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3,000-lb Capacity. Convert your vehicle's leaf springs into a mechanically active suspension system. RAS adjusts to your load to level your ride. The system also increases stability, handling, and control by improving traction and reducing sway.
Features:
Specs:
All-In-One Suspension System
When towing or hauling a heavy load, you may encounter a number of problems that can make your driving experience difficult or dangerous, such as sway, body roll, or bottoming out. When your vehicle is weighted down, your factory leaf springs can't counteract these problems to the extent that they are supposed to. The weight will overpower the leaf springs and cause them to twist or flatten out. When that happens, they cannot support, level, or stabilize your vehicle effectively. Additionally, because your factory leaf springs are passive, they won't begin to tackle problems such as sway until those problems have already started.
RoadActive Suspension (RAS) kits enhance those passive leaf springs by converting them into a mechanically active, all-in-one suspension system. RAS kits have variable-rated coil tension springs that automatically adjust to your heavy load. Other suspension systems only solve a few problems and usually at the expense of other improvements your factory leaf springs may need. RAS, on the other hand, is a unique kit that provides everything you want in a suspension system without any trade-offs. It eliminates bottoming out like air springs, reduces sway and body roll like sway bars, keeps your ride level like helper springs, and improves traction and braking control like traction bars. This improves your vehicle's stability, handling, and control while you are towing or hauling, as well as when your vehicle is unloaded. RAS also makes your overall driving and towing experience safer and more comfortable, which greatly lessens driver fatigue.
Each RAS unit has a powerful variable-rated coil tension spring that converts your passive leaf spring into a mechanically-active system. Once your vehicle is loaded, the tension springs immediately activate to absorb and support the weight. This allows your leaf springs to maintain their bowed position and keeps them from flattening out or flipping over, which greatly hinders their ability to bear a heavy load. The tension springs are variable-rated, which means that the heavier your load is, the more assistance they provide to your leaf springs. Because of this design, RAS reacts instantaneously, whereas hydraulics, air springs, and other suspension systems take time to react. And unlike your factory leaf springs, RAS stops sway and sag before they even start to happen. Additionally, when your vehicle is unloaded, the tension springs disengage, allowing your leaf springs to perform as intended without hardening your ride. RAS won't hinder your leaf springs' movement, nor will it cause any friction between any of the brackets.
When under a heavy load, leaf springs are especially susceptible to axle wrap, which can cause wheel hop. Wheel hop is when the tires lose their grip on the road, causing a jarring, up-and-down movement. Axle wrap occurs when the circular motion of the tires cause the leaf springs to twist or rotate. If the leaf springs twist far enough, wheel hop can occur. RAS stabilizes your leaf springs by absorbing the force of the load they're trying to support. This eliminates axle wrap and wheel hop, as well as prevents your vehicle from bottoming out. Because of this, less strain is put on your vehicle. And by reducing some of this wear and tear, RAS helps extend the life of your leaf springs, shock absorbers, shackles, and even tires.
When driving along a curve while towing or hauling a heavy load, the back end of your vehicle or trailer can start to shift with that weight. If your factory leaf springs have flattened or twisted under this load, they won't be able to prevent it from shifting. Because of this, your trailer will sway away from your vehicle. This makes driving challenging and dangerous, as it increases the risk of body roll, which is when your vehicle drastically leans to one side. This can often cause you to completely lose control of your vehicle. Body roll is especially prevalent with multi-passenger vans and vehicles towing long campers, trailers, or boats. RAS provides a much safer ride by reinforcing your factory leaf springs and stabilizing your load. This helps prevent sway from occurring and reduces the chance of body roll while cornering, turning, and swerving. RAS also lessens the rocking motion that happens during windy conditions or when a semi passes by on the road.
