Maybe this is a dumb idea / question but here goes.

I have a 2004.5 2500 long bed 4x4 quad cab, stock bed removed with 7'by 8' flat bed and I installed air bag suspension in the rear. I love having the ability to increase my spring rate based on trailer (gooseneck) weight on the bed. The next truck will be a 2011 / 2012 long horn crew 4x4 with 8' aluminum bed.

Here is my wild / dumb thought - is there a way to have the truck sit "lower" and change the ride height with front and rear air springs thus when on the highway you could be sitting lower (say 1.5") and see an improvement in the fuel economy. The newer 1500's have this option. The rear seems pretty straight forward assuming you can get a lower rate leaf spring. The front - while I have seen the shocks with the air springs built, the challenge is finding a coil spring that is a lower rate so with no air pressure in the front, the vehicle would sit 1.5" lower.

If you want the look of stock or slightly lifted truck, just turn up the air pressure.

Again, maybe a dumb idea. I just hear people with 2wd rams that get far better mpg that the 4x4s and maybe this is partially due to how they sit in the front.

 

2wd gets better milage due to less weight and fewer turning parts...

Lower will help.. BUT watching your tire pressure and driving REAL NICE would help lots also..

 

That aluminum bed on your future truck will save you some fuel and make you more flexible with loading your trailer as you can put more weight on the hitch if need be.
I have a 3500 chassis cab with aluminum bed and my truck weights 900 pounds less than a identical truck with steel deck and fold up sides.
As for aerodynamics do you use a winter-front on your truck? That helps warm up the engine faster and smooth out the front of the truck for better aerodynamics.
In day to day driving it's difficult to pinpoint how much a winter-front or aluminum bed will actually save but after 3 years both investments I think payed for themselves in fuel savings.

 

The 2014's are supposed to have air suspension, no springs so the dealer tells me.

 

So you have no idea how much difference they've made, but you're pretty sure they've saved you thousands of dollars in 3 years?

 

Maybe a deep front air dam would give the same effect as lowering the entire truck. Just a thought.

 

I think this is where it is. I've seen this discussion take place when the stock front bumper is removed and an aftermarket replacement is installed. The stock bumpers have a lower valence that directs air underneath the truck, below the front axle and below the mid-line of the tires too. When going to an aftermarket bumper, they are usually cut higher for approach clearance, as well as have higher sides. That in turn lets air higher up under the truck, which is less aerodynamic and adds drag under the truck.

I don't recall where I've seen it but someone with a Ram has done some experimenting using different height lower valences vs mpg. Worth searching for if you're interested in it.

 

Well one way or another I needed a bed on the truck and the aluminum bed was only 500 $ more than a comparable steel bed in my case and the winter-front is around 100 $ I think ( came with the truck in my case). So it's more like hundreds of dollars but you do the math, I have 95000 miles on the truck and what I hear from other owners of of a 2011 3500 truck I get 16 mpg over there 15 mpg average driving mostly city. With diesel over that time around 4 $ a gallon that makes 1500 $ + in fuel I didn't burn.

 

i came back after a long hiatus on the forums to find about more about this very topic.

i have an early 2005 4x4 and have been recently searching for a more aero front bumper, and also the different air ride systems to lower the truck for highway hauls.

what is this 100$ winter front? i get the concept and know that some newer vehicles have active shutting grills, but what is this? a bolt on solution that does the same? though ugly, i've even taped cardboard to the front bumper of rental vehicles when making long trips.

Shorts, was that valence comparison on this forum?

 

I'd say not worth the $ and effort for a minimal gain, but a reasonable option for the lower front spring rate could be put Hemi springs in the front. Surely they are not as high spring rate as the diesel sinc ethe Hemis don't seem to ride any harsher.

 

Gosh I don't remember if it was here or not, sorry. Try googling "air valence mpg cummins" or variations of that and see if it brings up some hits.



I agree. The money spent purchasing parts offsets any gain and would take a long time to recover.

 

This isn't a new concept as Range Rover has been doing this for decades now. Lincoln played with it in a Continental for a few years and my Mercedes does this as well.

All have air springs/struts.

Kelderman, while expensive, might be the best option. It also has a superior ride.

 

I wish I had a link,,there was a guy on one of the Ford forums who
did modifications on his truck looking for more MPG.
He kept accurate MPG records for every modification,,
his biggest gain was lowering the truck. I don't remember any more details.

 

SO,

my idea was to lower the truck for most of my driving/towing, and have an air system to raise it to at least stock if not..an inch or so higher when -trying- to off road and play.

What are my options? looking thru magazines, it seems noone with air leveling is doing that, nor are the systems designed for that.

I cant be the only one who wants this can i????

BTW, fords newer HD trucks have a NICE 6? inch Airdam that im looking for to fit on the bottom of my bumper.

 

Im thinking that anyone in racing has figured this out ages ago, all there vehicles are lowered and have air dam`s, nascar`s would look pretty funny with a 6" lift.