Should I install air bags?

[RAM DRVR]

You said MegaCab, Limited, and CTD all in one sentence. I'm also assuming 4wd... You probably have close to the lowest available payload with that setup. Realistically though, that's not a horrible payload considering all the options you have. Is this a 2500 or 3500 SRW? Assuming 2500. If so, the suspension limits your payload as well. My MC Laramie payload is about the same as yours.

Yep, but will be OK with my 1000 hitch weight and 10,000 pound toy hauler.

 

[nlambert182]

You may be closer to the 1,500 lb payload if you're factoring tongue weight at 15%... but loaded carefully you'll probably be fine. The TT's we've been looking at are in the 9,200 GVWR range. By the time we load up the way that we travel we're anticipating being right around the 1,650-1700 lb mark at most.

 

[Tulecreeper]

My 2023 2500 4x4 Limited MegaCab CTD payload is just under 1800 pounds. That’s why I will be sticking with a bumper pull RV and not going to a FW. The CTD reduces payload a lot!

If I would have ordered my exact truck, except with the diesel, my payload would have dropped from ~4000 to ~3100, so a loss of over 20%.

 

[ashman155]

I have installed airbags on every Ram 3500 diesel I have had. I had a 5th wheel trailer removed the airbags on the truck as I was waiting for my new truck to come in. I also sold the 5th wheel as I was going to pick up a new one. When driving down the highway at night as I had left work, had a short turn around on two days off to pick up new trailer, the back end sagged with the old trailer hooked up, as I'm driving down the highway a trucker was peeved at me for the way my lights where pointing. this guy kept flashing his lights at me about mine he thought i had my high beams on, flashed him back this went on for a bit until all of a sudden he turned on every light he had on his rig which he almost put me in the ditch. I was lucky I didn't hit the ditch with a roll over. After that I made sure that I had airbags in all the trucks to keep the whole rig level for night driving. You also get a smoother ride with the whole rig. Some may dispute this but I found it was suited for me. I did the Alaska Highway from Dawson, Yukon over the Top of the World to Chicken, Tok, Anchorage, to Homer, Alaska and I was sure glad to have them on. I took it easy and did not do warp speed on that highway like others do.

 

[nlambert182]

I've never seen a 3500 sag to that degree unless it was overloaded. My 3500 was perfectly level with 16.5k behind it. I never had an issue with my lights pointing too high. How heavy was this trailer?

 

[truck2014]

I've never seen a 3500 sag to that degree unless it was overloaded. My 3500 was perfectly level with 16.5k behind it. I never had an issue with my lights pointing too high. How heavy was this trailer?

I’ve bagged every 3500 I've had . My 3500 sags a bit , but I still like bringing it back up a bit , plus the fact I’ve adjusted the air pressure on the fly , and improved the ride on certain highways . Usually 30-40 in the bags , and good to go .

 

[truck2014]

The last time I checked I think some of the SRW 3500s with decent options had over 4K payload... maybe 4200/4300. That is pretty impressive and would handle OP's trailer with a moderate/normal amount of stuff in the trailer and truck (as long as he's not an anvil salesman). The whole fit the truck to the trailer or fit the trailer to the truck is a chicken/egg debate that can go on forever. Personally, I just have no desire to drive a DRW and would go pretty far down the road of picking a trailer that is SRW towable but I totally get it... everyone's priorities are different.

There was a day that the 2500, and the 3500 was the same truck , except the rear spring pack , sounds like now there is a difference in axles , and I would assume brakes? That’s possibly about it ? I know a lot of tires are the same E rated @ 3640 lbs @ 80 psi . I get kinda of a kick out of the weight police here . My big concern would always be tire rating . These truck are still the same motor, body etc , what the rear axle burns up on a 2500 with a 15000 GVWR fifth wheel,and doesn’t with a 3500 ? So you upgrade the rear springs ,now what kind of issues will you have with the 2500 , just asking , I’m sure the weight police will answer.

