Air bags to increase pay load

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Regcabguy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2019
Posts
194
Reaction score
118
Location
92117
Ram Year
2007
Engine
5.9 I-6
There was a discussion on here about slide in campers a while back. I think the general feeling was that due to their weight you almost needed a 3500.
Yes,that's correct on the coil sprung 2500 years.
 

ALRedneck

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2019
Posts
399
Reaction score
504
Location
Enterprise, AL
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4
I personally got tired of having to figure out if I was over loaded so said “screw it” and got the 1 ton dually with the diesel. Interesting to figure out my DD minivan has a 1500 payload like the PW! I can put all the seats down and if it fits it ships. So I’m still living up to my redneck ways by packing a minivan full of feed and fertilizer! Can’t believe there isn’t a Pacifica thread on this website???
 

Aircommuter

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2021
Posts
47
Reaction score
64
Location
Coulterville
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I have had a slide in camper for years. I have air bags but don’t like them for the camper because even with high pressure they don’t work well for sway. I use them to raise the suspension so I can engage the Stabil- Loads, I also have super spring and Helwig’s largest stabilizer. Then I let the air out. The springs are much better than the air. All that being said I wouldn’t put the camper on the short bed truck for reasons stated above and more.
I have owned my own repair shop over 50 years.
 

pw1601

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2022
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
PA
Ram Year
2022
I have bags and cradles on mine, but my camper only weights around 750 pounds. This setup works perfectly for me but I couldn't imagine 3200#.
 

ZookaTx

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2020
Posts
18
Reaction score
20
Location
Wyoming
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4
Hey I never took into account the tires......That's not something that's been discussed before or at least I haven't came across that. Wonder what all of us are actually increasing our payload to by adding the E's or F's in some peoples case.
I have a gas powered compressor (from a suction dredge) so I can air down on dirt roads, and fill or deflate 4 tires at o nce (or 2) using a hose and valve system I set up. Can do all 4 tires from 20 to 50 psi in 13 minutes from engine off to engine on. That was what convinced me to go to the E rated tires; my towing etc. is always under the max rating (and I have probably 20,000 miles of pulling cargo or travel trailers since Feb of 2020) but I wanted a longer lasting tire to replace the Duratracks (got 35,000 iles out of them though). So I can toss the compressor in back when going offroad, the hose kit lives in the side boxes, and I can easily air the Toyos down and up as needed. Does it increase the tow "rating" to have E-rated tires? Not technically because the truck is supposed to have D rated tires. The Magic Tow Rating Calculator is not something I have found anywhere.
But are you safer towing big loads with E rated tires aired up to 65 PSI? I think so. How much safer? Beats me.
 

dhay13

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
3,212
Reaction score
2,792
Ram Year
2018
Engine
2500 6.4L Hemi 4.10's 'Off-Road'
The 3500 adds payload by having a second leaf spring pack. You can to the same with a 2500 truck by adding SuperSprings. Took me less than an hour to increase the payload of my 2500 truck to 4,000 lbs and with the truck on the ground - no need to jack it up.

Springs will last the lifetime of the truck and no worries about an airbag failing (and there are two that can fail) in the middle of a trip and limping home or being stuck in a town waiting for replacement parts. With my 4WD off-road vehicles I have always cared about not having a breakdown well off the beaten path and having to get a tow truck to the vehicle. Even 25 miles from the highway is one heck of a walk to try and hitchhike to the nearest town.

With the SuperSprings on my truck the bed was level when empty and level with a 3700 lb slide in camper in the bed. Greatly reduces side sway as in a turn more than half the weight is on one side of the suspension. With reduced sway the stock shocks were much more effective although for the truck I replaced them with Rancho adjustable shocks. The adjustable shocks are great at being able to tune the suspension front and rear.
Can't add a leaf spring to a coil sprung rear end and even if you could it still won't legally change your payload
 

TomB 1269

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2019
Posts
452
Reaction score
453
Location
Schenectady NY
Ram Year
2019 Classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
The debate should not be about "legality"...the real issues are safety and insurance. There must be a viable reason that RAM derates the payload on a power wagon...surely it has to do with the off-road suspension.

