My SRW 3500 4x4 squats way down in the back when I install my 10' Lance camper. As soon as it touches the overload springs it stops. Is there a way to lower the overload blocks so they contact sooner? Or is there a larger rubber block that the overloads contact to prevent this? Airbags?

 

Probably somebody that knows more about this than me should answer your question. But, to me it sounds like it is doing what it is supposed to do. The regular springs are in place and keep your truck riding normally unloaded or lightly loaded. But the overloads are there for when you load it real heavy, like with the truck camper.

Airbags might help. You may be pushing the limits of the tires too, since your truck is a SRW.

 

Steelydan,
You need a set of airbags such as air lift or firestone ride rite. Get the 5000 pound ones and you will be riding level and your suspension will be able to handle obstacles. Whoever sold you the camper should have done the sales pitch on you. ks

 

There is a larger bump stop that goes in place of the factory little thing. They are called Timbrens. They work great when loaded. If you look at my gallery I had them on there when I took that picture. They sit about 1/2" above the rear axle when the truck isn't loaded and will make contact when a load is placed on it. They say you can't feel them when your empty but I sure could. It only allows the springs and shocks to move an inch before they hit. I took them off and was going to cut a inch off and reinstall but i'm going to get airbags. They aren't bad but the wife is top heavy and didn't like the "bouncing" when unloaded. PM me if you need more info.

 

I just installed Firestone airbags to solve that problem. Reasonably priced and easy to install and really help with a load

 

I would have to say this is somewhat normal....if people search back they will find many 2500 owners unhappy about ride quality and having stiff suspension in comparison to a 3500. The reason was that the 3500 uses a softer main spring for unloaded driving and the main spring bottoms out easily onto the overloads (which are much stronger than the 2500's) for the heavier weight, hence why the 2500 rides harsher because it doesn't have the overloads that a 3500 has. You can still install helper springs of somesort if you desire but as far as the springs hitting the overloads and stopping...I would have to say that is how the suspension system on the 3500 was designed and the trade off is a softer ride unloaded with decent payload capacity.

 

How heavy is the camper? I use to have a 8 foot slide in with a 4 horse bumper pull trailer hooked and didn't touch the helper springs on my last Dodge.Just curious.

 

Look at my sig for modifications to the rear suspension - I have a 10-4 camper that sits level when we're loaded (including full fresh water tank, canoe on the roof, wife & kids and full kit) - truck and camper scale at some 13,500 and yes, I have a SRW. Lance's are real nice but if I recall notoriously heavy so you'll need at least Timbrens, and possibly an additional leaf in the main pack plus a 5-pack overloads. Timbrens might be good enough and their beauty is that you only make contact when loaded. I went for the main pack and overload upgrades for added stability.

 

Steve034x4

Where did you get your 19.5" wheels, they look pretty good.

 

Got my wheels from Stockton Wheels in Calif - good customer service from these guys. At the time Rickson couldn't supply wheels with OEM offset but it's worth checking them out now as a second option. Remember that these puppies are heavy - with tires on each corner weighs around 150#, but these are H-rated tires. I put in a support underneath the spare (I have a 19.5 spare also) as I was concerned that the bump load on the highway would rip out the OEM spare tire winch - and some poor bloke behind me would have a real bad day. Also make sure you get the OEM offset unless you want the tires sticking out and shot blasting the paint off your rig (or buy big flares).

 

Camper is heavy. However if you look at the overloads on a 3500 their is about 3-4" on mine before they contact the contact piece bolted to the frame. They also have a rubber sleeve over the contact piece. I guess I am looking for a thicker rubber sleeve, say 2.5" or so, then the ride quality unloaded would be the same, but when you loaded her up it would only travel 2.5" to hit the heavier spring.

I bought this camper when I had an F-250 ford 4x4 and in all honesty it handled the load better. However it did not go up the hills anywhere near as well, brake as well or get the MPG this Dodge gets. PS I love it..

 

I run Supersprings on my 2006 2500 Megacab and an Alpinlite 9.5 (made for shortbed camper) and feel they work well. Cheaper then overloads and easy to install.

 

Hi,

I carry a pretty heavy camper on our 2500 SRW, 11550 GVW, I put the firestone 5K air bags on. Truck is high in the back (with camper) at 60PSI.

The Firestones were bolt on with no drilling. About $230 and 2 hours to install.

I am very happy with them. Stock ride quality when empty and awsome upside capacity.

I second the motion on the great brakes, power and fuel mileage. 15.2 mpg over 3100 miles with the camper on.

Regards,

Jim B

 

yup, get the firestone air bags, and you won't look back.
totally bolt on, air down for a better ride empty, air up for heavy loads. mine is usually at 20lbs and it make the rear sit about an inch higher then before.

 

Hi Steve,
I was very interested in you comments about load capacities. My wife and I will be
getting an Alaskan camper, 10 ft., extended cabover and with that, pasengers,gas, tools.etc. we will be carrying a load of 2900 to 3000 lbs. I am hoping to put this on an 02 or 03 Dodge diesel 3500 SRW 4X4, 6sp., long bed extended cab(which I have to buy). From what I have been able to figure out, that is way pushing the payload of 2680lb. with a GVWR of 9900. I don't particularly want to go up to a dually with a payload of 4400 and a GVWR of 12000 and sacrifice mpg and add 20 inches of width to the truck. However, for insurance and legal load limit requirements and perhaps other reasons I don't know about, am I forced to go dually? Yet, you are carrying 13500 on your SRW. It seems Ford 350 SRW has a payload of 4100 or so,but I would prefer to go with Dodge.

Thanks for your comments or anyone else's,

Wayne