 

[truck2014]

UVW on the trailer is 12,100. I feel like an idiot, here, and I've never gone wrong following advice from you guys. Where did I go wrong? Everything I've seen on the website and in the manual suggests that I can pull this trailer. Can someone please point me to where the correct information that I am looking for is published.

You can pull that trailer just as well as any 3500 or for that matter any 4500 , you just can’t haul it . I don’t know enough about the newer trucks , and what makes the 2500 so much different than the 3500 . They are the same truck , and body as the 3500 . For years I’ve seen this argument about the 2500, and 3500 . Of course some of the 2500 guys making the argument doing upgrades making the 2500 just as capable as the 3500 , just doesn’t change the door sticker .

 

[18CrewDually]

There was a day that the 2500, and the 3500 was the same truck , except the rear spring pack , sounds like now there is a difference in axles , and I would assume brakes? That’s possibly about it ? I know a lot of tires are the same E rated @ 3640 lbs @ 80 psi . I get kinda of a kick out of the weight police here . My big concern would always be tire rating . These truck are still the same motor, body etc , what the rear axle burns up on a 2500 with a 15000 GVWR fifth wheel,and doesn’t with a 3500 ? So you upgrade the rear springs ,now what kind of issues will you have with the 2500 , just asking , I’m sure the weight police will answer.

FYI, 2500 & 3500 are FAR from the same. The rear end suspension on a 2500 is a narrow 5 link inboard frame mounted coil springs.
Airbags to assist in stability for any real weight helps alot. Ask any guy that found out the hard way when they put in their slip in camper. Alot of guys will also add a Helwig HD Swaybar to the rear for the sway.
You can see below how far inboard the springs are. They do not have the same ratings as a 3500 leaf spring.

 

[tron67j]

Exactly, if the 2500 and 3500 were identical except for one spring (they use different set ups) why design a 2500 at all. It would be much cheaper to make one truck and then option out the number of spring bars.

Trucks are rated by engineers and their design, one may think they know better and say just putting a different tire on or install bags fixes all, but that does not help people who really want to know.

 

[truck2014]

FYI, 2500 & 3500 are FAR from the same. The rear end suspension on a 2500 is a narrow 5 link inboard frame mounted coil springs.
Airbags to assist in stability for any real weight helps alot. Ask any guy that found out the hard way when they put in their slip in camper. Alot of guys will also add a Helwig HD Swaybar to the rear for the sway.
You can see below how far inboard the springs are. They do not have the same ratings as a 3500 leaf spring.
View attachment 536940

FYI, 2500 & 3500 are FAR from the same. The rear end suspension on a 2500 is a narrow 5 link inboard frame mounted coil springs.
Airbags to assist in stability for any real weight helps alot. Ask any guy that found out the hard way when they put in their slip in camper. Alot of guys will also add a Helwig HD Swaybar to the rear for the sway.
You can see below how far inboard the springs are. They do not have the same ratings as a 3500 leaf spring.
View attachment 536940

As said not familiar with the new 2500’s . Do they offer just a standard spring pack like the older 2500’s ? I can see where that suspension would prevent doing anything to increase any more capacity. Curious as to why the OP is asking about airbags , unless he has just the conventional springs , if they are even an option ?

 

[truck2014]

Exactly, if the 2500 and 3500 were identical except for one spring (they use different set ups) why design a 2500 at all. It would be much cheaper to make one truck and then option out the number of spring bars.

Trucks are rated by engineers and their design, one may think they know better and say just putting a different tire on or install bags fixes all, but that does not help people who really want to know.

You do realize there was a day the 2500 and the 3500 were separated by just exactly that , the amount of rear leaf springs , or size ?

 

[truck2014]

Exactly, if the 2500 and 3500 were identical except for one spring (they use different set ups) why design a 2500 at all. It would be much cheaper to make one truck and then option out the number of spring bars.

Trucks are rated by engineers and their design, one may think they know better and say just putting a different tire on or install bags fixes all, but that does not help people who really want to know.

