New truck, new travel trailer first tow review.

[runamuck]

100% within the limits of my truck. I set the cruise at 70 and I'm very comfortable on the highway. Just don't look at the gas gauge lol. What axle ratio do you have?

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

I have the 3.92 rear end. my cat ticket shows 11540# lightly loaded. I get 8-9.5 at 69/70 ish unless lots of hills..

 

[DavidNJ]

Absolutely I’d never have considered it. A trailer of this size is have put behind my 2013 f350. I’m so glad I don’t have to use that truck for trips or daily driving anymore.

There was a bit of negative pressure push as the truck first passed the rear of the trailer and it was more noticeable the faster they passed me. I’m going to work on that a bit but I don’t really expect it to get better without removing the softness from the truck which defeats the purpose.

Have you considered a Hensley or ProPride Hitch? They are 4-bar linkage, effectively a virtual 5th wheel. After getting it tractor-trailers and the tall divider wall on I-476 went unnoticed. On one trip I blew a trailer tire and didn't notice until in my driveway with just two little rings of rubber on the wheel.

This is a ProPride. I have a Hensley since ProPride didn't exist then. I think there may be other brands now also. Not cheap ($2400-$3000) but IMHO worth it.

 

[Trooper1629]

So I’m towing a 37 ft Coachmen that has a tongue weight of 1200# and weight of 9500-10000 loaded with my gear. I have a husky 14k centerline TS and timber grove bags. I had a lot of the rear end wiggle from the P rated tires so upgraded to LT load E rated tires. The tires help a lot with towing. But the ride now sucks when not towing. It handles the road more like a 3/4 ton truck. I only put about 18-20psi in the air bags any more and it takes away from the sway control on the WDH.

 

[DavidNJ]

So I’m towing a 37 ft Coachmen that has a tongue weight of 1200# and weight of 9500-10000 loaded with my gear. I have a husky 14k centerline TS and timber grove bags. I had a lot of the rear end wiggle from the P rated tires so upgraded to LT load E rated tires. The tires help a lot with towing. But the ride now sucks when not towing. It handles the road more like a 3/4 ton truck. I only put about 18-20psi in the air bags any more and it takes away from the sway control on the WDH.

From your signature, the retail Falken A/T3W you chose has great reviews, especially as a street tire. 285/65-20 is a 34.6" tire, 2.6" taller than OE raising the vehicle 1.3". That is a large tire. It is 50% heavier than the OE tire. Even at 35psi it has 5% more load capacity than OE. What pressures are you running? Why did you choose that size? Did you mean 285/55-20?

Is the truck leveled or lifted? That doesn't look like the tire in the photo. The biggest I've seen on an OE suspension is 275/65-20, a 34.1" tire, pictured below.

 

[barr0208]

So I’m towing a 37 ft Coachmen that has a tongue weight of 1200# and weight of 9500-10000 loaded with my gear. I have a husky 14k centerline TS and timber grove bags. I had a lot of the rear end wiggle from the P rated tires so upgraded to LT load E rated tires. The tires help a lot with towing. But the ride now sucks when not towing. It handles the road more like a 3/4 ton truck. I only put about 18-20psi in the air bags any more and it takes away from the sway control on the WDH.
View attachment 34000 View attachment 34001

how is the ride with the bags when not towing ,does it make it rough do the bags bottom out with low pressure??? im looking to install a set myself.

 

[Trooper1629]

From your signature, the retail Falken A/T3W you chose has great reviews, especially as a street tire. 285/65-20 is a 34.6" tire, 2.6" taller than OE raising the vehicle 1.3". That is a large tire. It is 50% heavier than the OE tire. Even at 35psi it has 5% more load capacity than OE. What pressures are you running? Why did you choose that size? Did you mean 285/55-20?

Is the truck leveled or lifted? That doesn't look like the tire in the photo. The biggest I've seen on an OE suspension is 275/65-20, a 34.1" tire, pictured below.

