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.

sam darakjy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Posts
243
Reaction score
219
Location
wilmington nc
Ram Year
2018 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4
Engine
6.4 Hemi
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
You might want to look for the lightest truck camper available. A Project M by Four Wheel Camper is a good fit for a Power Wagon.
 

sam darakjy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Posts
243
Reaction score
219
Location
wilmington nc
Ram Year
2018 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4
Engine
6.4 Hemi
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.
What?? That's an exaggeration for sure. Truck campers come in all form and sizes Ranging from 800 lbs up to 6000 lbs. So some can work with mid size, 1/2 ton,3/4 ton,1 ton ect...
 

sam darakjy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Posts
243
Reaction score
219
Location
wilmington nc
Ram Year
2018 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Are you ******** with us.

8 foot 11 inch slide in camper. 3200 lbs.

A PowerWagon has a 6'4 bed a payload of about 1350lbs.

No matter how you crack it...that egg is not gonna fry.
Where did he post anything about the size and weight of the camper? Plenty of campers out there they are way under your numbers.
 

sam darakjy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Posts
243
Reaction score
219
Location
wilmington nc
Ram Year
2018 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Are you ******** with us.

8 foot 11 inch slide in camper. 3200 lbs.

A PowerWagon has a 6'4 bed a payload of about 1350lbs.

No matter how you crack it...that egg is not gonna fry.
My apologies ..looks like it was mentioned somewhere.
 
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
I got this info from dealer on the 3 different short boxes.
has all axel weighs and more.
Not sure how to read info. on front and rear axel weight maximums
what the heck is base weight/ GAWR/ GCWR.
How can i tell how much weight/payload is max. per axel.
Please bare with me cuz im new at this and learning.IMG_0218~2.jpg




















how can i tell
 
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
You might want to look for the lightest truck camper available. A Project M by Four Wheel Camper is a good fit for a Power Wagon.
I hear what ur saying about a lighter/ smaller camper, but the one im looking at
is for cold weather use in the hunting season, gets pretty chilly up here in alberta.
Other than that im considering diff. options now.
 

sam darakjy

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Posts
243
Reaction score
219
Location
wilmington nc
Ram Year
2018 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4
Engine
6.4 Hemi
I hear what ur saying about a lighter/ smaller camper, but the one im looking at
is for cold weather use in the hunting season, gets pretty chilly up here in alberta.
Other than that im considering diff. options now.
Well then you may want to look at a Hallmark. 4 season and light. Just a bit pricey though.
 

CaptQ

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2021
Posts
53
Reaction score
49
Location
Minneapolis
I don't comment much on here. I have been a tech for 18 years and I have seen alot of over weight issues. In my opinion the truck will hold the weight with the air bags. The truck will drive with the weight. The issue is the design. The brakes and steering are not designed for that much weight in the rear. Not to mention dot/insurance would have a trip with you if something happened. Just a warning seen it before they would void your insurance the minute you are over spec. Also would strongly recommend against anything that long in a 6.4 box. I have a 2500 Cummins I put a sled deck on with two quads. I'm about 400 lbs over weight and I feel thats iffy if I got caught. Just my two cents.
I have to disagree with the brakes and steering being the issue. It’s the softer spring rates of the PW creating the issue. My 05’ PW pulled and drove like a 1 ton but sagged like a 90 yr old woman with a very heavy load. Put more than a ton in the box several times, for a very short distance, and ended up snapping both rear leafs at the front eyelets. The PW is the only truck anywhere using that leaf. My 17’ PW drives fine with a load but in no way is it the same as non PW.
 

Attachments

  • F9ACECE3-DED0-48F7-96D4-7EABABFE5F54.jpeg
    F9ACECE3-DED0-48F7-96D4-7EABABFE5F54.jpeg
    187.5 KB · Views: 18

BWL

Embrace the skeptisism
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Posts
8,547
Reaction score
8,473
Location
BC Canada
Ram Year
2017
Engine
hemi 5.7
I got this info from dealer on the 3 different short boxes.
has all axel weighs and more.
Not sure how to read info. on front and rear axel weight maximums
what the heck is base weight/ GAWR/ GCWR.
How can i tell how much weight/payload is max. per axel.
Please bare with me cuz im new at this and learning.View attachment 491192




















how can i tell
GAWR is axle ratings front and rear. GVRW is gross vehicle rating. Honestly if you have your heart set on a 3/4 ton I'd steer clear of the Ram .The GM and Ford both have 1100lbs or more payload across the board. Equivalent duramax GMC has a couple hundred pounds plus payload over the Gas ram and the gas is roughly 1100 more than the Ram 6.4. Ford is the same. They both bumped up their GVWR instead of playing the class game and keeping it under 10k. If you go ram then 3500 is really the only way to go if you tow a 5th wheel, pull a large trailer or want a camper on the back sometimes. Ford does have a 9900 downgrade package. What the package includes is a lower GVRW sticker and that's it. You lose 800-900 bs of GVRW without changing anything on the truck for guys worried about needing a cdl to drive their pickup.
 