More importantly, don't think for a second that your insurance company won't investigate whether the vehicle was overloaded if you get into an an accident, especially if there are any injuries. Sure, they might cover the accident, but you will be dropped immediately and good luck finding a new company to insure you. I believe this based on an in-depth discussion with my uncle who spent 12 years in claims investigation at "Flo's insurance company".

There's this huge misconception that airbags correct the weights distributed between axles...they don't. They only level...giving one the appearance of not being overloaded. Not the case.

Not convinced? Google this phrase: do airbags increase payload?
I would agree air bags do not "balance" the weight between front an rear axles but neither does load distribution hitches. However they both effectively decrease the amount of weight or "downforce" measured as "weight" lost form the leveraging effect that additional weight over or behind the rear axle has on the front axle. The visual effect is a "leveling" of the truck, but the effect is that it allows the front axle to maintain a proper amount of weight for safe braking and steering proposes. AIR BAGS DO NOT INCREASE a trucks payload but they will provide for safer and more controlled operation when the trucks payload is near or at its MAXIUM FACTORY LIMITS AKA GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
 

Whiskey13

Member
Military
Joined
Mar 1, 2022
Posts
69
Reaction score
75
Location
North West Florida
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4
A good combination is weight distribution/anti sway hitch and air bags with either leaf or coil springs. I have used that combination on a couple 2500 trucks with leaf springs and a couple with coils. Was not trying to increase pay load as I try not to be at the high side to begin with but that combination provides a much improved handling situation for going down the interstate at 70 MPH. Steer wheels are able to keep the truck in your lane and the rear has no sway. All brakes providing effective stopping power and your headlights are pointing at the road instead of the tree tops.
 

dhay13

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
3,212
Reaction score
2,792
Ram Year
2018
Engine
2500 6.4L Hemi 4.10's 'Off-Road'
How is the ride when off roading or highway ? smooth or stiff ?
Not sure what you are asking. I have never added leafs or air bags but was responding to Elkman who has repeatedly given out misinformation on here.
I don't off road but highway driving is fine. Bumps are more harsh than the 1500. Loaded with weight it smooths out
 
OP
OP
H

Hunter Rob

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2022
Posts
26
Reaction score
12
Location
calgary alberta canada
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.4 hemi
Not sure what you are asking. I have never added leafs or air bags but was responding to Elkman who has repeatedly given out misinformation on here.
I don't off road but highway driving is fine. Bumps are more harsh than the 1500. Loaded with weight it smooths out
Oh sorry bud, i misread the other guys review, had my glasses off.
 

Grand Mesa

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Posts
1,687
Reaction score
1,764
Location
.
Hi. im getting a 2022 PW soon, just wondering about good and bad on putting on airbags,next year
i want to put a camper on for hunting and fishing trips. I need to pull my quad or a boat.
please let me know what you think.
Thanks

A quad or fishing boat can be pulled inside a toy hauler without overloading a PW as long as it’s within the tow capacities.

475cdab84ee0bde7a0dd854e113d539e.png
 

AlexC2350

Senior Member
Joined
May 30, 2020
Posts
142
Reaction score
146
Location
New Hampshire
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 6.4
You can go forward with the short bed but if you really are ASKING you're in long bed dually territory. I would be surprised if the camper place you are buying your slide in from would even load it in a short bed 2500 for you. Long bed 3500 without question and I would recommend a dually.

Payload aside, If you look at the picture of the brochure he posted, the camper is specifically designed for a short bed. He doesn’t need an 8 foot bed. A 1 ton srw would be just fine with that specific camper he posted, but that isn’t truck he’s getting at the moment.
 

