I am trying to figure out some simple options for increasing the ride height while hauling with my half ton a little and maybe getting a little unloadedride height increase at the same time. I have looked at some of the bolt on springs and air bags, but I hate to just put anything on there. I'm not looking to make a 3/4 ton out of it, but to add an additional 500-1000lbs of payload capacity. Maybe that makes a 3/4 ton out of it, but I just want a little more support when hauling wood and the occasional load of home remodeling supplies. If I could get 2-3 inches of increased ride height at the same time, so much the better. I could then crank up the torsion bars to get a couple inches to match the rear, but not to level it. If I need to get shocks for 2" I'll have to live with it, but I didn't think that much would matter for the shocks. [/align][/align]Should I be adding a leaf spring? Are air bags dependable and durable? Any thoughts and personal experiences would be appreciated. Thanks![/align]

 

I'd like to know as well.
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i run the firestone leaf spring helpers, they help a lot... i havent test how much they will hold, but i put a polaris atv back there with my bed tool box. and a bunch of other stuff, and with the bags full, it doesnt sag at all... and stays just as level as the front.

 

Everything Ive read says you really cant increase the payload. The frame, brakes, rims, tires, rear, tranny, engine etc etc work as a package. You can help "things" a bit with air bags and spring helpers, but those items wont increase payload. ...not to mention if under warranty putting 2900 lbs in a truck rated at 1900 (my MegaCab) and expecting Dodge to fix possible failures is unrealistic. What you want to do is increase the trucks capacity by 1000 lbs or 52%.

 

id seriously consider a bigger truck man, it may not be worth doing, plus the probibility of problems is great, remeber you will need a stronger frams, bigger rear end and etc to be able to safely accomidate the extra wieght,
an add-a-leaf adds about 150-250 extra cap, thats safe, anything more than that id get a bigger truck

 

Ditto. How much stuff are you lugging around anyways? If this happens all the time, bite the bullet and get the 3500. If not, consider getting a trailer. They will hold a heck of a lot more than an extra 2000lbs, can be covered, and will run a lot less than the $10k price difference between the 1500 and the 3500.

Trailers are also quite a bit more flexible, since you won't be fundamentally altering the ride/handling of your truck when it's not hooked up. And with the amount of money you're looking at spending to increase the payload, it might even be a more economical option.

 

about a year ago i had a leaf added to my 03' and i very happy with it. the spring let me put my snowmobile in my truck and not have that severe sag it used to have, they all have it when you put anything in the back of a 1500, plus hardly no change in the way it rides empty but i also just put new shocks on it too.

 

Ok, I'll say it again. I'm not trying to turn my 1/2 ton into a 3/4 ton. I just want to be able to haul my firewood and some building supplies from time to time without pointing the nose into the air. Telling me to buy a new truck or a trailer is not helpful. I'm interested in responses from people who have used the air bags or added a leaf spring to help with this issue.Is there anyone else that has used these methods to help with hauling and ride height? Thanks 20brewcity02 and matstram for your replies. [/align][/align]Since I may have "misused" the work payload, I've changed it to avoid confusion.[/align]

 

If you dont want to drag your rear end, then you cannot really get away with a rear end block lift, or helper springs, they simply dont hold up as far as the rear sagging. An add-a-leaf kit is the way to go for the rear. I know that "Rough Country" makes very inexpensive add-a-leaf kits for rams. Im not sure if one for yours is available yet but I would imagine that it is. a 2" lift wont warrant new shocks, your stockers should hold up fine, mine did. My 06 dakota has a 2" spacer kit for the front coils and a 2" blocks for the rear. However my buddy has an add-a-leaf on his 1500, and he got a few inches, and a slightly stiffer rear end, which results in a choppier feel. But its a truck, and that shouldnt even concern you, its still in the bounds of how a truck suspension should feel. Crank the front, add-a-leaf in the rear, and then your current loads shouldnt seem like such a burden for the rear end.

 

Go with the Air Bag Set Up. A relible after market dealer stated that if you need to bost the hauling cap. once in a while this is great. On the 1500 if you reley put a big load in it the frist thing to fail will be the outer wheel brg.
Be carefull how you load it because it will efect the handing of it.