And Newer RAM 2500 Owners - Question

[Lucky Tom]

Have a 2015 Ram 2500 so I have the new coil springs in the rear. The truck sits up pretty high unloaded, so when I hook up my 23 FB Flying Cloud with about 500lb tongue weight the truck just levels out, but is still a long way from being overloaded, even without my WD trunions in place. I am on a 1000 mi round.trip now and I do not use much weight shift.

[Lucky Tom]

I have returned from my trip and went to the CAT scales. Recap - 2015 Ram 2500 CTD Crew Cab short bed and 23 FB 2009 Flying Cloud with hitch weight of 500 lbs..
So on the scales these are the numbers I have:
Steer Axle 4720 lbs.
Drive Axle 4020 lbs.
Trailer Axle 4920 lbs.
Gross 13660 lbs.
Went home and dropped AS, now . . .
Steer Axle 4900 lbs.
Drive Axle 3260 lbs.
Gross 8160 lbs.
The truck sits level like this. To shift more weight to front causes the truck to return to the "empty" of a higher rear.
Will welcome and consider all thoughts. I like the way it handled like this, drove for 500 miles.

[Lara Me]

I had to add a longer stinger on my Equil-izer hitch, as I have the 4x4 CTD and it sits really high on the back. As others have said, without the WD hitch the trailer bucks on the highway, and the hitch makes the ride much smoother.

As to the coil vs. springs, the one drawback of the 2015 2500 and its coil suspension is that Dodge now advises against heavy cab-over campers, as the coils cannot handle the weight on the bed the way the leaf springs can. I think you have to go up the 3500 if you have one of those really heavy cab-over campers with extensions. Not all dealers are aware of this, though the owners manual is quite clear on that point.

I thought I would prefer a coil over suspension, but the leaf springs, when fully loaded with the AS, ride just fine.

[Lucky Tom]

Lara Me, I like your comment about the loaded truck giving you a better ride. (last para)
That is why I do not transfer much weight from AS to front and rear axle of truck because I want to the truck to feel loaded at the rear enough to give me a comfortable ride. I am only transferring 580 lbs of AS to the truck using WD. The drive axle has an increase of more than this because of the leverage effect which takes 180 lbs from the front axle. I use the WD hitch mainly for the Sway Control. The Valley uses the friction slide sway control with is pretty much independent of WD. If my physics is incorrect or math in error people please let me know.

[tjdonahoe]

My experience is if it drives and handles good,run it, if not change it.

[tjdonahoe]

iMy experience is if it drives and handles good,run it, if not change it.

[slowmover]

Still best to run it across scale three times: hitched with WD tensioned; hitched with WD slack; drop trailer and return to scale solo. In all cases full of fuel, fresh water and propane with gear and supplies aboard both vehicles (or use sand bags to approximate).

One will then be able to work from a numerically-derived baseline for any future changes. TV tire pressure can also be accurately set.

Best results are about minimizing discrepancies or imbalances. Once well set an annual check or two in the above manner to verify.