When your vehicle is overloaded, the bulk of the weight transfers to the rear axle. Your factory leaf springs then become overwhelmed by this weight, as they are not strong enough to support it. This causes the back end of your vehicle to sag and the front end to rise, which means that the front tires have lost some of the grip they need with the road. In addition to loss of traction, it can also cause poor headlight aim, unintentional swerving, and an extremely bumpy and uncomfortable ride. RAS bolsters your factory leaf springs and enables them to provide support for your load without compromising ride quality or comfort. This keeps your ride level from front to back whether you are hauling a load in the bed or towing a boat, trailer, or camper. RAS also ensures that your tires have the traction they require while braking and accelerating, which improves the overall driving experience.
RAS is also customizable. During installation, the coil tension springs can be adjusted to 2 different tension settings or anywhere in between for improved road handling and support. To do this, rotate the springs while keeping the threaded rod still. As you turn the spring, use one of the 2 included spacers as a gauge to measure the widening gaps between the coils. In order for the RAS units to work as intended, you must tension the coils to a minimum of 25 percent with the 1mm white spacer and no more than 40 percent with the 2mm spacer. The springs can also be independently adjusted to compensate for off-center loads such as a handicap lift.
This custom-fit kit comes fully assembled and is easy to install. Each RAS unit simply bolts onto your factory leaf spring with the included hardware, and drilling, welding, and cutting aren't required. First, position the eye hook bracket so that it wraps around the top of the factory leaf spring eye. Then the axle bracket secures under the leaf spring and around the factory U-bolts on the other side of the leaf spring pack. Once the maintenance-free RAS units are fully installed, you won't need to monitor them as you would with air springs.
RAS is extremely durable and corrosion-resistant. The units are constructed of high-grade alloy steel, and they have an epoxy e-coat on the coil springs to provide extreme corrosion resistance. The brackets on the ends of each unit resist the effects of water and other elements, and they have a salt spray rating of more than 800 hours.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (777 Customer Reviews)
3,000-lb Capacity. Convert your vehicle's leaf springs into a mechanically active suspension system. RAS adjusts to your load to level your ride. The system also increases stability, handling, and control by improving traction and reducing sway.absolutely did not take 45 minutes to install and still missing a locknut that was not contained in a sealed bag with cardboard box container causing lost parts. Now i have to locate special threaded nut.
I tried to like it but just couldn’t. It didn’t help the suspension at all. I had it professionally installed and adjusted 3 times to no avail. It honestly didn’t change anything in the trucks stock suspension. I took it off and got air bags and am much happier. That was a lot of money to spend to not help my trucks suspension. I tried selling them but can’t. Word must be out how bad these are.
Jenny N.
10/18/2021
This system is intended for use on vehicles in which the suspension is in good shape. It is designed to strengthen the leaf springs however is not design to correct rear sag. It does have a 30 day money back guarantee. I would recommend air bag system part # AL57396 and compressor system part # AL25856 which will give greater adjustment to the loads that are carried.
Helpful Links
5 stars is based solely on the extremely fast shipping. I looked at purchasing these from the manufacturer, however after seeing they had a 3 week wait time I I logged onto Etrailer and learned they were in stock for immediate shipping. Every thing that I have orders from Etrailer has shipped fast. I will continue to use Etrailer as my go to source for camper needs.
James
8/5/2021
I originally put shaded this for towing a travel trailer and it worked great. I have since upgraded to a 5th wheel and the system is still impressive. Highly recommend the purchase
Purchased the Roadmaster Active Suspension Leaf Spring to level my 5th wheel and truck bed while under load. Based on our typical annual mileage pulling the trailer I did not want to spend the additional money to install air bags. After several trips pulling the 5er we experienced a much smoother ride and better handling expecially in the mountains. I am very pleased with my purchase.
I didn’t notice any significant change.
The installation was going to be difficult so I didn’t install. They are still sitting in my garage.
