2013 Ram truck lowering suspension
 

New RAM 1500
2013 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks
link 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks


The 2013 Ram 1500 leapfrogged competitors with an eight-speed automatic transmission and other improvements, including:
•Best in class gas mileage (V6 and V8): 20% better with either engine
•Power increases: 305 hp V6 and 395 hp Hemi V8 [details]
•Less noise with best-in-class aerodynamics (cD = 0.363)
•Air suspension for better mileage, ride control, loading, and clearance
•Stronger, stiffer frame with more high-strength steel
•New electronics with voice control, texting, software updates, and configurable 7” instrument screen
•New interiors with upgraded materials and features

lowers while driving for better aerodynamics!!!!!



Air suspensionThe 2013 Ram 1500 has an optional air suspension system which optimizes ride and aerodynamics, while adding load-leveling. Air pressure increases until the vehicle reaches normal ride height, leveling the truck and improving the loaded ride. It has five height settings that operate automatically or via console or key fob controls:
•Normal Ride Height (NRH): 8.7 inches of clearance (from the base of the door sill) is the default, load-leveled ride height
•Aero: Lowers the Ram by 1.1 inches, increasing gas mileage by up to 1%. It is activated by speed.
•Off-road 1 and 2: Lifts the vehicle 1.2 and 2 inches, respectively, to clear obstacles
•Park: Lowers the truck by 2 inches from NRH for easy entry/exit and cargo loading

The system uses the tanks shown in blue, above, as reservoirs; it does not use outside air.
The air suspension system adds up to 4 inches of lift span (KC in Wisconsin pointed out this included Park mode), for best-in-class step-in height of 21 inches, best-in-class ground clearance of 10.7 inches, best-in-class departure angle of 27.8°, and best-in-class breakover angle of 24.2°.
It is supported by four-corner air springs that provide a cushioned, premium ride and has different spring rates depending on the ride height. In Off-Road 2, the rate is firmer, while in Aero mode, the rate is softened. A separate button on the key fob gives the operator the ability to manually lower the truck, allowing for ease of passenger entry and bed loading.

I wonder why they don't lower it further at cruise? No more aero benefit? No more suspension travel?

great question.
I am sure there are the basic engineering/end user dumbness challenges.

When I saw the epa figures for the truck I just about crapped my pants cause its the same as my car.

". . The Ram 1500 is the first truck to use an active grille shutter system (similar to the one on Dart), closing airflow through the grille when cooling is not needed. It increases gas mileage by 0.5%, cuts drag roughly 4%, and cuts warm-up time/defrost time. The computer closes the shutters when cooling is not needed.

Dave Sowers pointed out that the active shutters was normally either fully open or fully closed. When closed, air pressure quickly builds up in front of the slats, deflecting oncoming air over the truck, which has the lowest drag coefficient of any pickup on the market. At all times, there’s airflow over the radiator from other openings. The idea was to avoid drag from radiator capacity which is seldom needed, while still being able to cool the engine under any reasonable conditions.

something to look into that air lowering at speed .I plan on replacing all 4 shocks come spring, I wonder if an aftermarket air shock mfg has anything like this yet and if so at what cost

really surprised that they felt it was cost effective to put an airbag system in. But it does lower to help with getting in so it serves more than one purpose.

What I really like about it is that it activates the aero drop at 55 and doesn't deactivate it until you get down to 35. The off road settings are affected by speed, too- it drops from off road 2 down to off road 1 at 25 mph or so. I wasn't paying too much attention to that part.

The stop/start system comes with a beefier starter, alternator and battery. What would be really great is if they adapted smaller engines to use the multi-displacement setup that the 5.7 can have.

Taking a look at the EPA listing for FE on these trucks, I'd say that Chrysler has really put some serious effort into making the trucks more efficient.

There is an optional RAM 1500 HFE (Starts at $28,000!) which includes the V6, 8 speed auto, active shutters, and the start stop system. It isn't mentioned on the ram site if this trim has the air suspension system.

The biggest problems I see are that the truck is only available with 2 wheel drive and a 6'4'' bed, and with the additional cost the break even point may never be reached by many truck buyers.

EPA listing 18 city, 25 highway - Compare Side-by-Side

I actuallt think this is a home run.
THere are alot of buyer NOT buying trucks at all because of the mpg.
I bet there is a pent up demand for a light weight truck type vehichle that can run back and forth to home dept etc.

Interesting that the suspension drop @ highway speed is finally being used (Subaru started doing it in the 80's with the XT6). Glad to see it done on a truck too.

Several upper end cars use it. Jaguar has for years.

Just for the record I would not wish that air suspension kit on my worst enemy, and a kit from a infinately more reputable company is only slightly more expensive.

RideTech

However both of those are full air ride kits. But if you really wanted to make this work you could probably do a static drop which would cost significantly less and then augment it with air shocks or helper bags, so you would have the ability to lift it back up close to stock height whenever you want and lower it for interstate speeds or loading. Although a setup like that still might run you like $600~$800.

Most people don't need four wheel drive or an 8 foot bed. If you really need those, then you're not getting the Gas Sipper Edition.

cost
 

Fiat had already done it with the JEEP Grand Cherokee.I suspect that the cost of engineering and components was a 'shared-platform' type of bean-counter event.
The market will tell them if they hit one out of the park or not.
But with the 2025 CAFE standards looming ahead,this is exactly the sort of technology which will close the mpg gap.
I had SEAR's air-shocks on my El Camino and I really liked them.Full-active suspension would have been a hoot!