Auto Rear Air Suspension System

[Ketosan]

Getting close to a purchase of a 2015 Ram Outdoorsman--
Will most probably be towing a 5th wheel in the near furture--how big?-- well something in the 28'class--
One option I am looking at is the Auto Rear Air Suspension System that Ram offers--
Other than what I have read in the brochures I do not have a warm fuzzy that it is something that is worth the extra $1595.00 Ram wants for it as on option?
Any experience/suggestions out there from folks that have had it or know about it??
Thanks for your help.

 

[14hemiexpress]

If your pulling a fifth wheel are you looking at the 2500 or the 1500?

 

[Ketosan]

2500 with the Cummins

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

Guys are running out of payload in a hurry with the 2500 Cummins/5th wheel combo. Make sure you're able to see your truck's door sticker and have a good tongue weight estimate before pulling the trigger on anything.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

 

[14hemiexpress]

I hate to be this guy but be careful the payload on the 2500 cummins is only in the 2200 range. The hitch weights on fifth wheels can get out of control quick. The 3500 is fifth wheel king and the 2500 cummins is bumper pull king. as far as the air suspension I can't comment, except the fact that I want it and everything I have read about people are happy with it so far.

 

[Ketosan]

The latest info that I have found is that the 2500 Ram with the Cummins has a payload rating of 2360 lbs. Do not know if that would vary per individual truck based upon options etc??
Have discussed the issue of pin weight with friends who currently pull 5th wheels and understand the weight issue that could easily arise from the limited weight capacity--
Currently have a bumper pull setup and could stay with that if weight becomes an issue?
Would rather stay within the 2500 class as I understand the rides are better when empty and possibly better fuel mileage?

 

[14hemiexpress]

Fuel mileage would be no different.(that is dependent on rear axle ratio) The ride would be a lot better for a daily driver. The 2500 has coil suspension and the 3500 has leafs, unloaded the 3500 will be bouncy.

 

[Donelam304]

You can get the coils on the new 3500's. And the ride with the 2500 coils are way better when not hauling anything. My 2014 Ram 2500 4x4 rides better than my Silverado ½ ton ever did. And as far as towing a 5er and weight. I've towed a 34' one and never had any issues either. I don't know the pin weight, but the trailer weight was right at 9k. I did like towing it verses a trailer hitch camper. It seemed more stable. And I was going up n down 9% & 10% grades.

 

[14hemiexpress]

You can get the coils on the new 3500's. And the ride with the 2500 coils are way better when not hauling anything. My 2014 Ram 2500 4x4 rides better than my Silverado ½ ton ever did. And as far as towing a 5er and weight. I've towed a 34' one and never had any issues either. I don't know the pin weight, but the trailer weight was right at 9k. I did like towing it verses a trailer hitch camper. It seemed more stable. And I was going up n down 9% & 10% grades.

They only talked about coils they never did it. They offer air bags for load leveling on the 2015 but it's still leaf based.

Fifth wheels can have up to a 25% hitch weight so a 9k trailer if it was max pin weight would be 2250. Not that there aren't trailers with 12-1500lb hitch weights there are just less out there.

If this is going to be a daily driver and camping is not very often 2500 with a smaller trailer is great. A bumper pull is 10-15% hitch weight so you can get away with a heavier trailer being bumper pull.

To op just make sure you have a few trailers in mind before you pull the trigger. They will take you for every dime they cN if you try to trade up later.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Just thinking out loud here but have you looked into the 6.4l? If your not planing cross country hauls and you tow 3-4times month in a 250 mile radius you might consider the 6.4 2500. You get a extr 800-1000lbs payload it'll pull 10k no issues(unless you high altitude pulling 6-7% grades) diesel is 50-60 cents a gallon cheeper and 8k less. You can get a lot nicer truck for the money.. Sure the diesel get 6-7mpg highway better but at 50 cents a gallon cheeper what are you really saving?

If you are towing cross country throuh the mountains disregard my last statement. At high altitude there is no substitute for a turbo diesel.

 

[Donelam304]

Just thinking out loud here but have you looked into the 6.4l? If your not planing cross country hauls and you tow 3-4times month in a 250 mile radius you might consider the 6.4 2500. You get a extr 800-1000lbs payload it'll pull 10k no issues(unless you high altitude pulling 6-7% grades) diesel is 50-60 cents a gallon cheeper and 8k less. You can get a lot nicer truck for the money.. Sure the diesel get 6-7mpg highway better but at 50 cents a gallon cheeper what are you really saving?

If you are towing cross country throuh the mountains disregard my last statement. At high altitude there is no substitute for a turbo diesel.

My 2014 Ram has the 6.4L HEMI and I live here in West Virginia and all my towing has been in mountains. No issues at all.

 

[14hemiexpress]

My 2014 Ram has the 6.4L HEMI and I live here in West Virginia and all my towing has been in mountains. No issues at all.

Nice to hear real world mountain towing of 9k with the 6.4.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

I did, and would, seriously look into the 6.4L as well if you go 2500. It gives you a better payload capacity which is directly tied to the pin weight you can handle, and has more than enough grunt with the 4.10s to move a trailer efficiently. I was really impressed. For reference the 2500 Outdoorsman I almost bought with the 6.4 was decked nicely including sunroof etc, and had an available payload of 3008lbs with a GVWR of 10K. If you aren't pulling across the country all the time, then the 6.4 might just be your animal unless you are really hung up on a cummins.

 

[Donelam304]

I know there is a crap ton of posts in the 6.4 HEMI thread, simply because it took the moderators on here over a year to figure out and finally listen to us posting in that thread. But there is a lot of us that have the 6.4 and love it and have yet to find any justification of buying a diesel unless you tow all the time. Here is the thread link.

http://www.ramforum.com/showthread.php?t=41378