Received in timely manner install was less then 1/2 hour , and hauling camper and trailer did improve
haven’t towed with them yet but when i do i’ll come back here
Installed about a year ago. Wish I had installed them on every truck I had ever owed! Improved overall ride both empty and loaded. No more squat. 2016 Ford SuperDuty
Very easy to install and what a difference it made. No drop when hooking up my 11,000 pound camper anymore meaning better driving
Installed this system on a 1999 F-250 SD. I pull a 35 foot 5th wheel trailer that has a pin weight of 2,180 lbs. (I know the exact weights as I have weighed each axle, unloaded and loaded.) Before the RAS install, the trailer would cause the rear of the truck to sag, pitching the nose up just a bit.
I installed the RAS system, and knowing my truck is loaded to the max, I decided to use the 2mm spacer. After the install, the height at the rear bumper was 2 1/4 inches higher. Before the RAS install, the trailer would cause the rear of the truck to drop a full 4 inches. With the 2mm spacer adjusted RAS, the trailer caused the truck to drop about 2 inches in the rear, but the rake of the truck now remains with the nose lower than the rear.
After the initial install, I drove the truck unloaded. The ride was about the same as before, maybe just a bit smoother, hard to say for sure.
This past weekend, we took the truck and trailer to Branson, MO and back, about a 825 mile round trip. What a difference! We hadn't driven 2 miles from home when the wife said, wow, this is a different truck. The ride was fantastic. It eliminated surging we would sometimes encounter on some roads. Bumps and undulations in the road were so much better.
I was really skeptical about this, especially considering the price. But you couldn't pay me to take it off now. I consider the RAS essential equipment now, right up there with EGT and boost gauges, 4" exhaust, diesel brake and added TPMS to all tires. I've been pulling that same 5th wheel for 22 years with that 25 year old truck, and this last weekend was the best pull I've ever experienced. Just wish I had had the RAS on the Alaska highway a few years ago. I am amazed at the improved ride. Couldn't recommend it any higher.
I am a competitive shooter and take my camper to all my shoots. I have a cap on my truck and the decked drawer system. I also carry 400 lbs of ammo at any given time. When pulling my camper on the highway or over bumps and railroad tracks it was kinda scary. This system stopped the squat and removed the sag at acceleration. I installed sumo springs as well (without spacer) for added sway control when loaded down with trailer. The RAS was great right from the start. It reminded me of the 80’s then we would put traction bars on old hot rods to stop rear squat on acceleration. Same kind of feel with my truck. Some much nicer. With the trailer it removed 1.5 inches of squat on the rear and got my front and back within 1” of variance and before install it was around 2.5 to 3. Took only fifteen minutes per side to install once the tires were off. Great product….
Received these ahead of schedule and all intact. I watched the video on etrailer.com and youtube, very helpful.
The installation is not difficult if you are handy with tools. Aside from it deciding to rain on me during install it was not bad. Suggest you lay out all your tools and include a couple of adjustable wrenches. First off, unscrew that gold screw alot, when you think there is enough, go more, the first side I was short. I wiped down the truck springs to remove any dirt there and set up then tightened by hand, you can't go far that way but gets you started. On the rod with the 2 nuts that will lock together when done, I gave myself about 3" of thread and locked them together to hold the threaded rod while adjusting, no way to hold the end nut, this worked out well. The one thing I would have done different is the adjusting nut is 14mm, I only have a 6" ratcheting 14mm, doable but at the end it tough, I wish I had a 10" or so, there was space in my install. I set mine to high since I pull a 5th wheel so adjusting was the hard part.
I will not know until spring if this helps with the towing as the camper is now stored but very hopeful from others input. If anything changes I will update.
I bought these after a 1000+ mile trip towing my trailer (~8000# loaded) with my 2013 F-150 (HD Payload & Max Towing Package). Installation was super easy. I did not need to take the tires off. There was plenty of room to get behind the tires and place and adjust the springs. Once installed they definitely give the truck a rake. I didn't measure pre-installation because I didn't expect the lift to be so great. I used the black disc to adjust the springs.
