Is air suspension worth it?

[Downytide]

Hi all, I had put deposit down for a Rebel, there was a mix up on paperwork so the delivery is taking longer than expected, however, they offered a similarily equipped truck with air suspension, I'm slightly hesitant since the last gen rebel suspension is well documented, but intrigued by its ability.

Is it worth it? Will it give me problems in Canadian winter?

 

[InstrumentTech]

I'm not sure what the newer ones are like, but I have a 2013 Ram with the air suspension. Worked great for the first year, and then the winters after that I had nothing but problems. It was every winter once it dropped below 10 deg. C I would lose it again. Many man many dealer trips, parts changed, worked again for a while and the next year would be right back where I was too before.

I think these systems are better suited for the warmer weather, but here in Canada not so much. Just my personal experience with the air suspension.

 

[Snakes709]

If you live in southern states, yes. But if you live north where it gets cold during winters, then no. I had a 2016. Was fine for the first winter but this past winter it **** the bed and caused so many issues. Traded it in for my 2019 with no air ride.

 

[CaptainCJ35]

I think the concerns based on the previous gen Air Suspension are well founded. That said, I haven't heard of many issues on the 5th generation... time will tell I guess. It'll be under warranty for a while, and after that I suspect there will be aftermarket upgrades/replacements on the market. Air Suspension is becoming far more commonplace these days, with a lot of manufacturers adopting it. I think that means reliability will go up and repair/replacement costs will go down.

I was very much in a similar situation, trying to get a Laramie with the Off Road Package when the dealer turned me on to my Rebel which I've only had a month or so. The Air Suspension been working without issue. I leave it in Normal, it goes in to Aero mode on the highway, goes back to Normal when I slow down. The ride is excellent, and yet again today someone remarked about it. I've used Entry Mode a few times putting heavy things in the bed. I've also heard it self-leveling from time to time. Plus... it's cool.

So... is it "worth" it? I honestly can't say. It does make the truck more adaptable, usable, flexible, etc. To what degree I'm not sure. For me, it was included in the truck and I got a deal I was happy with, but I don't know if I would have sprung for it if I ordered the truck. I think it's all relative.

 

[Steveu]

4,000 miles on my Longhorn and zero issues and I cannot stress enough how much more enjoy this truck over my last two Raptors and a Tundra.

 

[RAMpage]

I had zero issues with the air suspension on my last truck and it would constantly be in the -30's and even -40 at times here in the winter. It was on a 2015 RAM. It was a must have on my 2019 Rebel as it makes loading/unloading so much easier and every time I have some weight on/in the back it never sags.

 

[Neurobit]

If you live in southern states, yes. But if you live north where it gets cold during winters, then no. I had a 2016. Was fine for the first winter but this past winter it **** the bed and caused so many issues. Traded it in for my 2019 with no air ride.

Different system...

 

[DraKhen99]

I love it on my Limited! For me, it was one of the "killer apps" the new RAM had over the Ford.

Mine has the issue where if you lower via the key fob, most of the time it won't remember to raise itself back up when you start driving, but 2 quick flicks of the toggle and she's right back up, and then normal operation resumes. I love how smooth the truck rides, and would buy it again.

Of course, I haven't had mine through a mid-Atlantic winter yet, so we'll see how it holds up.

-John

 

[Downytide]

Different system...

I've heard of that, do you know what has been updated for the air suspension?

I'm not too worried about long term, as I tend to trade in my daily driver every two years, still prefer a painless two years vs constantly having things fixed.

 

[Snakes709]

Different system...

Still the same design. Nitrogen filled closed system. When a bag leaks it brings in outside moist air from behind the tail light. That moist air freezes in the valves and compressor. Unless they added a really good air dryer, the system is useless in winters. May work fine for a winter or two, but it will fail and once it fails, it will never ride normal again and will have constant issues. And on top of that. FCA still claims there is nothing wrong with the design so i doubt they changed the system if they thought nothing was wrong.

 

[VaderRebel]

As another Canadian customer burnt by the 4th Gen Air Ride Debacle I can easily suggest... do not buy a Ram with air ride in Canada.

You will regret it. Folks will try to convince you that the 5th Gen is a redesign and other fictitious rumors... it's your money.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[RAMpage]

Still the same design. Nitrogen filled closed system. When a bag leaks it brings in outside moist air from behind the tail light. That moist air freezes in the valves and compressor. Unless they added a really good air dryer, the system is useless in winters. May work fine for a winter or two, but it will fail and once it fails, it will never ride normal again and will have constant issues. And on top of that. FCA still claims there is nothing wrong with the design so i doubt they changed the system if they thought nothing was wrong.