Yes I have 2.5 in leveling kit in the front. That pic is with the older tires. I run 35 when not loaded and bump it up to 42 when towing. They do have great rating. I had a set on my 16 ram and loved them. I believe it more because it’s an LT load e rated 10ply tire.

 

[Trooper1629]

how is the ride with the bags when not towing ,does it make it rough do the bags bottom out with low pressure??? im looking to install a set myself.
[/QUOTE
The bags are great to level the truck when putting a load in the bed or towing. I run about 5-6psi when not loaded and haven’t bottomed out at all. Any more then that and it starts to have negative effects on the ride

 

[runamuck]

So I’m towing a 37 ft Coachmen that has a tongue weight of 1200# and weight of 9500-10000 loaded with my gear. I have a husky 14k centerline TS and timber grove bags. I had a lot of the rear end wiggle from the P rated tires so upgraded to LT load E rated tires. The tires help a lot with towing. But the ride now sucks when not towing. It handles the road more like a 3/4 ton truck. I only put about 18-20psi in the air bags any more and it takes away from the sway control on the WDH.
View attachment 34000 View attachment 34001

I have pretty much the same vehicle and only have 1324# so it looks like the addition of some airbags gives a nice boost in capacity.

 

[DavidNJ]

I have pretty much the same vehicle and only have 1324# so it looks like the addition of some airbags gives a nice boost in capacity.

The air bags act as a supplemental spring. They don't change the weight distribution. Typically they install in place of the OE jounce bumper. Some include their own internal jounce bumper. The brand that @Trooper1629 is using doesn't require cutting the jounce bumper mount.

The bags are great to level the truck when putting a load in the bed or towing. I run about 5-6psi when not loaded and haven’t bottomed out at all. Any more then that and it starts to have negative effects on the ride

The Ram has a 4-corner system. These are rear only. Ram instructions say to set the WDH in jack mode setting the front to 1/3rd of the movement when the hitch was connected, then the air suspension levels it. It can raise the rear and lower the front.

The rear air bags can only raise the rear. How do you set the system up with a WDH and air bags?

 

[ColoradoCub]

I have pretty much the same vehicle and only have 1324# so it looks like the addition of some airbags gives a nice boost in capacity.

I’ll be putting bags on mine here very soon especially now that I leveled it. The bags in my opinion do a lot to stabilize the rear suspension in rear coil spring applications. Even my 2018 Ram 2500 benefited from them , I call it the pogo effect with coil springs, putting the air bags on outboard of the coil springs plants the *** much better when your hauling weight. The 2500 rams have also lost so much of their payload capability ever since switching to coils, you’d be surprised how little one can carry with a newer 2500.

 

[DavidNJ]

I’ll be putting bags on mine here very soon especially now that I leveled it. The bags in my opinion do a lot to stabilize the rear suspension in rear coil spring applications. Even my 2018 Ram 2500 benefited from them , I call it the pogo effect with coil springs, putting the air bags on outboard of the coil springs plants the *** much better when your hauling weight. The 2500 rams have also lost so much of their payload capability ever since switching to coils, you’d be surprised how little one can carry with a newer 2500.

The 1500 air bag kits nearly all replace the jounce bumper inboard of the spring. The Firestone Ride-Rite replaces the spring. Planting the air bags closer to the wheel gives them a greater impact on roll resistance.

However, an air bag is not a WDH replacement.

 

[barr0208]

thanks I ordered mine today will pick them up next weekend when we go south .

 

[DavidNJ]

Air Lift has one that goes inside the coil spring. It seems to be the simplest to install:

Air Lift 1000 HD – 60828HD

www.airliftcompany.com

 

[ColoradoCub]

Here’s a sneaky way of installing the Air Lift 1000’s without disassembling the rear spring.

 

[ColoradoCub]

The 1500 air bag kits nearly all replace the jounce bumper inboard of the spring. The Firestone Ride-Rite replaces the spring. Planting the air bags closer to the wheel gives them a greater impact on roll resistance.

