Truck rear springs

[Cyrus]

I am looking at airbags, Timbrens and springs to stop my truck from dropping 3 ½ inches with the camper hooked up. Just talked to a local spring shop and he said trucks are lined up at the door every morning to fix the same problem. He said they would add one spring that will let it drop 1 ½ to 2 inches, can make it stiffer. He also said the truck should be up about an inch above level in the rear with now and the new spring will stiffen the no-load ride a little.

Have any of you looked at or done this vice the airbags etc?

[bjlks]

I installed timbrens,they are easy to install and do not affect ride unless you are loaded,timbrens are rated at 6000# which is more then enough to get her done.

[ols1932]

I've had the airbags on my F-250 for almost four years now. Ride is a little stiffer when not towing because I don't deflate them when unhooked. But that's just me; some others deflate them when unhooked in order to get a softer ride. To each his own.

Orv

[exav8tr]

I had an extra leaf added to my rear end up in Alaska. Stiffer ride yes, but truck didn't sink at all. I also added Air Lift bags this summer and don't even notice any sag. You could probably do with either/or. I have 265 tires on and tow with 80psi and when I park and unhitch, I deflate to 60R and 55F. Truck rides really well doing this, more fomcortable than my sons Mustang or Honda Civic.

[Charlie]

I installed the Firestone Ride-Rite air bags to lift the truck when hooked up. Very happy with the results and would not be without them. When not pulling I drop the pressure to the minimum to soften the ride.

[gpats]

I just finished an easy install on my Chevy 2500HD and took my Montie for a fifty mile spin--I am convinced that my money was well spent and I would do it again--My unloaded ride is a bit stiff on rough roads but thats OK with me because my truck now sits level with the Montie on it and the loaded ride is much better--

Sorry, I didn't say that I installed Timbrens on the first post-gpats

[mail2us]

gpats...what did you install,,,spring(s) or airbags?

[Craig A]

Timbrens.

[tjuhl]

Had the same excess dropping on '06 2500 Dodge. Installed timbrens because of low price and very simple installation. They work great and do not affect unloaded ride.

[gpats]

Sorry--I didn't say that I installed Timbrens--gpats

[richfaa]

Our shinny new truck came with the camper package and the 3400 anchor only settles it by 2 inches. The ride is stiffer that my 05.We did have air bags on our previous TV and they did a fine job.

[mtheo]

got firestone air bags and love them, used them since about 93. No change in the ride
Mark

[PowellsMonty]

I had the air bags on the old truck and they were the best thing I bought. What a difference in ride & handling. Greatly improved.

[Dave Nowlin]

I put Timbrens on mine and am very pleased. They don't come into play until the truck settles some under load. Empty you don't know they are there.
Dave Nowlin

[dscott]

Firestone air bags, easy install, work great,199.on ebay plus shipping.

[sedwheathome]

Installed set of Pacbrake airbags this weekend. Test drove. Minimum air pressure in the bags when unloaded is the key. If you don't, ride is a little rough. I will hook to the Monty later in the week to test.

[LonnieB]

Air bags get my vote too. I pull alot of different trailers, with varying weights. Some are heavier than the Montana, and some are lighter. Some are bumper pull, some are gooseneck, and the air bags are so easy to adjust, they work with them all.

[sreigle]

I used the Firestone airbags on two trucks. On both I had the onboard compressor, guage, and switches in the cab. An undocumented advantage is to be able to adjust the airbags on the fly. That's really nice when you're getting some undesired motion on certain highways. You just reach down and adjust the air pressure and smooth out the ride. It doesn't usually eliminate all motion but makes it far more comfortable. I do not have airbags on this truck but there have been times I would have liked to reach down and adjust the ride.

[Cyrus]

Sreigle,
If you don't have air bags on this new truck what are you using?

[sreigle]

Cyrus, this truck has just the stock Dodge 3500 rear suspension. It rides level when hitched. I thought it looked like it had a slight sag but laid a long level on the ground and compared to the same on the bedrails and it's level.

I do have Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks on the truck. I have the onboard compressor and switch/gauges to adjust the air in the shocks. They're not airshocks, they just use air to adjust the ride firmness. So sometimes I will adjust them a little, like yesterday when we were driving some dirt backroads here in Arizona. Very washboardy roads through some ghost town areas. Adjusting the shocks smoothed out the ride considerably. But they do not change the rear suspension height like airbags.