It's not too extreme but you can definitely see a difference compared to stock.
As you can see in the pictures, with the springs the drop with a trailer attached is greatly reduced and the truck sits level. Towing was great. I used a WDH before and being able to with springs only and a sway bar is pretty nice. Drop with trailer attached is only about 2.5 inches (see pics)
Straight-forward installation on a 2007 Pleasure way Excel RV (I did it myself in a few hours) although I did have to modify the air bag mounting bracket with a slot to allow RAS hardware to fit. Great installation instructions. Vehicle height is now correct and could be made level by tension adjustment during install. Handing is improved, I was able to remove aftermarket sway bar which improved ride. I have been considering installation of stiffer rear shocks to soften rebound now that the rear spring rate is increased.
I received this kit in a very timely manner always do from etrailer have some issues with the instructions that come from roadmaster not a trailer the bump stop spacer didn’t say that you need to use the original bolt from the bump stop so it slowed me down greatly on the install however I took it out on a quick run without a load I do feel that this has made the unloaded ride smoother tomorrow I’ll be taking the trailer out for a bit and we’ll see how it works there and I’ll update this rating.
Admitedly, I haven't even rolled my '07 Silverado 2500HD classic out of the garage yet, but I'm already very pleased. I had to go to a neighbor for a 10mm hex key socket and was slowed down by my 7yo kid 'helping', but it was still only 90 minutes my jack stands were in use. Easiest thing to do!
My only small downsides so far:
* needed to find a 10mm hex key that I apparently don't own, not sure why they picked that fastener
* wish I put some loc-tite on; just to make me feel better
* distance to drop the axle so the suspension fully hangs was way further than I expected; barely had my jack stands tall enough to get the job done.
These aren't really bad on the product, just notes for future customers. We're towing the 5er about an hour an a half this coming week, hopefully it steadies up a lot!
I had the airbags in the back for years. These far out way them. This is the best thing I ever did!!
Sure beats air bags or blocks! My Gmc canyon diesel is a great puller, needed help with suspension hauling load limit. Easy to install and works great. On high setting it raised the truck rear an inch or two even empty but the way gmc set up the suspension I consider it a good thing.With my tandem axle 16' trailer loaded it's a saving grace.
I own a 2020 F150 raptor, it lacks spring rate in the rear to hold up a lot of weight, other than that it’s a beast Pulling trailers.
Investigated air ride and I discovered It didn’t have the articulation that I needed.
The springs are the fastest way to have additional lift.
I can install them and uninstall them in minutes .
Great product.
This product was very easy and quick to install. It changed the ride on my wife's lifted F150 so much and was noticable immediately. It firmed up the ride and made it way more comfortable towing, loaded, or just plain driving.
Overall, very happy with the product. GMC didn't have any way to improve the truck from squatting when I hooked up my trailer. This kit didn't stop the squatting but significantly reduced the bounce on bad dips in roads, bridge/road transitions and bad railroad crossings.
I bought this last summer (2022) for my 2020 F150 to haul the travel trailer (summer) and to have the quad in the box (fall) during the hunting season. I mainly used it during the weekends as I work from home during the weekdays. I adjusted the tension just before the winter because I haven't haul anything during winter. As it is now spring, I wanted to adjust back the tension for the rv season and I found everything rusted out (I am.in Canada and use the truck only 2-3 times a week).
I was pleased to use the product back last summer but because of all the rust I found this spring, I'm having a hard time adjusting them and I am also quite scared for next seasons as rust is making adjustments hard.
By having this for less than a year, I am now dissapointed in the product. Before buying this, I looked a lot into airlift a lot but because of reviews, I changed my mind to go with RAS.
Rust is now found on the main threaded rod locking nuts the bolt/tube underneat locking the device was rusted and seized.
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Katrina D.
8/15/2024
Oh no, that is not good to hear. Let me get that sent out to you right away so you don't have to locate it yourself.