler and air bags added if we go the camper route.

Ya, aftermarket air bags have more function when you want it. That is what disappointed me most, you have only the alternate hight adjustment, but as I posted it does respond to lighter loads, you just have no control.

 

[Scooter29]

Ya, aftermarket air bags have more function when you want it. That is what disappointed me most, you have only the alternate hight adjustment, but as I posted it does respond to lighter loads, you just have no control.

Yup, seems like there’s pros and cons to both factory vs aftermarket bags on the 3500.

 

[JohnandDonna]

You really need to know what you want to tow in order to properly answer the question. The air suspenson on the 2500 and 3500 works differently. On the 2500 you have 3 heights. Normal for everyday, the back end is slightly higher than the cab. Alternate trailer height, makes the truck fully level and what I use to tow. Then there is low which is used to make it easy to hitch. I put it in low and come up under, put into alt trailer height and it pops right into the ball receptical. And while the 2500 rides pretty good for an HD, the air suspension does make it even nicer when not towing. In the 3500 air suspension does not do much until you have a heavy trailer attached. And then the adjustment is only about an inch. Smart move to get the 3500 if you are ordering the diesel in the MegaCab due to payload. Fortunately for me my 30' TT maxes out just under 9000 pounds. I was able to get the 2500 MegaCab with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 gears. Payload with the gasser is about 1000 pounds more. Also like that the gasser comes with the 8 speed transmission. Absolutely love this combination. Plenty of power in the mountains. So I repeat, you need to have some idea of what you are going to be towing. Sure you can get the 3500 dually with max tow package. But if you end up towing 12k or less it would be real overkill. Then you need to understand what the ride will be like, especially not towing. Conventional wisdom is that you purchase the trailer first and then the appropriate truck to tow it with. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Scooter29]

You really need to know what you want to tow in order to properly answer the question. The air suspenson on the 2500 and 3500 works differently. On the 2500 you have 3 heights. Normal for everyday, the back end is slightly higher than the cab. Alternate trailer height, makes the truck fully level and what I use to tow. Then there is low which is used to make it easy to hitch. I put it in low and come up under, put into alt trailer height and it pops right into the ball receptical. And while the 2500 rides pretty good for an HD, the air suspension does make it even nicer when not towing. In the 3500 air suspension does not do much until you have a heavy trailer attached. And then the adjustment is only about an inch. Smart move to get the 3500 if you are ordering the diesel in the MegaCab due to payload. Fortunately for me my 30' TT maxes out just under 9000 pounds. I was able to get the 2500 MegaCab with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 gears. Payload with the gasser is about 1000 pounds more. Also like that the gasser comes with the 8 speed transmission. Absolutely love this combination. Plenty of power in the mountains. So I repeat, you need to have some idea of what you are going to be towing. Sure you can get the 3500 dually with max tow package. But if you end up towing 12k or less it would be real overkill. Then you need to understand what the ride will be like, especially not towing. Conventional wisdom is that you purchase the trailer first and then the appropriate truck to tow it with. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

I have a pretty good idea of weights and trailer sizes that we will purchase and from having prior bumper pull and 5th wheels in an 04 3500 Cummins I’ve seen how the heavier suspension handles. We’ve also tossed in the idea of a truck camper and that can be from 1000 to 3000lbs right there. Either way on trailers we wanted to have a truck that we will be able to grow into and go any route so a 3500 was the right choice in the mega cab. The payload numbers increase Ofcourse which is a plus. But mainly we know if later on we want a big 5th wheel again our truck will still handle it fine.

 

[RAMMIT]

So after some research I went with the SRW 3500. To start out we’re looking at towing about a 25ft tohauler or possible looking into the camper option. I like the smoother ride of the 2500s coils but I know I’ll have the toy hauler and camper at least so I’d rather be more setup for heavier loads with the leaf springs. Also seeing the 3500 factory air suspension has less features I’ll just add an aftermarket kit later if needed. I also wanted to have a truck that can grow into any changes in trailers we may make later on so it seemed like the best option. Of course a rougher ride in the rear is the trade off but I had a 2004 3500 cc 8ft bed and it wasn’t horrible so this has to be a smidge better. Now just the waiting for the truck to be built and arrive.

Works for me should work for you, I bought Airlifts 5000lb bags and wireless compressor for the 2021 have the same set up on my dually and works great enjoy