Sport Durst CDJR | Durham, NC
Which RAM 1500 Trims Have Air Suspension?
The Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension System is standard on Limited, Limited Longhorn and Tungsten. It is available on Big Horn and Lone Star, Laramie and Rebel. Tradesman, Express, Warlock and RHO do not offer it. Crew Cab only, on every trim that has it.
RAM 1500 Air Suspension by Trim
Air suspension is the single biggest difference in how two RAM 1500 trucks ride, and it is not a line item most shoppers can find quickly. Here is the whole lineup in one table.
| Trim | Air suspension | What the trim rides on |
|---|---|---|
| Tradesman | Not offered | Coil springs. The work truck of the lineup. |
| Express | Not offered | Coil springs, with 20-inch wheels and body-color bumpers. |
| Big Horn and Lone Star | Available | Coil springs standard. Air suspension can be added on Crew Cab. |
| Warlock | Not offered | Coil springs with a 1-inch raised ride height and all-terrain tires. |
| Laramie | Available | Coil springs standard. Air suspension can be added on Crew Cab. |
| Rebel | Available | Bilstein shocks and a 1-inch lift on coils, 9.7 inches of clearance. Air suspension adds a 2-inch lift. |
| RHO | Not offered | Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system, built for speed over rough ground. |
| Limited | Standard | Air suspension from the factory. |
| Limited Longhorn | Standard | Air suspension from the factory. |
| Tungsten | Standard | Air suspension from the factory, with Bilstein shocks. |
Crew Cab only. Ram builds the Active-Level system on Crew Cab models, so a Quad Cab cannot be ordered with it no matter which trim you pick. That single line settles a lot of confused searches. If you want air suspension, start from a Crew Cab and work outward. Browse the RAM 1500 inventory or the full new RAM lineup in Durham and we will confirm what any specific truck was built with.
The Five Ride Heights, and When You Would Use Each
Air springs replace steel coils with air bags the truck can inflate and deflate. That means the RAM 1500 can pick its own ride height instead of living at one. Ram gives the driver five.
Entry and Exit
The truck squats when you park. Shorter step-in for kids, a shorter reach into the bed, and less of a climb for anyone who is tired of hauling themselves up.
Aero
The truck drops itself at highway speed. Ram is straightforward about why: a lower truck pushes less air, and less drag is less fuel on a long run down I-40.
Normal
Where the truck sits most of the time. This is also the height Ram tells you to return to before hitching a trailer.
Off-Road 1 and 2
Two levels of extra clearance for gravel, ruts and boat ramps. On the Rebel the air system is worth a 2-inch lift over the standard setup.
Hitching a Trailer? Put It Back to Normal First
This is the part owners learn the hard way. Ram's guidance is to return the truck to normal ride height with the air suspension control button on the center console or the key fob before you hitch and tow. Holding a fixed height keeps trailer weight distributed evenly across the hitch instead of shifting as the truck adjusts itself.
It matters more than it sounds. A properly equipped RAM 1500 tows up to 11,610 lbs and carries up to 2,360 lbs of payload, and both of those numbers assume the truck is sitting where the engineers expected it to sit.
Our service team sets this up with customers all the time. If you are new to a truck with air springs, book a service appointment and we will walk you through the controls with your own trailer on the hitch.
Why the RHO Skips It
The RHO is the one trim where the absence of air suspension is a choice, not a cost saving. It runs the Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system, a Dana 60 rear axle and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires. That package is built for absorbing hits at speed over rough ground, which is a different job from adjusting ride height on demand.
The Rebel is the trim where you actually get the choice. On coils it sits with a 1-inch lift and 9.7 inches of ground clearance. Order the air suspension and it gains a 2-inch lift, then settles back down for the drive home. If you split your time between trails and a commute, that is the trim to drive.
Does It Make Sense for a Triangle Truck?
