Another rough ride question on a 3500

Well our last trip out west with our 2006 DRW 3500 and truck camper was just too jarring for my wife. We drove 8500 miles and every night she was just worn out and sore. We are in our 70's and she has MS to boot. But we love truck camping and are trying to hold off on a motorhome. They are comfortable for sure but expensive and don't fit well in those really neat off road areas and national parks we love to explore.

So I have 4 ideas on a way to soften the ride and still handle the camper load and would like input on them.

1. Today I saw the offer on the 2600 pound airbags from Hellwig. I'm wondering if I removed the 2 top overload springs (the 2 that are above the 4 main ones) and using the Hellwig airbags to pick up the difference wouldn't soften it a lot.

2, I may also replace those solid rubber bump stops with some Timbrens or Sumos

3. The truck has 85000 miles on it so I thought replacing the rear shocks with the adjustable ranchos (or just bilstens ?) would be a good idea as well.

4. One last thing. I also want to lower the rear some. A 3500 sits pretty high empty. That makes loading a camper harder since you have to raise it another 6 inches just to clear the bed. Any suggestions along those lines?

 

I'm buying a set of the Hellwigs just to help smooth the ride when in rough conditions, for my 3500.

 

Kelderman 4 link should do everything you want. Their two stage should help the ride some but won't get rid of the butt high unloaded.

What camper are you using? (wet weight) I have a 4500lb wet Eagle cap 950 and found that the Torklift stable loads helped with keeping the truck level and gave a better ride than bags. If you are close but not fully on the overloads they help a lot as they get you on the overloads sooner which stops the impact when you are bouncing off them going down the road. Being fully on or fully off the overloads give a decent ride. The transition between those two conditions beat you pretty good.

 

I'm using a bigfoot 2500 9.6. Its rated at 2800# about. With that and all the other stuff I weighted in at 11,600 which is the GWWR its rated for. My previous Lance camper weighed 1000# more and the ride was a little better, but still too rough.

Kelderman does not make the the 4 link system for a 2WD truck. Only the 2 link can be used on my truck. I'm not familiar with the Torklift product, but I will look into it. What way does the Torlift help your package?

 

The stable loads put you on the overloads sooner so you don't get the bump as it transitions onto the overload when hitting a bump. They give a more consistent loaded ride.





BTW: There are two versions of the Stable loads. You want the ones that replace the overload spring pads, not the ones that mount to the large leaf at the bottom of the springs.

 

Duplicate post. Fun of using phone.

 

Honestly you can invest thousands in different cures but in reality the ride will never change dramatically.

 

OK I see how it works after looking on the site. I can see the advantage when loaded but wouldn't that increase the harshness went unloaded?

 

You mean I cant have my cake and eat it too??:-laf

 

Normally no. When unloaded the stable loads are still about an inch from the springs. You will feel a speed bump sooner but normally it rides the same empty. If I'm taking a long trip with a load that puts the stablelords close but not on the springs, I'll switch back to the stock pads as transition is a bit harsh. You want to be fully on or off the overloads not constantly transitioning.

 

Unfortunately the only real fix is a new truck. If it is in your budget you might be surprised what the old truck will bring, and if not real picky on the new truck they can be had for a relatively reasonable price. Strong emphasis on relative.

 

Two ideas...
1) I replaced the stock shocks on my 2007, 5.9, 2500, 4x4 with a set of yellow Bilsteins. They improved the ride.
2) My wife and I both suffer with back issues. I already have an air system on my truck for my exhaust brake. I have looked into AIR-Ride seating. There are outfits that make direct install air seat frames that bolt up to the Dodge seat bolt pattern on the floor and then you mount a low profile air ride seat. This is the seat I am looking into http://www.seat-specialists.com/products/knoedler-extreme-lowrider.html There are others.

 

Thanks for that link to the Air-Ride seats. They are a little hard to find for our trucks. Here is one place that has them for our truck for about $2000 for a pair with compressor. http://www.suburbanseats.com/p/standard-gray-vinyl-dodge-pick-up-truck-seat-pair

 

I went out looking the other day. Saw one with a $70k+ sticker on it :--) Do they really ride that much better??

 

Paging member MWilson----
hes a heavy truck parts man. He helped international member Ozymiandis source and fit air ride seats in his '03.

Worth looking them up.

 

The ride can be improved a good amount with custom built progressive leaf springs and a light airbag set up for when the camper is on.I have Deaver rear leaves spec'd by Carli with the Long travel airbags.I only run 20-30 psi in the bags with a quad,dirtbike and firewood squeezed in every nook and cranny along with about 1200lb tw from the trailer

 

Here's a link
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/252752-Ozymandias-is-in-the-States/page2
to Ozy's thread. It's long winded but there are pictures and part numbers. I know if I had the budget, or the pain, it would have been done already.

 

Actually yes they do ride that much better, but not 70k better. That is why I suggested you look at lesser equipped trucks that will do what you want but not have all the bells and whistles. An example is the truck the editor Robert Patton purchased and modified to fit his needs. Start with a tradesman trim level and see what you think. You still might be just as surprised to see what your old truck will bring on the used market, especially if it is well cared for.