Ok, I have a 2004 Dodge 3500 4x4 QC Reg. Bed and it rides like crap. When driving over a speed bump (unloaded) the front is smooth, and when the rear tires go over it just about cracks your teeth open. The truck came with airbags in the back, and I was told to keep them at 15psi unless needed for towing. Would Rancho 9000's adjusted to smoothest ride help at all, or is there something else I need to do.

Also if it matters, I have the BFG Rough Trail tires.

 

Air psi in the tires(not over 60 psi UNLOADED/rear tires) and I bet those air bags.

 

i say take the tires down to 60 psi, if you dont tow heavy, and lose the airbags

just my opinion

 

I thought I read to keep the bags at 5psi unless towing.

 

That may be true, all I know is the guy at 4WheelParts said that running them at less than 10-15psi could allow them to rip apart.

 

Its your airbags. Run them at 5 psi unloaded.

 

When commuting to/from work I leave my tires at 55psi front/50psi back. I also did this with two sets of tires on my 96'. I commute with a guy with a 99' CTD. He uses about the same pressure. I've tried running high pressure in the tires for better fuel economy. Made no difference in my 96' or current 06'. Might as well enjoy the better ride. The lower pressure also allows the tire to present a flat surface to the road.


edit:The Rancho 9000's made a big difference in ride on my 96'. Haven't had the chance yet to change out my 06'.

 

Rancho 9000's on the rear of my truck DOES NOT keep it from jarring your teeth when going over speed bump. My Air Rites said 5 psi minimum.

 

15# no less in the bags....................

 

Air Rite installation instructions .......check out the bottom of page 4.

 

Minimum pressure in Firestone Ride-rite bags is 5 p.s.i.

Minimum pressure in Air-Lift Superduty bags is 5 p.s.i.

This information comes directly from each manufacturers webpage. Any more than 5 p.s.i. and you will start to feel the bags.

 

Ok, well i'm going outside to deflate my bags from 15psi down to 5psi. hopefully this will help...

 

Well I deflated the airbags down to about 5psi, and I deflated tires to 55psi in front and 50psi in the back. I think it rides a little smoother, but not alot. I guess its just what you get for driving a 3500

 

Thats a stiff set of leaf springs for not much weight. It happens on an empty truck - oh well. Throw 1000 lbs in the back and she'll ride beautifully!

 

Was waffling about airbags for hauling the camper myself, but went for a set of superspring overloads, figured it was quicker and easier to try the q&d solution first - added benefit is that it really smoothed out the unloaded ride, much to my surprise!

Turns out that the way the supersprings mount on the 3500, the factory overloads are somewhat engaged even at no load, which dramatically changes the empty ride - stiffens it up a bit, but also reduces the rear end bouncing around on rough roads/speed bumps.

FYI if you want to try these, the install is a piece of cake, but note that with the factory overloads the 3500 does not need the extra install kit, but it does need a set of mounting plates (just spacers, to keep the springs from hitting the ubolt ends, and free for the asking from the factory, including shipping). When I bought my set of springs for a pretty good price at the 4 wheel parts show last summer, there was some confusion on this point, and they sold me a mounting kit I didn't actually need... which they then had the gall to decline a refund on - pretty low return way for them to lose a customer forever!

The 2500 does need the mounting kit (and not the plates), and there may not be the same effect on unloaded ride, kind of depends on how much the overloads are engaged running empty.

www.supersprings.com for details - nice folks, quite helpful.

Since doing the springs, haven't gotten around to installing the ranchos - kind of like changing one variable at a time, in the classic experimental method