Elvira

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2018
Posts
443
Reaction score
827
Location
Somewhere
Air Bags or adding leaf springs is a mistaken option people think will cure their load limits. Limits on vehicles are rated by axles. You can add bags or leafs, but the stress on the axle from excess weight will eventually break the axle or spindle. Bags and leafs added are only to help with old or saggy springs to keep it level, not to carry more weight.
 

BWL

Embrace the skeptisism
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Posts
8,529
Reaction score
8,464
Location
BC Canada
Ram Year
2017
Engine
hemi 5.7
You mean you can't throw a set of air bags from a kenworth in your truck and gain big rig capacity? Nonsense!!! Lol
 

Grand Mesa

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Posts
1,687
Reaction score
1,764
Location
.
We have both a Gen 4 Ram Cummins 4x4 2500 Crew Cab and a Tradesman Power Wagon on 35's Toyos. The Cummins has air bags, the Power Wagon doesn't. The control arms are much lighter duty on the PowerWagon. Not a truck with the load capacity of the Cummins.

20211017_103935.jpg20211017_104137.jpg
 

JerryETX

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2021
Posts
326
Reaction score
294
Location
Elgin, TX
Ram Year
2016 2500
Engine
Hemi 6.4- 3:73- 6 Speed
Payload aside, If you look at the picture of the brochure he posted, the camper is specifically designed for a short bed. He doesn’t need an 8 foot bed. A 1 ton srw would be just fine with that specific camper he posted, but that isn’t truck he’s getting at the moment.
Yes sir you are correct. My comment is based mainly on the weight of the load. Trying to stop an overloaded truck is not easy to do. The difference in price between a 3/4 ton and 1 ton is pennies big picture when looking at liablity aspect of having an accident with an overloaded vehicle.

If that camper he posted pics of won't fit in a long bed than yeah a 1 ton srw would be the way to go. I wouldn't recommend a 1 ton short bed just because the resale value on them is not good they're just not as popular.
 

olyelr

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2018
Posts
4,674
Reaction score
3,419
Location
Kewadin MI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
If that camper he posted pics of won't fit in a long bed than yeah a 1 ton srw would be the way to go. I wouldn't recommend a 1 ton short bed just because the resale value on them is not good they're just not as popular.
Megacab dually is a shortbed…about the only way to get a dually shortbox haaaaa.
 

andymax

Senior Member
Joined
May 7, 2020
Posts
160
Reaction score
168
Location
Central Ohio
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I would agree air bags do not "balance" the weight between front an rear axles but neither does load distribution hitches. However they both effectively decrease the amount of weight or "downforce" measured as "weight" lost form the leveraging effect that additional weight over or behind the rear axle has on the front axle. The visual effect is a "leveling" of the truck, but the effect is that it allows the front axle to maintain a proper amount of weight for safe braking and steering proposes. AIR BAGS DO NOT INCREASE a trucks payload but they will provide for safer and more controlled operation when the trucks payload is near or at its MAXIUM FACTORY LIMITS AKA GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Disagree. Airbags alone cannot transfer weight back to the front axle anywhere near as effectively as a WDH. Then entire point of a WDH is as it's name implies. Airbags only address sag and improve stability. There is a big difference.

Anyone with both on their truck and that has a trailer care to prove this one way or the other? I'd love to see the scale tickets...
 

olyelr

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2018
Posts
4,674
Reaction score
3,419
Location
Kewadin MI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
Disagree. Airbags alone cannot transfer weight back to the front axle anywhere near as effectively as a WDH. Then entire point of a WDH is as it's name implies. Airbags only address sag and improve stability. There is a big difference.

Anyone with both on their truck and that has a trailer care to prove this one way or the other? I'd love to see the scale tickets...
I use both on my power wagon. I dont have any weight scale tickets to prove it, but can assure you that your thinking is spot on. The weight distribution hitch, when setup correctly, does just that…removes weight from the rear axle and places it on the front. Air bags on the other hand, just raise the rear of the vehicle and add some stability to the rear suspension…nothing for the front at all.
 
Top