Loaded up 20 sheets of 4x8 drywall (1,080lbs) and the rear end sagged about 4"...maybe more. Max payload per dodge specs on my TRX CC 2wd is 1600lbs (1300lbs with me in it and half tank of gas)

I don't think the 05 Dakota would have sagged that much. I've loaded it up with 1300lbs of gravel and don't recall that much of a drop.

 

if it bothers you, install the airlift 1000 airbags. many people here have them. cheap, easy mod that corrects sag due to heavy loads in the bed or large trailers.
some people don't like the term trade-off or compromise, but that what the coil springs in the back are. a good trade IMO and great trade if you add the bags.

 

Aside from the weight, that is a lot of leverage (8 ft sheets in a 5ft 7 bed) So the rear is taking a lot more of the load.

I've had over 1000 lbs in the bed of my 2wd CC and it squatted down to about level.

 

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/200...t-drive-3.html

While the rear coil-spring suspension won’t misbehave on the road, the single-stage spirals showed the vertical strain of 1,000 pounds of payload, letting the back end sag noticeably (see picture). The weight in the cargo box was still 640 pounds shy of this configuration’s maximum 1,640-pound payload capacity.

Kunselman said the squat amount was normal. Gilles made a conscious decision to remove static rake from the truck when it was designed, for aerodynamic and lateral stability reasons. Most unloaded half-tons sit with their tails high and noses low (like they’re suddenly braking), settling into a level posture when a heavy load has been placed in the bed. The Ram sits level at rest.

Like the unloaded Ram R/T, the Laramie Crew Cab had excellent ride quality, particularly in terms of lateral control over cracked and patched two-lane roads. We weren’t beaten up when the feed bags shifted their mass to the left or right on larger bumps.
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...long story short, until somebody manufactures dual-rate springs for our trucks, airbags seem to be best option - and it's reasonably priced, too.

 

Placement makes a huge difference. My trailer with tongue weight if 500 pounds sagged the back end almost 4 inches. Bags are on order. Yet, I loaded over 500 pounds of scrap tile into the boz in garbage cans against the cab and it only went down an inch or so.

 

The price we pay for a smoother ride. If you haul a lot of heavy loads, the bags are worth it, most of my hauling is light, a few hundred lbs. So i skipped the bags, just my 2 cents.

 

Very good point.

 

what does this install entail exactly. looks straight forward, but i know if i get under there i'd be looking at problems....

 

Install of the Air Lift 1000s was not bad at all, I like them! Going to give them a good test this weekend with an long trip loaded up with my atv and camping gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MESoo4sofRc

Solved my sagging issue with over 1100 lbs in the bed.

 

Another reply in favor of the Airlift 1000 bags. I have even left them inflated after the load and not noticed much of a change in the ride. They do take care of the embarrassing squat.