Truck Headache Rack

Could Ram Offer an Air Suspension for its Heavy-Duty Pickups?

There’s chatter that Chrysler may offer an air suspension for its Ram Heavy Duty pickups.

An air suspension uses tough airbags that replace or supplement a truck’s conventional springs and shocks. On-board air compressors adjust the pressure inside the air springs to match a truck’s load.

The Ram Long-Hauler pickup concept , which grabbed attention for its extra-long wheelbase and extended driving range, featured an air suspension at all four corners to help manage huge loads.

In the Long-Hauler, the rear leaf springs were replaced by a Kelderman Air Ride setup with a load-sensing system that can self-level the truck, plus a kneeling system that can lower the ride height for easier access to the truck and for backing up to a trailer.

Air suspensions have two advantages over conventional suspensions: improved ride quality and load carrying capabilities.

Since the earliest days of pickups, heavy-duty trucks in particular have suffered from poor ride quality because of leaf springs. Leaf springs are made by stacking several bands of metal on top of each other to manage loads placed on the back of the truck. But this construction creates a tremendous amount of friction between the springs that is released as the rear flexes. This release of friction translates into poor ride quality, particularly when the truck is empty. The leaf springs settle down as more weight is added.

Recent pickups from Ram have improved their ride quality either by ditching leaf springs entirely — in the case of the coil spring suspension in the 2009-12 Ram 1500 half-ton — or by adding hydraulic body mounts under the cab that act as secondary shock absorbers to calm the truck, in the case of the 2010-12 Ram 2500 and 3500 HD pickups.

By reducing the pressure of the air suspension’s pneumatic bladders, unloaded ride quality can be improved to dampen suspension flex. The heavier the load, the more pressure that’s pumped into the airbags.

Extra air pressure can also be added to raise the height of a truck for better off-road capability.

With Ram’s dedication to improving the ride quality of its trucks, the Long-Hauler appears to show us how serious the brand is considering all avenues of innovation. Airbags could also give Ram HD pickups more hauling capability than other competitors in the segment – bragging rights that would be very important in the market.

If there were an optional air suspension package for a heavy-duty pickup, would you buy it, or would you stick with conventional leafs and shocks?

Headache Racks for Trucks: Prevent More than Just Headaches! | Car ...

While headache racks for trucks may not seem like the most attractive automotive accessories, they are definitely one of the most practical. But which one?

If you drive a truck, odds are that you regularly do some form of hauling. Whether you operate a landscaping business or you courier automotive parts for a local mechanic, your truck bed is a tool that gets a lot of use. However, in the event of an accident, hauling cargo can become a dangerous scenario if you don’t have a truck headache rack .

Few truck drivers consider the dangers involved in hauling heavy loads – until disaster strikes. You slam on the breaks to avoid a little old lady, and your toolbox shatters the rear windshield. The truck is rear ended by a careless driver, and a load of 2x4s splinters into 1000 pieces. Whatever the scenario, hauling equipment in your truck can be a dangerous affair.

Thankfully, headache racks for trucks provide a measure of security for drivers wanting to protect themselves and their vehicles. These sturdy racks separate passengers in the cab from hazardous, shifting equipment in the truck bed. In the event of an accident, cargo will not be able to penetrate the rear windshield as long as the vehicle has an installed headache racks for trucks of this magnitude offer enough strength to make it impossible for heavy cargo to penetrate the semi’s cab so that the driver does not suffer injury. They are typically extremely thick and iron-clad.

Drivers of pickups without truck headache racks are in danger of far more than a headache in the event of an accident. Headache racks for trucks provide all of the needed safety while providing drivers with an assuring degree of peace of mind. And since a variety of automotive manufacturers are now designing stylish versions of these critical accessories, your truck can be safe and look cool at the same time.