Last edited:

Skid51

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2023
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Cdn Rockies
Ram Year
2024
Engine
6.4 Hemi
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.
But aren’t the axles, diff, brakes, frame etc on the PW all full-on 3/4 ton grade and it’s just the softer ‘off-road’ springs that result in the lower payload ratings? Seems if there’s one truck you can use air bags too carry somewhat over rated load its the PW.
 

olyelr

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2018
Posts
4,706
Reaction score
3,446
Location
Kewadin MI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
But aren’t the axles, diff, brakes, frame etc on the PW all full-on 3/4 ton grade and it’s just the softer ‘off-road’ springs that result in the lower payload ratings? Seems if there’s one truck you can use air bags too carry somewhat over rated load its the PW.
Yep. Exactly.
 

thkbaron

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Posts
1,449
Reaction score
802
Location
Minnesota
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
But aren’t the axles, diff, brakes, frame etc on the PW all full-on 3/4 ton grade and it’s just the softer ‘off-road’ springs that result in the lower payload ratings? Seems if there’s one truck you can use air bags too carry somewhat over rated load its the PW.
Yup. I’ve been down this rabbit hole with people before. Unless you have a super **** retentive state no trooper will ever stop you hauling a big load because they realize it’s a 2500. Everything else except the springs are identical
 

BWL

Embrace the skeptisism
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Posts
8,547
Reaction score
8,473
Location
BC Canada
Ram Year
2017
Engine
hemi 5.7
But aren’t the axles, diff, brakes, frame etc on the PW all full-on 3/4 ton grade and it’s just the softer ‘off-road’ springs that result in the lower payload ratings? Seems if there’s one truck you can use air bags too carry somewhat over rated load its the PW.
A lot of the lower payload rating downgrade is the extra weight of the power wagon accesories making the trucks tare weight higher. Things like the winch and heavier front bumper for example . The gvrw is still the same as the regular 2500..
 

olyelr

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2018
Posts
4,706
Reaction score
3,446
Location
Kewadin MI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
A lot of the lower payload rating downgrade is the extra weight of the power wagon accesories making the trucks tare weight higher. Things like the winch and heavier front bumper for example . The gvrw is still the same as the regular 2500..
Front bumpers are the same as non power wagons. But yes, the winch and mount and added skid plates do add some weight over a non power wagon.
 

392DevilDog

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Posts
1,940
Reaction score
2,903
Location
Glasgow, Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2015
Engine
392 Hemi
A lot of the lower payload rating downgrade is the extra weight of the power wagon accesories making the trucks tare weight higher. Things like the winch and heavier front bumper for example . The gvrw is still the same as the regular 2500..
The GVWR of a PowerWagon is less than the 10000 lbs the regular 2500 get

Depending on year it is right around the 8565 mark.

This is why it has such a low payload number.

The reasons why are hashed out a million times.

When you got a 7000 plus pound truck doesn't take long to dig into 8565
 

62Blazer

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Posts
1,086
Reaction score
1,277
Location
Midwest
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
A lot of the lower payload rating downgrade is the extra weight of the power wagon accesories making the trucks tare weight higher. Things like the winch and heavier front bumper for example . The gvrw is still the same as the regular 2500..
As already stated, the GVW of a Power Wagon is in the 8,500 lb. range while a normal 2500 is up in the 10,000 lb. range. In regards to accessories, the winch and mounting hardware are the only significant weight increase of the Power Wagon. Would guess in the 150 lb. range for that. Doubt the swaybar disconnect and locking diffs add more than 100 lbs. total.
If you swapped the PW springs out for normal 2500 springs that is probably 90% of the difference in payload and trailering rating. I would say the other 10% is from the slightly taller and lighter D-rated PW tires.
 

4xdad

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Posts
1,748
Reaction score
1,679
Location
Edmonton Alberta
Ram Year
2015 powerwagon
Engine
6.4
The op was asking about a giant camper in a pw don’t do it Len don’t do it. Pws aren’t for heavy loads. It would be pretty scary especially on a twisty road.
 

Latest posts

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
195,486
Posts
2,870,933
Members
156,207
Latest member
txram956
Top