2500 CTD Suggestions

I have a 2007 2500 CTD 4x4. Bought it new in 2007. The issue at hand is my wife has bad knees and finds it hard to get into the truck. I have running boards which helps but she still has problems. I’m looking for a way that I can lower the front of the truck so that it’s easier for her to get in. Selling or trading in the truck for a new 2WD is not an option. I’ve seen airbag suspension but not sure of the capacity of what’s available. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

Semi trucks weighing 80,000 pounds use air bags. So they make ones to handle a pick-up truck weight.

With air bags you may only get about four inches of drop, is that sufficient to help her get in?

4 inches would be perfect

What about an electric running board ?

Do you have a grab handle mounted inside the cab that your wife can grab and help pull herself up into the cab? If she can open the door, garb a hold of a handle that she can pull herself up onto the running board and then into the cab, that might help a lot.

My buddy's wife has MS. For years he has used a small 2 step stool he puts on the ground (stores it behind the seat on his extended cab truck) for her to step on to get into and out of his truck. The step stool and the grab handle has worked for them for several years.

We have a sept stool and there’s aN OE grab handle. The step stool is a PIA, unfold and fold every time we use it. I’ve tried several stools but none are as steady as the trucks side board. It just needs to be a little lower.

Most bag system for trucks are made for raising the height, but they can also be set up to lower one.

Found these guys as a sample of whats out there

https://www.cjcoffroad.com/products...HcMkxkKlSm03YF-DhaEeluwEijrIEgWvNzF1wiUE

Also might check out this forum

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/adding-air-bags-to-ram-2500.184308/

could the present running board mounting brackets be modified somewhat easy to lower the step surface ?

I’m actually looking at that

Are your running boards the tube style or the fiberglass style? The tube style can easily be modified.

I'm wondering if lowering the running board will make the step from the lowered running board into the cab harder?

Maybe you need to add a lower step to the passenger side running board?

If you lower the running board (or add a step) you will not create a ground clearance problem, will you?

I have Amp Research electric steps on my 2500. I believe they make a model that drops lower than the standard steps.

Some of the newer trucks have a power running board.
My daughter in laws Yukon did.
At one time I had a power step for an RV (was an aftermarket setup) that I think was more than just "in"or "out", I believe that you could stand on it and hit the button and have it raise you up while standing on it but before I could do anything with it my son threw it out

If the OP's wife is losing her mobility and her condition is expected to worsen, it may be wise to do more than a different running board or step. There are devices the seat can mount to that move the seat out and drop it down close to the ground. These are typically used by folks in wheelchairs that can NOT stand on their own. Unfortunately, these are not cheap products. I've thought about getting one of these for my parents, but so far a stool is working for them. There are days when it is a struggle though.