Hello everyone, I have a V2 Camper on a Ram Big Horn 1500 that has been great to me since 2022! I had to install airbags when I got my camper due to some sagging issues on the rear suspension from the weight of the camper. I was thinking about upgrading to a more offroad oriented truck, like the Ram Rebel 1500, and was curious if anyone has thoughts or experience on whether I would also need airbags with the Bilstein shocks that come standard on the Rebel?
Thanks for your time!
-Jake
My understanding is @ws6616 is regarded as the SME for Ram 1500 suspension questions on the forum and probably is a great place to start if he’s willing to help give you some insight.
Perfect thank you BenP! Can I DM on here, or just wait for a response to this thread?
@BenP is right about @ws6616 being an expert with great advice. I ran the Fox 2.5 w/dsc on my ram and was very happy, but only was comparing it to stock.
just run heavier rated springs in the rear and you’ll be good. airbags are for towing, not for constant weight.
I ran this same setup as my bed rack with RTT and GFC. It worked fine but after a year of high speed offroading/ boogielanding, the springs sagged.
this is what I run currently. Ride a bit more firm but with DSC i can have both on and offroad mode.
TBH the major difference between the Rebel and Big Horn is just the gearing and locker, as well as some interior options that don’t exist for Big Horn. If your Big Horn has 3.92 gearing and locker (or, if you’re not running 35s or never needed locker) then you’re totally fine with your current truck. Other than that, the limitations you have currently will still be the same on a 1500 Rebel - IFS with little travel and articulation, poor approach, breakover, and departure angles, etc.
Even then, instead of throwing money to buy a new truck and since your current truck has been good to you, maybe you can just regear the front and rear to 3.92 and add a rear locker while you’re at it, put the same suspension I have, and save yourself some coins.
I should’ve went Big Horn instead of Rebel when I ordered my truck, because the Rebel Offroad Group suspension got yanked with 400 miles on the clock, the Offroad Group skids got yanked (replaced with RCI full skid) at like 2000 miles or something because they are one time use in actual offroad situations. The only thing that I kept is 3.92 gearing and locker. But then I got the Rebel because it unlocks the interior creature comforts lol
You can read more about suspension and stuff on my site. Got a full writeup on almost everything. While you’re at it, check out the center console MOLLE panel too lol lmk if you want $20 off.
Thank you for all the info @ws6616! I’m actually kinda leaning toward a Warlock now, just because most of the issues seem to be with electronics, which the Rebel has a ton of, and the Warlock has very few of lol. And I can save almost $10,000 and have almost everything the same except the interior. At least entertaining the idea for now lol.
I’m not a major offroader, moreso a hunter who happens to find himself in offroad situations. Truck is normally used for day to day activities, and spends a few weeks per year on BLM and NFS trails. Would that change your recommendation at all? Main reason for change is I had a few engine issues, and my factory warranty is almost up. So figured it might be a good time to dump this one off while it’s running well and benefit from the 10-year/100,000 mile warranty they have on 2026 trucks.
hmm in that case, stay with a hemi.
Ram/ Jeep/ Dodge is not that great with electronics so it doesn’t really matter that much Warlock vs Rebel. The major architecture is still the same underneath, you just get a more basic interior (but it’s still the same underneath). The interior electronics are also quite reliable in terms of UC5 and speakers and such. Never really had issues with those. You can avoid all other issues with a Rebel if you stay off all the automatic options (like lane keep, blind spot, etc) and keep the emergency braking to “warning only”
I’ve got 55k on mine since 2022, including a 15k miles solo trip up to the Arctic Ocean and Alaska and with dual electric systems (one in the cab and one in the bed) that draw quite a lot, I’ve been fine. The key here with electronics is if you know what you’re choosing from options list and you know what you’re putting in and use quality parts, you most likely will be fine.
Fox 2.5 would be my first choice if I was in your situation. The dual speed adjuster alone is worth the ticket. It can be soft when you want it, and firm up when you need it. My plan was to go Thuren Stage 6 tuning instead of Fox 2.5, but Kings were backordered with no ETA at the time of ordering parts so I went with Fox.
The Rebel/ Offroad Group Bilsteins are fine, it gives you 1” up front, and then if you’re around 500lb constant then just throw in the Carli Rebel springs. But honestly I’d just go with the Bilstein 5100s for firmer ride and ability to adjust height. I don’t know how you drive on dirt, so it’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what you need hahaha like in my case if I see dirt road/ BLM NFS roads that are not rock gardens I go rally speed, so the 2.5” diameter shocks from King/ Fox work really well for me. But if you go slow to avoid bumpiness then the Rebel Bilsteins will be fine, just get heavier rated springs in the back to compensate for the weight.
Thanks @ws6616, any idea on what the Bilstein 5100s vs Fox would cost? And not a big fan of the Hurricane SO engine?
bilsteins are probably around $1k or under, depends on if you’re getting coilover for the front or shocks only. Getting shocks only will likely increase your labor cost because spring removal is needed, but that depends on how your shop prices things.
Fox cost refer to this picture:
(This was 2023 pricing)
no im not a fan of hurricane SO. seen many random CEL and other issues, and long term reliability is yet to be determined. the Hemi has bee around for a long time and all the known issues are well documented with known fixes.
I would take my 5.7 and drive to Alaska and Arctic Ocean again retracing my steps back in 2024 with this exact truck, but i would not take a hurricane to do the same. I don’t care how people say it’s more powerful or faster, because there is no replacement for displacement.
Preach!
Shocks do nothing to support the load in a vehicle. Weight is supported by the springs.
This is exactly why we got my daughter a 1500 with the Hemi when the sales guy was trying to talk us into one of the other engines
How does any of this translate to 2500’s? Any experience or recommendations?
it’s different with 2500 since it’s solid front and rear, basically like a XL Jeep JT, but it’s pretty much similar ideas, just you don’t have coilovers in the front.
If you have a 2500, the only people I recommend would be Thuren. Tell them exactly what you have, your weight over axles, your driving style, etc, and they’ll dial the package for you.
Appreciate it! Thanks!
@ws6616 just to make sure, I would want the HD 500lb Constant Load springs for the camper, right?
if you have front end lift or using the Rebel front suspension (aka, 1” compared to standard), then go with that.
if not your rear end may sit a bit higher even with the load, but that sounds like what you’re looking for? hahaha sorry I forgot 
