2014+ Suspension/Lift Options = NOTHING

[DamageWagon]

Hahahahah.

You guys need this on the back of your shirts for next year...

You mean WE, right? Because you're going to be there? And yes I agree that should be on the shirts

Baaaahaha. I cant come along unless there is Starbucks and Dairy Queen drive-through's on the trail.

I will make you coffee on the trail of you come.

[DamageWagon]

2018 is going to be "Do I need lockers for this"

It's an in joke for those who attended.

And if we put that on our shirts it will still be an inside joke. Like "dirt bag" is to climbers.

[olyelr]

I will make you coffee on the trail of you come.

As long as its okay to sneak in some Baileys.

Can you make ice cream too?

[DamageWagon]

I will make you coffee on the trail of you come.

As long as its okay to sneak in some Baileys.

Can you make ice cream too?

I can make coffee, have a fridge for baileys and can turn the temp down for ice cream. Your bases are covered. So will you come now?

[olyelr]

Well in that case , I'm in!

Ha, the 1300+ mile one way trip might be a tuff one to convince the wife into, but I will see. It would surely be our biggest adventure ever.

Anyway, back to lifts for the best gens...

[nts007]

We already covered the 3rd gens olyelr. We are talking about your truck haha. Just replace the coil springs with some 14" long air bags. And done

[olyelr]

We already covered the 3rd gens olyelr. We are talking about your truck haha. Just replace the coil springs with some 14" long air bags. And done

Exactly, thats why I said back to the best gens

Actually, bags only is another option. I wonder how those rear bags for the regular 2500 suspension feel and articulate?

[nts007]

I know they ride awesome!! If I had no choice but to deal with your slightly inferior way of locating the rear axle (jk) I would seriously consider doing a large volume long travel air bag from a 5 ton or semi setup. More volume aka larger bag will have less pressure rise as the suspension compresses and will be long enough you could stretch them without a problem. For a very laymans example a 6" wide bag at 50% compression would be at say 40psi. A 10" wide bag would be closer to half the psi for the same position with the same weight. When I did my custom bags I went taller and a fair bit wider. The old Firestone bags that came in the ride right kit would be at 80pis to haul my trailer loaded. These now only need 50-55psi for the same loaded trailer. And larger bags just ride better as the psi doesn't spike under compressive force
Triple convoluted or skirted bag would give you options. Just remember you have to make sure you build a good sealed system. But all the components are available to to that at any commercial truck store. Bags are superior to coils in every practical way with the exception of loss of air. Which is very very un common. And your suspension is pretty much set up for it. Figure out the max width you could fit and then the length and scour firestone website air bag selection. And the price is pretty good vs a custom coil. And the infinite adjustability is awesome. And you can make it automatic levelling.... Man I just may be redesigning my eventual custom link suspension right now....

[TwinStick]

There is always https://kelderman.com/specialty/lift-kits/

[olyelr]

I hear all the newest rage is removing those awful coil springs and replacing with full leaf packs. Best compromise between ride and load. Easy to air bag. Less than half the required bushings. No track bar. No sway bar. Getting more height without compromising geometry...... a real multi -pro design.

I was just thinking about this last night in my sleep... since the 4.5 gen rear suspension is so troublesome in design (links, coils, trackbar, sway bar etc.) and leafs are so much better, then how come there are not too many 3rd gen guys swapping leafs into the front of their truck (cause your front suspension is basically the same as our rear suspension)?

[olyelr]

Anyone seen the factory rear 2500 air suspension in action?

[OffroadTreks]

[quote="olyelr"
I was just thinking about this last night in my sleep... since the 4.5 gen rear suspension is so troublesome in design (links, coils, trackbar, sway bar etc.) and leafs are so much better, then how come there are not too many 3rd gen guys swapping leafs into the front of their truck (cause your front suspension is basically the same as our rear suspension)?[/quote]

Because leafs aren't really better for things like ride and handling. Unless you're into wagon technology from the 1800's.

Leafs handle payload only a little better. Our trucks have linear rate springs out back. Progressive rate would handle the weight better. But progressive would be a harsher ride and it's harder to pair with say, some cheapo Bilstiens they use OE.

[adeluca73]

Geeze, I bag off the fourm a few weeks and this place has gone to shit...mixing terms, confusing springs w/ dampers, displacement w / rate, I feel the need for another 2nd Order, Linear, Homogeneous, variable forcing function Differential Equations post/lecture coming ...but I just don't have it me right now.