4 brutal Canadian winters on mine and still working like a champ.

 

[Rototerrier]

I preferred the ride of my last 19 without air. The air in my current one is wobbly. I installed a Hellwig Sway Bar and am using the most aggressive setting and that took out most of the wobble. It feels good enough to me now that I don't notice and wouldn't complain...but stock, it was really bad. I was regretting getting it until I did the upgrade.

But, others seem to like the ride, so I am thinking it's all personal preference. I may have also been more susceptible to noticing how much better the standard suspension felt since I'd gotten used to how it felt for 4k miles. I now have 7k miles on the air and I still feel like the ride isn't as planted as the standard.

But, that said, I really really really like the auto leveling feature for pulling my trailer and when I load up the bed.

Would I get it again...maybe. And that's an honest maybe. I really don't know. There are trade offs with everything I suppose.

 

[Snakes709]

4 brutal Canadian winters on mine and still working like a champ.

Assuming you live in ottawa. You dont have harsh winters like in alberta. That being said, give it more time and it will. Mine made it through the first winter fine. 3/4 of the way through the second winter with a week long temps of minus 29, feeling like minus 35 to minus 40 kill the suspension. Had to wrap a battery blanket around the valves and plug it in at night and then plug it into a inverter while driving since fca said there was nothing wrong.

 

[RAMpage]

Assuming you live in ottawa. You dont have harsh winters like in alberta. That being said, give it more time and it will. Mine made it through the first winter fine. 3/4 of the way through the second winter with a week long temps of minus 29, feeling like minus 35 to minus 40 kill the suspension. Had to wrap a battery blanket around the valves and plug it in at night and then plug it into a inverter while driving since fca said there was nothing wrong.

Disagree lol. I lived in Calgary for several years and I would gladly take the winter there over the winter here. Sounds like you just had bad luck with yours.

 

[CaptainCJ35]

So the OP's question was is it "worth" it? I think the responses show it's completely subjective.

I like it. I think it's a really cool feature that truly adds functionality, and differentiates the RAM. To me the question is, how much so vs. steel springs? That's my internal debate. And admittedly, I have no frame of reference because this is my first truck other than a bunch of test drives over a year or so of looking and investigating.

Maybe other's know better than I, but it looks like that if years down the road the Air Suspension quits, I can rip it out and put in steel springs. Do a full suspension upgrade that many do with steel sprung Rebels anyway. Again, I bought this truck off the lot, I didn't order it, and I was very happy with the deal I got. So what's the difference?

I understand the frustration and trepidation others have after bad experiences... totally justified. But I also think Air Suspension is evolving. Ford is putting it on their premier Lincoln SUV's like the Aviator. I think it's great to have the option on a truck... and adds capability to the truck. There's a big market opportunity to make cost effective and better performing replacement Air Suspension components too. I'm not minimizing other's experiences, but I think like any other technology, there's constant improvement and I think it will be the case here as well.

 

[Snakes709]

Disagree lol. I lived in Calgary for several years and I would gladly take the winter there over the winter here. Sounds like you just had bad luck with yours.

Along with thousands, maybe even 10’s of thousands between canadian and american owners. Yea.....unlucky.

The day i brought my ram in, there was 13 other rams in that day alone, ahead of me at that dealership, all for the same thing. Couldnt get a loaner or a rental because every dodge dealership had booked them already. You go out on the dealers lot and all you see is rams slammed down and resting on the bump stops. But yea, im the unlucky one....

 

[Utahjazzman]

How much does it help with rear end squat when towing/hauling?

 

[VaderRebel]

How much does it help with rear end squat when towing/hauling?

It's strongest advantage is towing. There is no better option, in my opinion, for level towing. You could upgrade a coil spring truck with rear bags as well... but with the integrated controls and all the ride height options you are better off with factory air ride. Hands down.

Unless you live in a cold winter location. Then it's Russian roulette.

 

[Rototerrier]

How much does it help with rear end squat when towing/hauling?

100%

That's kinda the point of it. Unless you exceed operation limits, it always levels itself out.

Back when I had coils, I always made sure to get my mule on my trailer perfectly balanced to keep the truck from squatting too much. With air, I just drive it up anywhere, within reason of course, and the air suspension levels right out.