I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD short box 2x4 that I pull a 30' 8500 lb travel trailer. The ride solo is not bad however, when I pull the trailer the ride is harsh. I am using a equalizer weight distributing with sway control. I have been reading about the Kalderman 2 bag rear system.

Any input as to how I could reduce the harshness would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

How do you mean harsh? Maybe try putting more weight on the hitch itself, try not using the weight distribution and try out the ride. Usually with more weight on the truck the better the ride.

 

Ya you need to be more specific, my trucks have always been a better ride when pulling. The one thing I could guess on when pulling without airbags if you hit a dip at high speeds you can bounce for a ways, airbags will eliminate that.

 

I pull the same weight with my 3500 and the ride is beter when pulling. I think you need to check the weight distribution of the loaded trailer itself, then check the hitch setup. Good luck!

 

I've hauled 2 skidsteers on a 24ft gooseneck dovetail trailer and that was harsh, as in when the trailer went over bumps, expansion joints, etc.. it would jerk the truck around. That was my fault for having too much pin weight though. That was before the airbags and the springs were inverted.

 

sounds like you have to much tension on the torsion bars.

 

Last weekend when towing it was difficult to speak as our voices had a vibration to our speach. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

We have about 600 pounds of tongue weight - the trailer literature indicates that the tongue weight should be about 630 pound

I believe that the anti-sway bars may be the problem. I have an Equalizer hitch setup. I was told that the nuts on the antisway pivot should be at 45 to 60 foot pounds of torque. A friend who has the same hitch set up could easily move his bars whereas my are very stiff - hard to move.

I am going to adjust the nuts with a torque wrench and see if this solves the problem

I have researched the Kelderman air suspension setup with 2 rear bags. This may be a solution if adjusting the hitch doesn't work.

Thanks for the help. Still love the truck especially the cummins.

 

I have the 2 bag set up on my 98.5 3500 and let me tell you it rides better than most cars. I mostly pull GN's the ride is like stock when you are loaded this system is for confort when empty when your springs are the stiffest loaded I have up to 6800lbs of tongue weight. They are worth the $$$$

 

I think I know want your problem is. The way you are hooking the trailer to the truck is putting just enough weight on the truck that the overload springs are touching, but not enough to compress them so when riding along and hitting a bump the spring is jarring the passengers.This is the case when I pull my bumper hitch cattle trailer .
Try loading the trailer a little heavier on the tongue or drop a link on the chains. Keep playing with it and I think you will find the sweet spot.

Also it will never ride like it does when empty even if you add the air bags. But you should be able to make it ride better than you have described. Good luck

 

Well almost right but NOT. No overload springs on these, no camper special stuff like the older models just 3" wide leaf springs and an overload bump stop unless you have a 3500 which does have the extra(overload) leaf spring.

 

for 600 lbs of tongue weight, you should not have weight bars. Additionally, as mentioned above, you have your bars WAY too tight.

 

Another part of this question is how much of the harsh ride is being passed directly to the trailer through the W.D. equipment. Conventional wisdom with the Reese type hitch is to go to lighter bars that have more "give" when hooking up to a tautly suspended tow vehicle.

Your trailer is very close in weight to mine, and I have 1,000 lb bars now. I'm going to 650s before I tow it again.

 

maybe i'm in the same boat as you. i also have a `95 2500 2wd ctd that i bought used. the guy that owned it before me had a 5th wheel installed, a u.s. gear exhaust brake, and a rear 2-bag system. the air system has been deflated completely for a while because the hoses have dried and cracked; i haven't gotten around to replacing them because it doesn't seem to help the ride any. but then again i don't tow anything substantial.

ever since i've owned it the ride feels like the shocks were replaced by steel bars (very rough), and i sigh everytime i have to drive down a road with bulldozer bumps in it because it feels like the whole truck is about to vibrate to pieces. i think it bounces over bumps rather than absorbing them, but i'm clueless as to what to do for a smoother ride.