Plus the fact that’s exactly what’s guys would do , upgrade the leaf springs , and add airbags .

 

[18CrewDually]

As said not familiar with the new 2500’s . Do they offer just a standard spring pack like the older 2500’s ? I can see where that suspension would prevent doing anything to increase any more capacity. Curious as to why the OP is asking about airbags , unless he has just the conventional springs , if they are even an option ?

We are posting on topic, which is a 2024 2500.
It does not matter what use to be, it is a coil sprung truck exactly like I posted in the picture. There is NO leaf spring heavier duty option. But also note airbags are available for a 2500. Again refer to the picture I posted.
This is why many recommend the OP should of bought a 3500 that has a higher capacities and a more stable platform.

 

[truck2014]

We are posting on topic, which is a 2024 2500.
It does not matter what use to be, it is a coil sprung truck exactly like I posted in the picture. There is NO leaf spring heavier duty option. But also note airbags are available for a 2500. Again refer to the picture I posted.
This is why many recommend the OP should have bought a 3500 that has a higher capacities and a more stable platform.

Did you not read what I said , I’m not arguing about what it is , I’m not interested nor need a 2500. I see now what’s being said about capacity , so those pictures you are showing is after market air bags ? The reason why the OP is asking about adding air bags ?

I do remember when the weight police would be all over the poor guy towing over the weight of the sticker on his door jamb of his 2600 , after he had upgraded the truck , and if you remember you could get the truck certified for additional weight rating .

I agree his truck won’t haul that fifth wheel, although it would tow it the same as a 3500 diesel

 

[FAAPOD]

Problem solved. See signature.

Thank you for the education. Fortunately, it wasn't nearly as painful as it could have been.

 

[18CrewDually]

Problem solved. See signature.

Thank you for the education. Fortunately, it wasn't nearly as painful as it could have been.

Congrats!! I might be a little biased but nothing beats the stability.

 

[18CrewDually]

Now that's out of the way, what 5er are we looking at?

 

[06 Dodge]

The payload sticker on my 2500 cummins, tradesman model is 2200 lbs. Given the tradesman model has less accessories the higher trims this is about the best you will get.

Some people claim the 2500 is nerfed at 10,000 GVWR which may be true, but the rear axle has a max weight rating of 3k lbs which you are very close to once you add passengers in the vehicle. Once you start loading that 5th wheel the pin weight could be as high as 3000 lbs, putting you over the rear axle weight rating.

Edit, I meant 6k on each axle. I got the 3k number because when I put my cummins on the scale empty that is roughly how much weight I had available on the rear axle.

My Bighorn has 2259 lbs of payload so your Tradesman must be loaded with plenty of options to only have 2200 lbs of payload....

 

[mtofell]

Nice job OP... glad we could all help.

Like some others I'm not up on the differences between 2500 and 3500 but I have heard there are more than there used to be. Back in 2014 when I bought my 2500 literally the only difference was the rear suspension and the emblems. I used to argue round and round on here and other boards with guys about that.

Fwiw, the coil springs on the 2500 are very stout and paired with a set of airbags are, IMO,a superior set up to the leafs only in the 3500. With my bags up to 90 I can put 3000# in the bed of the truck and it literally sags less than one inch. The coils offer a FAR better daily drive and handling too. Airbags get a bad rap as they are often are used to band-aid an otherwise inferior set up but the reality is bags are used on the best and most comfortable diesel-pusher chassis out there.

Back in 2014, which I can't believe is ten years ago, there was a regular poster on here that was one of the first to buy a 2500 w/coils and had a buddy with a 3500 w/leaf springs. He did a bunch of videos taking measurements under the same loads and I can't recall the exact outcome but the 2500 coils were very similar in capability. I know when I first got my truck I came out of a 2006 Dmax which pulled a couple ticks better than my Hemi but the handling and ride of the coils were far superior. Smooth rather than jarring is the best way I can describe it.

I guess to summarize, OP did a great job and now has the right tool for the job but don't be afraid to put the coils in the 2500 to the test.