However, an air bag is not a WDH replacement.

I just realized that you are correct. On my 2500 they went outboard of the spring on these trucks they go inside. They are not a replacement for a good WDH but they sure help leveling out the truck which the WDH only does so much of. I’m thinking I’ll just go with the 1000’s as they will be plenty for my use, my camper isn’t all that heavy, but 500 lbs on the hitch sure squats the rear end.

 

[ColoradoCub]

From your signature, the retail Falken A/T3W you chose has great reviews, especially as a street tire. 285/65-20 is a 34.6" tire, 2.6" taller than OE raising the vehicle 1.3". That is a large tire. It is 50% heavier than the OE tire. Even at 35psi it has 5% more load capacity than OE. What pressures are you running? Why did you choose that size? Did you mean 285/55-20?

Is the truck leveled or lifted? That doesn't look like the tire in the photo. The biggest I've seen on an OE suspension is 275/65-20, a 34.1" tire, pictured below.

I love the Falken Wildpeak tire but man you are running a 67 lb tire on all 4 corners, that’s got to hurt your fuel economy. I researched tire weights for E rated tires looking for the lightest tire that had good reviews and ended up selecting the Hercules Terra Trac AT II which in 275/65/20 (34” tall) only weighs 55 lbs. I may have lost 1 mpg from stock but I can’t confirm that just yet.

 

[DavidNJ]

I love the Falken Wildpeak tire but man you are running a 67 lb tire on all 4 corners, that’s got to hurt your fuel economy. I researched tire weights for E rated tires looking for the lightest tire that had good reviews and ended up selecting the Hercules Terra Trac AT II which in 275/65/20 (34” tall) only weighs 55 lbs. I may have lost 1 mpg from stock but I can’t confirm that just yet.

A 285/65-20 is massive, 3860@80psi, However, the ram is rated for 2305 lb which would be 38psi. Even the max load of the Moto Metal MO970 in that size is only 2500 lb. The pressure at that load is 43psi. I doubt anything higher would be beneficial.

On the LT275/65 corresponding numbers would be 41psi and 46psi.

Note: I haven't seen any wheel with a 6x5.5" bolt pattern above 2500lb load. Higher loads are for 8 lug wheels. The ratings may not reflect the true load capacity of the wheels, but how would we know that?

 

[Trooper4]

Absolutely I’d never have considered it. A trailer of this size is have put behind my 2013 f350. I’m so glad I don’t have to use that truck for trips or daily driving anymore.

There was a bit of negative pressure push as the truck first passed the rear of the trailer and it was more noticeable the faster they passed me. I’m going to work on that a bit but I don’t really expect it to get better without removing the softness from the truck which defeats the purpose.

In the past when towing a tow-behind, I AWAYS watched for semis coming up from behind, and just leaned on the trailer break to stretch the truck and trailer to keep it straight. Worth doing when passing also.

 

[Trooper4]

Have you considered a Hensley or ProPride Hitch? They are 4-bar linkage, effectively a virtual 5th wheel. After getting it tractor-trailers and the tall divider wall on I-476 went unnoticed. On one trip I blew a trailer tire and didn't notice until in my driveway with just two little rings of rubber on the wheel.

This is a ProPride. I have a Hensley since ProPride didn't exist then. I think there may be other brands now also. Not cheap ($2400-$3000) but IMHO worth it.

You might want to check your mirrors once in a while just to be safe. You had to be leaving a trail of smoke.

 

[DavidNJ]

In the past when towing a tow-behind, I AWAYS watched for semis coming up from behind, and just leaned on the trailer break to stretch the truck and trailer to keep it straight. Worth doing when passing also.

You might want to check your mirrors once in a while just to be safe. You had to be leaving a trail of smoke.

The point is the Hensley/ProPride are close enough to a fifth wheel you never notice.

I usually tow in the right lane and it was a right-side tire...so I don't watch that mirror that much. My guess is it shredded pretty quickly. I never even suspected.