I love my new Ram. First trip with the Hawk I averaged 16.5 mpg loaded. I did add airbags because I had a slight squat with the new coil rear end. Kinda weird having a 3/4 ton with coils instead of leafs. Good luck with yours. Looks great.
What does the Sherpa weigh? My Northstar wet and fully loaded is somewhere around 1700 lbs. My suspension settles about 2.25" with the weight, so it's about level (I would estimate the factory rake to be about 2").Thanks. I can't wait to get the camper all settled in on the truck. I only have 2 1/2 weeks before heading out on a 16 day road trip through Utah, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Would have liked to have all of the 2 1/2 weeks to work on the interior, but the camper has to get settled on the truck first. Sure hope I don't end up needing airbags in the Ram.
What does the Sherpa weigh? My Northstar wet and fully loaded is somewhere around 1700 lbs. My suspension settles about 2.25" with the weight, so it's about level (I would estimate the factory rake to be about 2").
Dang it, I was interested to see how the long travel airbags worked out.
Well, a bigger truck should eliminate the need for those anyway with a camper as light as yours. Nice choice of color too!!
Wait, you have the rear coil truck... Does is still say right in the glove box that the truck is not recommended for use with a truck camper? (I'm sure your light camper will be fine...) From what I have heard from a VERY reputable source, RAM messed up the rear suspension geometry on the coil 2500's pretty badly. Keep an eye toward AEV's RAM kit for a VERY well designed and well tuned suspension system!!
Chris
Dang it, I was interested to see how the long travel airbags worked out.
Well, a bigger truck should eliminate the need for those anyway with a camper as light as yours. Nice choice of color too!!
Wait, you have the rear coil truck... Does is still say right in the glove box that the truck is not recommended for use with a truck camper? (I'm sure your light camper will be fine...) From what I have heard from a VERY reputable source, RAM messed up the rear suspension geometry on the coil 2500's pretty badly. Keep an eye toward AEV's RAM kit for a VERY well designed and well tuned suspension system!!
Chris
Sorry, didn't mean that you should scrap it, just that there was ample room for AEV to improve on the factory design from what I saw of the early geometry. Rear upper and lower arms on the 1500 are not far apart at the axle, and almost in the same plane at the frame, which induces/allows quite a bit more axle hop than a 4-link should have. The early 2500 that I saw suggested that they didn't learn anything from the 1500, and carried the same geometry over to the 2500 as well. In addition, the suspension nerd in me thinks that the roll center is a little low on the back as compared to the front. Not something the average drive around the block would reveal, but raising the rear roll center a bit would stabilize the rear end more, particularly when loaded. Hopefully all of these things were fixed on the production suspension. None of them are things you'd notice in the everyday ride and handling of the truck, just opportunities for the aftermarket to do better!!
The coil suspension was supposed to release in '13, but it had "issues" and didn't make it out until '14. Hopefully fixing some of the things I saw was the reason it took an extra year to get it out!! Glad it's working well for you, and that they don't have a "no campers" sticker in the glove box. I doubt that snowplow prep would mean no camper, but you never know these days... At one time, getting a Cummins meant you couldn't get snowplow prep!
Just realized that adding airbags to this one is cake, and cheap!! And no travel issues either!
Glad that you like it, now let's see some pics with your camper in the bed!! :sombrero:
As far as the snow plow prep group goes, I can't imagine how that would affect anything either. All that group gives you is a bigger alternator and a transfer case skid plate. I guess they're afraid the snow furls might damage the transfer case????
Well folks.......Huge change in direction with the Sherpa today. This is the largest mod to the build thus far, but I think in a positive direction. Hopefully the fit is what I think it's going to be based on my measurements.
View attachment 233950
Congrats on the truck,it looks like mine.
Looking forward to seeing what you do to it.
Do you have room for a 4"x4" white vinyl fencepost mounted on the underside of the wings? Would be good for fishing pole storage, hoses, a GPL folding ladder, etc., and it might disguise the gap.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_24992-73428...ost&pl=1¤tURL=?Ntt=vinyl+fencepost&facetInfo=