2500 Ram with coil springs carrying TC

[FireGuard]

Is anyone carry a TC with the coil spring suspension of on the Ram 2500?
If so, what camper and how does it handle. Did you add any mods?
I know the leaf spring and 3500 is better but just curious with real world opinions.

[FireGuard]

Thanks for the reply’s, Especially the real world experience from those who have this set up.

[burningman]

As usual, lots of misinformation...
Coil springs are not inherently inferior for hauling weight. It’s WHERE the springs are mounted (too far inboard) that makes the late model 2500 Ram handle campers poorly.
I’ve got a buddy who traded his truck in and bought a coil spring Ram, he drive it once with his camper and will never set it on that truck again.

The myth that a 2500 is overloaded and unsafe compared to a single rear wheel 3500 is ridiculous.
They are the same truck. The frame, axles, all that stuff is the same.
For years, Dodge didn’t even offer a SRW 3500, because it’s redundant and pointless.
Actually come to think of it, all the truck makers didn’t used to sell SRW 1-tons, because all they are is a 3/4 ton with a bigger number on the sticker.

[specta]

"Obviously I don't want to overload my truck and be unsafe, but the reality is the truck is way more capable than the 10K GVWR they put on the sticker."

Some people don't get that.

[Grit_dog]

^ Exactly. 2500-3000lbs is a light camper.
Put 4-5000 lbs in it and it’s a different story compared to a leaf spring truck.

[Youngm3571]

I haul 3k of camper on a 2017 2500 6.7l diesel...I did have to add Ride Rite air bags but we have done 800 mile trips and back woods trips no problem...real world experience!

[Travels_with_Yo]

We have a 2016 Ram 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi, 2WD CC. We did swap the rear sway bar for a Hellwig. In 2017 we hauled an Adventurer 80RB loaded to about 2480 lbs over 9,000 miles. And this was with Brophy bed mounted tie downs. No hint of any issues. We have since switched to a Travel Lite 840 SBRX which weighs a couple hundred pounds more and has a more rearward COG. As a result of this we added a set of Air Lift air bags for our recent 5,000 mile journey and a set of frame mount tie downs. The air bags work perfectly as I can add more air to the heavier side.

[F100jetmech]

I haul a 2500 lb (empty) camper, probably close to 3000 lbs ready to camp. I have a 2015 Ram 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi and coil springs. the only mod I did was replace the bump stops with Timbrens and it handles great. My truck has a 3200 lb payload rating and the truck sat right at level with the camper on before the Timbrens were installed. All the Timbrens do is add stability. Have been running this setup for 4 years and have no issues.

[kohldad]

Because not everyone buys new trucks and 2500s out number 3500s in the US by a HUGE margin

I never said anything about buying new. Used and new the price is about the same. 3500s are not that hard to find used today, though granted not as many. Even back in the late 90s, I had no problem finding a good deal on a local 3500 crew cab and I don't even live in truck country.

[twodownzero]

There are essentially zero hard side truck campers that won't significantly overload a 3/4 ton truck. My Lance 815 was over 2200 pounds empty and 3000+ pounds when loaded to camp. Short of a regular cab/2wd/gasser, you'd be way overloaded, by 100% or more of your payload rating depending on cab configuration.

[Grit_dog]

"Now you could possibly get by with a coil sprung vehicle for a light weight low COG pop-up like a Palomino. But since the cost between a 3500 and 2500 is almost the same, why bother..."

Because not everyone buys new trucks and 2500s out number 3500s in the US by a HUGE margin.
It appears to be getting better. Anecdotally, I see alot more new 3500 Rams and 350 Fords than I used to. But the odds are still that if you're looking for used trucks your selection will be greatly limited if only searching 3500s.
Look at a big dealer website like Dennis Dillon. They have 4x as many 2500s listed.

Honestly, a coil Ram would do fine with a popup or even lightweight Hardside camper, but even with airbags, which also don't have any internal resistance to speak of, you're riding on a bouncy ball.
A big swaybar would be a must to help control this and I haven't seen anyone set one up yet, but a large diameter set of reservoir shocks with super stiff compression and rebound valving would likely simulate leaf springs.

[kohldad]

The problem with coil springs is they do not provide any resistance to movement so all effort is placed on the shocks. The friction as the leaf springs provide a lot of bounce dampening. Doesn't make much difference with a load that has a low COG, but with the higher COG of a truck camper, you need all the help possible to reduce sway.

To give you an example of the how much benefit, you can easily drive a leaf sprung vehicle without shocks but it is almost impossible with coil springs.
And that is just with an unloaded vehicle.

Now you could possibly get by with a coil sprung vehicle for a light weight low COG pop-up like a Palomino. But since the cost between a 3500 and 2500 is almost the same, why bother for a slightly nicer ride when running empty. Running loaded, the ride is going to be a little bed in the 3500, especially with the max load you could put in a 2500 when it sits in the 3500.

[SidecarFlip]

Exactly. RAM trucks on coils have them mounted way inboard. No good for a TC. Good for ride but thats it. Soccer mom truck, grocery getter.

[Grit_dog]

Word on the street (internet) is the coils are NOT a good choice for truck campers, guessing especially heavy ones.
Mostly due to springs being mounted so far inboard, doesn't control body roll as well I'd imagine.