Raptor Toy Hauler

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?

Keystone Raptor 3812ts Toy Hauler | RVs for Sale

Keystone Raptor 3812ts Toy Hauler

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This like-new 2008 Keystone Raptor 3812TS is in excellent condition. We purchased it brand new in 2009, and we’ve only used it 8-10 times and stayed in it 3 or 4 nights each time. It hasn’t been lived in, and it’s never been smoked in. There are three slide-outs (one long one for the sofa in the living room; one for the refrigerator, stove, oven and microwave in the kitchen; and one for the closet in the bedroom). All three slide-outs are electric, as is the awning. There’s a built in 5500 watt generator and a 20 or 25 gallong fuel tank, and the generator only has 34 hours on it. There is also a gas nozzle to pump fuel from the tank into a 4-wheeler, motorcycle, gas can or whatever. We’ve never hauled any 4-wheelers, motorcycles, etc. in the toy-hauler, but there’s plenty of room back there for whatever you might want to take along. It comes with tie down brackets which mount to the floor (we have them, but they haven’t been installed). There are queen size bunk beds in the toy hauler part, which retract to the ceiling when not in use (power up and down). It came plumbed for a washer/dryer from the factory, and we installed a brand new washer/dryer at the end of last summer and have only used it once. There are three flat screen TVs (one in the toy hauler, one in the living room and one in the bedroom). The TVs in the living room and bedroom share a satellite receiver, and the one in the toy hauler runs off a separate receiver (two receivers in all). The roof-mounted satellite dish tunes in automatically with the push of a button – no more manually pointing the dish and searching for a signal. The carpet, upholstry, walls and cabinets are all in the same great condition they were in when we purchased it new. There’s a queen size bed in the bedroom, and a queen size loft. We are selling this 5th wheel fully stocked with a full set of matching dishes, matching pots & pans, matching flatware, utensils, etc. It’s literally ready to be hauled to the lake and used today. It also comes with a new (never used) large portable sewage tank/cart, so you can emptly the black water tank on the trailer without having to move the trailer to the dump station. There are two gray water tanks – one for the sink and shower in the bathroom, and one for the kitchen sink and washer/dryer. The fresh water tank holds 100 gallons, and the 12 gallon hot water tank runs off gas or electricity (so does the refrigerator/freezer). There is lots of storage space inside the trailer and underneath the trailer, as well. There’s a stand-up shower in the bathroom and a porcelin toilet. I installed a Ranch Hand goosneck hitch adaptor, which can be easily removed if you prefer a 5th wheel hitch. If you’re looking for a nice, hardly used toy hauler, you won’t find one in better shape at a better price than this. If you decide to come look at it, you won’t be disappointed. It is exactly as I’ve described. I have a lot more photos, which I will be glad to email to you. You can call me at 918-775-7260 if you have any questions. If we don’t answer, leave a message, and I’ll call you back.

The Ebay Price Guide, What Sells for What (in Every Category!)

National RV Trader, May 2010 Issue

Backpacker