Towing without Air Bags

[392DevilDog]

https://www.hdrams.com/ram-renaming-its-ram-heavy-duty-laramie-longhorn-for-2021/

 

[rule18]

Thanks guys you have made me feel better about it, one more quick question what the deal with all I'm hearing about a leveling kit?, Is the truck not level?, is it for the back or the front or all the way around?.

Remember my last truck is basically 20 years old, and I haven't kept up. Thanks

Most of our trucks have a rake to them when unloaded. Some folks choose to install a leveling kit up front to level out the truck. That kit makes your truck's rear squat (if there is any) look a whole lot worse when there's a trailer on it.

 

[mtofell]

And the best part of a levelling kit is your headlights blind everyone you drive at.

 

[Firebird]

I tow my travel trailer all day long with stock suspension, 7000 lbs dry. 6.4 moves it with authority!

 

[HDGoose]

My air bag is usually sitting in the passenger seat when towing the camper.

 

[Forrest Alley]

HDGoose, post: 2379964, member: 42206"]My air bag is usually sitting in the passenger seat when towing the camper.

Oh my,

 

[GsRAM]

The thing to remember is the coil springs on the 2500s are huge. Nothing like a car or 1500 coil spring. They are massive, thick coils. You should not have any issues.

Freight trains ride on coil springs and they haul a good bit of weight.

 

[62Blazer]

As mentioned above there is no issue with it being coil springs. Really a coil spring setup should haul and tow better than an equivalent leaf spring setup. This is because on a leaf spring setup those springs are also tasked with handling the side-to-side lateral loads and torque wrap, along with holding up the weight and handling the bumps. On a coil spring all of the links and trackbar/panhard bar handle the lateral loads and torqe wrap, so the only thing the spring spring has to worry about is holding up the weight and the bumps and not keeping the axle centered under the truck.

 

[392DevilDog]

Railcars have used them for a long long time. This one was built in 1969. The standalone one is from even earlier.

I always chuckle when someone says the RAM SUCKS cause of coil springs. The 1500 doesnt suck because of coil springs...but rather cause people made trucks suck and expect them to drive like cars.

 

[RAM DRVR]

And the best part of a levelling kit is your headlights blind everyone you drive at.

You'll get the same result with a squatted truck.

This is easily taken care of with a quick headlight position adjustment.

 

[Orangejbird]

https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/inde...0&make_select=620&model_select=8129&x=46&y=22

I have these on my 2020 1500 Classic Tradesman occasionally pulling a 10K tandem trailer. Add air to return truck to stock height with trailer loaded and it rides well.
https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=54605

 

[68PowerWagon]

The thing to remember is the coil springs on the 2500s are huge. Nothing like a car or 1500 coil spring. They are massive, thick coils. You should not have any issues.

Freight trains ride on coil springs and they haul a good bit of weight.

And they ride much better than leaf springs!!!

 

[Bob Macknight]

WDH is a must,with your setup airbags shouldnt be needed but it wouldnt hurt to be on the side of caution and go with a good set of firestone airbags with the onboard compressor

 

[2018 Hemi]

I just towed 1200 miles with my 12,000 lb RV. Surprisingly it did a great job but was wondering. 6.4 with 373 gears, 10 mpg..sure did miss my Cummins though.

 

[Bldrinker]

I just towed 1200 miles with my 12,000 lb RV. Surprisingly it did a great job but was wondering. 6.4 with 373 gears, 10 mpg..sure did miss my Cummins though.

10mpg? Really? Must be zero hills. How fast are you driving. I’m getting 7mpg. I tow 12k tow 60-70 depending on conditions.

 

[dhay13]

yeah really. 10? My son gets about 8.0-8.5 towing his 9000lb TT doing between 65-70 and I get about 9.0-9.5 towing my 9000lb boat

 

[thomas5853]

I get about 10 using cruise at 65 pulling 7000 lbs TT. I get about 7-8 using cruise at 75-80, depending on terrain and situation. I have a 3.73.


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[392DevilDog]

No issue with the coils holding weight.

 

[GsRAM]

I just towed 1200 miles with my 12,000 lb RV. Surprisingly it did a great job but was wondering. 6.4 with 373 gears, 10 mpg..sure did miss my Cummins though.

That's because at 12k loaded trailer weight your in Cummins diesel territory, especially with a 3.73 geared 6speed 2500.

I wouldn't want to tow north of 10k with mine.

But good to hear you were happy with the performance. 10mpg at 12k weight is great for a gas powered 2500 in my opinion

 

[Forrest Alley]

My 2001 Cummins got 24 to 25 mph with 355 rear at 71 mph 1900 rpm's, towing it average 14 to 15 mpg. When I bought the truck in July of 2000, I left Richmond Virginia and drove to Middle Town Connecticut, and the fuel gage read between 1/2 and 1/4, 35 gal tank. She has been a good one.