There never seems to be any shortage of opinions as to what a real truck is.
Side stepping that debate, I do agree with you that a 3/4 ton is _more_ of a truck than a 1/2 ton. My 1/2 ton Hemi hauls my 6000lb trailer with ease or a bed full of rocks for landscaping. It is still comfortable, fun to drive and faster than most cars that meet up with me at the light. I agree with you that it will never be as capable a truck as a 3/4 ton but since most of the time I don't need the capability of a 3/4 ton I bought a 1/2'er. Now my 1/2 ton 78 Power Wagon is a truck, there is no car in there

 

EVERYONE LIKE HEMI RON SAID THE NEW COILS DO NOTHING TO THE RATINGS IF YOU PEOPLE WOULD DO RESEARCH THE NEW 09'S TOW AS MUCH AS THE 08 JUST A BETTER RIDE. WHY ARE COILS SO BAD H1 HUMVEE'S USE COILS AND CARRY 5100 LBS AND WEIGHT 10000LBS WITH ALL THE UP ARMOR SO COILS ARE BAD HUH AS FOR WHY THE TOW RATINGS NOT AS GOOD AS THE REST DONT HAVE AND ANSWER BUT DID H A VIDEO ON THE THEN NEW 94 AND THE 3/4 AND 1 TONS COULD CARRY MORE THEN CHEVY OR FORD SO... BUT IF YOUR GOING TO TOW ALOT THEN STEP UP TO A BIGGER TRUCK DESIGNED TO TOW A 1/2 IS A LIGHT DUTY

 

THe only advantage coil springs have is thier more compact than a leaf spring, Ram 2500's have coils in the front, much improved over front leaf springs, but, THe new ram 1500 rear suspension adds whight wiith the coils, four link, and all the bushings, a few years down the road, your going to have issues with rear tire wear, alignment issues.

I totaly agree the new RAM will have a improved ride, but not yet convinced better than leaf springs.

Leaf springs are stronger, harder to bend viretcialy and harder to flex horazantaly ( I'm sorry abought the spelling ) than coils.

The H1 Hummer has a lot more than just coils, the body, frame and tires wrere desinged right from the get go to be strong and provide a good off road ride, the suspension travel from coils is greater than leaf springs, better ride with coils.

For the average person, a 1500 Ram suspension handels the frieght, not every one needs a 2500 Ram ( I do ) and if you want to tow or haul just by the numbers, get your self a 18 whealer...

 

My first truck was a 66 chevy pickup. It had coil springs in the rear. Never had any problems with tire wear or any other wear for that matter. I used the truck every day for over 5 years then it became the ranch truck for another 5 years or so. Never had to replace bushings in it. I didn't use it for towing but hauled many heavy loads and it never had any of the problems your talking about. The bushings in the rear won't wear any faster than the ones up front. Eventually everything will wear out and require replacement and since Dodge offers a life time warranty on the engine and drive train I'm sure they are betting that those parts will last a very long time.

 

They have been using Coils for years in SUV's. My Cherokee has coils in the rear, and it is far more capable then any other stock truck with leafs...

 

My truck is old and it can tow a lot... But I sure do wish it was a smoother ride.. But at least i can smoke a hemi.. and i have.. really...

 

cyclone429 the new link suspension actually took 40 lbs off the truck suspensions weight so check your facts first go to dodge allpar or any other website they will set you straight

 

Coil springs are MUCH better then leafs. The 09 Suspension drops 40 lbs compared to leaf springs. Instead of huge heavy springs, you know have small compact coils and lightweight linkages. The 09 Suspension also is technically a 5 link.

If leaf springs are sooo much stronger then coils, why do tractor trailers use coils? Why do freight train cars use coils?

Also the point of coil springs is to allow vertical movement - actually giving you good ride and handling. Coil springs are not meant to locate the axle, like leaf springs, so they do not need to have any kind of horizontal flex resistance. The linkages do all axle locating.

Coil springs offer a few advantages:
Axle wrap is eliminated. That is the actual leaf springs "winding" up. The pinion gear in the differential starts to climb the ring gear. Once a certain point is hit the tires start moving and the leaf springs "unwind" shaking the vehicle and making some unpleasant noises.

Better handling for emergency maneuvers and better vehicle control. Instead of the rear end bouncing all over the place when you hit a bunch of bumps, the springs take care of it keeping the truck steady and in control.

Dodge could have played the numbers game and upped the tow rating by throwing on a second set of "overload" coils within the main coils. But why bother when most half ton truck buyers lightly load the bed, and tow usually less then 6000 lbss once or twice a year.

 

Your not serious, right? Tractor trailers use air bags, dump trucks use LEAF SPRINGS, yes trains use coils but the coils are the size of baseball bats and have almost no flex. Leaf springs are a very proven technology for heavy/sever duty use, coil springs are meant for giving a little bit better ride, that's why they are in the back of most soccer mom SUV's. Also, if you look at the videos on Dodge's website you will see that the old F-150 rides better off road than the new Ram and it has good old fashion leaf springs and TONS more towing capacity.

 

Just my two cents. The coil discusssion aside, if you are gonna use a 1/2 ton to tow skip the 20 inch rims. That cuts 1000 lbs of towing right off the top. Ever notice how 3/4 and 1 tons use 17 inch rims. Never understood why people do that.