Seriously though, i have posted on the mathematics/physics on the suspensions before. It might help to clear up sone of the phraseology on the differences in spring rates (k*x) & why it's critical as a system of systems to match 1st mode/1st bend & 2nd mode/2nd twist + the other harmonics to a lesser extent, and what role the damper has (it's the c*x-dot) term in the EOM. Ah never gets old.

[OffroadTreks]

Geeze, I bag off the fourm a few weeks and this place has gone to shit...mixing terms, confusing springs w/ dampers, displacement w / rate, I feel the need for another 2nd Order, Linear, Homogeneous, variable forcing function Differential Equations post/lecture coming ...but I just don't have it me right now.

Seriously though, i have posted on the mathematics/physics on the suspensions before. It might help to clear up sone of the phraseology on the differences in spring rates (k*x) & why it's critical as a system of systems to match 1st mode/1st bend & 2nd mode/2nd twist + the other harmonics to a lesser extent, and what role the damper has (it's the c*x-dot) term in the EOM. Ah never gets old.

Pig latin.

[TrashyOilfield]

Anyone seen the factory rear 2500 air suspension in action?

I just traded my Longhorn Limited mega cab with the Cummins in on my '17 POWER WAGON. The mega cab had the factory air ride rear suspension on it. Let me just say, it's awesome for rolling down the highway or some country roads, but when it comes to playing around and articulating, it's absolute JUNK. Any time I tried to articulate and get crossed up it threw all kinds of codes and the dash would light up like a Christmas tree. It's a completely different system. Works great for what it was designed for, which is hauling/towing, but otherwise you're way better off with coils.

[olyelr]

Anyone seen the factory rear 2500 air suspension in action?

I just traded my Longhorn Limited mega cab with the Cummins in on my '17 POWER WAGON. The mega cab had the factory air ride rear suspension on it. Let me just say, it's awesome for rolling down the highway or some country roads, but when it comes to playing around and articulating, it's absolute JUNK. Any time I tried to articulate and get crossed up it threw all kinds of codes and the dash would light up like a Christmas tree. It's a completely different system. Works great for what it was designed for, which is hauling/towing, but otherwise you're way better off with coils.

Thanks for your relaying your experience. I can only imagine the amount of electronics involved in that factory system!

[hunterman6]

I am just gonna trim to fit whatever I want. The AEV lift has interested me, but that pic really does clarify a lot of AEV vs stock suspension, so thanks for posting. Also it appears you have more bumper clearance on 35s than AEV equipped ram on 37's- just saying

[Reloaderguy]

I am just gonna trim to fit whatever I want. The AEV lift has interested me, but that pic really does clarify a lot of AEV vs stock suspension, so thanks for posting. Also it appears you have more bumper clearance on 35s than AEV equipped ram on 40's- just saying

FTFY

[Retired BLM Rig]

I don't have air bags to try this, so I'm just kinda thinkin' out loud here.

What would happen if you had add-on long travel air bags for a little extra lift, but also added a crossover air line T'd in between the two bags with a shut-off valve? For towing and highway driving the valve would be closed for stability and then for off-roading you would open the valve for articulation. As one rear wheel was being pushed up, the air would be forced out of that bag allowing the axle to compress and the air would be pushed over into the other bag forcing the axle down to maintain better contact with the ground. Kinda the opposite of a sway bar. The bad part would be if you were in an off-camber situation, it might push you closer to the point of tipping, unless you closed the valve first.

It probably wouldn't work the way I'm thinking and I'm sure there must be lots of things that would make this hypothesis faulty, so fire away.

[Colibri]

The only major obstacle to overcome for off-road would be sidehilling I think, otherwise the theory seems sound to me.

[OffroadTreks]

I just decided to buy 40's and 5.13's and call it a day. That ends all problems.

[agpilot]

I just decided to buy 40's and 5.13's and call it a day. That ends all problems.

wow!

Can't wait to see the result!!

[Bill2014]

I just decided to buy 40's and 5.13's and call it a day. That ends all problems.

Bring out the recip saw and let the cutting begin!!!

[OffroadTreks]

I just decided to buy 40's and 5.13's and call it a day. That ends all problems.

Bring out the recip saw and let the cutting begin!!!

It's easier to work with the air saw. Cuts sheet metal like butter when I cut the other hole in my fender.

[Reloaderguy]

I eagerly wait for the tire thread crying about load ratings.