Be honest about how you use it. Three cases where air suspension pays for itself around here:
- You commute on I-40 or 15-501. Aero mode works every time the truck is at speed, which for most Durham and Chapel Hill drivers is most of the miles.
- You tow or haul on weekends. Self-leveling matters when the bed or hitch is loaded, and the entry and exit drop makes loading the bed a shorter reach.
- You carry passengers who do not enjoy climbing into a truck. This is the one nobody puts in a brochure and the one families notice first.
And one case where it does not. If the truck is a work truck that carries weight all day and lives on job sites, coil springs are simpler, cheaper to own, and available on every trim. Tradesman and Express exist for a reason.
If you are cross-shopping engines at the same time, our guide to RAM 1500 diesel and cylinder deactivation by trim covers the other half of that decision. When you are ready to talk numbers, start at the finance department.
RAM 1500 Air Suspension Questions
Which RAM 1500 trims come with air suspension standard?
Limited, Limited Longhorn and Tungsten. All three list the Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension System as standard equipment rather than as an option.
Can I add air suspension to a Big Horn or Laramie?
Yes. Big Horn and Lone Star, Laramie and Rebel all list the Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension System as available. Ram builds the system on Crew Cab models only, so a Quad Cab cannot be ordered with it.
Which RAM 1500 trims cannot get air suspension?
Tradesman, Express, Warlock and RHO. The first three are the value and work-focused trims and are built on coil springs. The RHO is a different case: it runs the Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system, which is tuned for high-speed desert running rather than ride-height adjustment.
What does the RAM 1500 air suspension actually do?
It changes the truck's ride height on demand and on its own. It drops the truck at highway speed to cut aerodynamic drag, lowers it further at a stop so the step-in is shorter, and raises it for clearance off pavement. Ram offers five ride heights: entry and exit, aero, normal, off-road 1 and off-road 2.
How much extra lift does the Rebel get with air suspension?
Ram lists the Rebel's air suspension with a 2-inch lift. On coil springs the same truck is listed with a 1-inch lift and 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The air system is the reason a Rebel can sit tall on a trail and then settle down for the drive home.
Should I turn the air suspension off when I hitch a trailer?
Ram says to return the truck to normal ride height using the air suspension control button on the center console or the key fob when you are hitching and towing. Holding a fixed height helps keep trailer weight distributed evenly across the hitch.
Is air suspension worth it on a truck I mostly drive around Durham?
It depends on what you do with the truck. If you commute on I-40, load a trailer regularly, or want a shorter step-in for passengers, it earns its keep. If the truck is a work truck that lives on job sites and carries weight all day, coil springs are simpler and cheaper to own. Come drive one of each and see which one you notice.
What Our Durham Customers Say
Feel the Difference Before You Decide
Sport Durst Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM
4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707
Sales: 919-873-4578
We are on the Durham-Chapel Hill corridor, roughly seven miles from the UNC campus and an easy run from Cary, Apex and the RTP office parks.
Air suspension is one of those features that reads like a spec sheet line and feels obvious in the first mile. Ask for a coil-sprung truck and an air-sprung truck back to back, and drive both over the same stretch of road.
Find a RAM 1500 With Air Suspension
Tell us which trims you are weighing and we will have them lined up when you arrive.
Sources
- Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension System description and the Crew Cab restriction: Ram 1500 Capability, ramtrucks.com.
- Air suspension controls and hitching guidance, plus towing and payload maximums: Ram 1500 FAQ, ramtrucks.com.
- Standard versus available status by trim, Rebel lift and ground clearance figures, and RHO shock system: Ram published vehicle data for the 2026 Ram 1500, ramtrucks.com.
- Towing and payload figures are maximums when properly equipped. Additional options, equipment, passengers and cargo weight affect towing and payload. Contact the dealership for details on a specific vehicle.
Specifications verified September 2026. Ram may change availability during a model year, so confirm equipment on the window sticker of the individual vehicle.