Do all HD pickups ride rough?

[Blue Mule]

What year? I posted earlier, our 2019 F350 rides day and night better than our old 2006 F350 did. The 2019 I'd say rides as good as 1/2 ton pickups of 20-30 years ago (All 4wd configurations that is).

I've had trucks from 1988 to 2022 model years. I've got personal experience with all brands. My 2019 F-250 is the worst ride quality I've ever experienced in ANY pickup truck in my life. It's honestly so bad that I don't like driving it daily.

I think Ram started doing the coils in the rear of their 3/4 tons about ten years ago and those ride better. Still not great but better.

The Super Duty trucks Ford is putting out are kidney killers. I blame the lightweight aluminum body on the increasingly stiff steel frames.

 

[oldtimer 66]

I had a 2016 Chevy 2500 HD std. (short) bed/ 6.0 L, Z71, GVW 9500 lbs., tires 50 psi and 80 psi settings. No snow plow prep package. It rode like a car. I now have a 2024 Chevy 2500 HD std. (short) bed/ 6.6 L IC, Z71, GVW 10800 lbs., tires 60 psi and 70 psi with the snow plow prep package. It rides like a truck, really ruff as my dog, "Mick Dundee" would say.

 

[dieselscout80]

Something to consider about your ride quality is rim size. I believe with the same diameter tire on various rim diameter 16”, 17”, 18” or 20”.

A smaller diameter rim with the same height tire will ride better with in the same psi and maybe even at a higher psi due to the taller sidewall allowing for more flex.

This may explain some differences trucks.

 

[Blue Mule]

Something to consider about your ride quality is rim size. I believe with the same diameter tire on various rim diameter 16”, 17”, 18” or 20”.

A smaller diameter rim with the same height tire will ride better with in the same psi and maybe even at a higher psi due to the taller sidewall allowing for more flex.

This may explain some differences trucks.

I understand what you're saying, and on paper it makes sense, but it doesn't really work out that way. My truck has 18" wheels (smallest possible due to brake rotor size) and 35x12.50 tires with lots of sidewall, and I run them 10 psi under sticker. It still rides like garbage.

I have been told that the F-350 actually rides slightly better than the F-250 because on the 1-ton they use a smaller main leaf pack and then add "overload" leafs for carrying large loads. So when running empty you actually get a softer ride. I cannot confirm.

I do know that if I had to buy another truck right now, I'd order a F-150 instead and add the high capacity payload package to it. Those are much lighter and efficient trucks, with much better ride quality, yet they have the same payload as my F-250 and they are within 1,000 lbs. of max trailer rating also. Seems like the perfect truck.

 

[ericm979]

A smaller diameter rim with the same height tire will ride better with in the same psi and maybe even at a higher psi due to the taller sidewall allowing for more flex.

I downsized my car from 19" to 18" and my GX460 from 18" to 17" mostly for that reason. It wasn't a huge difference in ride on either but was noticable. The GX got more off road oriented tires at the same time which somewhat negated the diameter change.

My truck came with 20" tires which is ridiculous. 18" would be better and the tires would cost less. It's funny that tires of the same outer diameter but smaller I.D. cost less, even though there's more material.

Changing would mean buying new wheels which adds to the expense. Also I'd have yet another set of wheels to get rid of. But I should probably price some wheels and tires and see how bad it'd be. GM says you can't run chains on the 20" though there are a few that apparently fit ok.

 

[not2old]

My truck came with 20" tires which is ridiculous. 18" would be better and the tires would cost less. It's funny that tires of the same outer diameter but smaller I.D. cost less, even though there's more material.


[/QUOTE]
My old truck ran 16.5 wheels and I recently put on 17" because of the difference in price and availability of tires. My new Lariat came with 18" and I made sure I didn't get 20's that they put on a lot of optional packages. Right now I'm trying to decide what I will put on it to improve the ride if I can find a buyer for the OEM tires. Experience with my old truck tells me there is a world of difference in ride between tires running 50psi and 80psi.

 

[orezok]

I do know that if I had to buy another truck right now, I'd order a F-150 instead and add the high capacity payload package to it. Those are much lighter and efficient trucks, with much better ride quality, yet they have the same payload as my F-250 and they are within 1,000 lbs. of max trailer rating also. Seems like the perfect truck.

I guess you didn’t read my post. A F150 that weighs 5600 lbs but can carry 2560 lbs is gonna ride LIKE A TRUCK WITH SOLID SUSPENSION.

It also gets 14 MPG.

 

[ultrarunner]

Had a Honda that said no chains…

Ran chains all the time after carefully fitting at home.

Chains with the steering full right or left would hit the wheel well and it really had to be full.

Never an issue because I knew I could not go to full lock…

 

[Jstpssng]

Experience with my old truck tells me there is a world of difference in ride between tires running 50psi and 80psi.

Well, Yah!!!! That's the maximum for when you are loaded, yet you don't need to run at those high pressures all of the time. It's also indicative of the tire rating. I have 10 ply tires on my Colorado, simply because I run a lot of gravel roads and don't like changing tires. Yet while maximum pressure is 80, I run them around 41.

 

[Topzide]

I played with tire pressure for loaded and unloaded with 10 plys. Run 45 in rear and 55 in front unloaded. Have a 3x5 card with other pressures for loads. Compressor in toolbox, pressure gauge in door pocket.

 

[dstig1]

That wide axle was an option for the F350 at one time. No idea if you can still specify it these days.

Interesting. Never heard about that before.

 

[RayIN]

I haven't driven a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup since the '80s. My trucks have been 1/2 tons or less. I test drove a recent model Chevy 3/4 ton today. It was nice but I felt every bump. I realize the extra carrying capacity requires stiffer springs but it rode stiffer than I expected. Do all modern HD trucks ride like that? My Tundra's not smooth for sure but has more compliance. The Chevy had a tire pressure monitor and the tires were at 58-60. Do people lower the tire pressure when running unladen?

That depends on tire pressures; were they inflated to sidewall listed pressure? Or were they inflated to the federal tire placard pressures?
My cousins son bought a new 1T GMC 4x4 fully-loaded diesel and it rides better than my ½-T chevy.

 

[deserteagle71]

Interesting. Never heard about that before.

I almost ordered one. Lots of articles out there about the years this was available and how to tell if an F350 was equipped with the wide front end. Depending on the year it would have Option 67W or 535 on the build sheet. Here's an article from Moog, who supplies front end parts:

Selecting the Right Tie Rod End for Ford Super Duty Trucks

Learn how to select the right tie rod end for Ford Super Duty F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks by measuring the diameter of the threaded portion of the tie rod.

www.moogparts.com

 

[deserteagle71]

Maybe on the Chassis Cab, not the pickup bed trucks.

https://www.powerstroke.org/threads/wide-track-fat-boy-pickup-front-axle-id-and-specs.1392729/

 

[Blue Mule]

I guess you didn’t read my post. A F150 that weighs 5600 lbs but can carry 2560 lbs is gonna ride LIKE A TRUCK WITH SOLID SUSPENSION.

It also gets 14 MPG.

Nope. I've had several F-150s before. Still have one left today. 100% different ride quality. F-150 has IFS, less rigid chassis, lower ride height, different shocks, the whole nine yards. Not the same rough ride at all.

 

[Fixastuff]

Interesting. Never heard about that before.

I had a 08 f450 8ft bed drw. A super long truck but turned way tighter than my old 2011 f150 8ft bed or current ram 2500 with a 6.5ft bed.

Was nice for parking lots and sharp intersections but made the most difference backing a trailer up.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Nope. I've had several F-150s before. Still have one left today. 100% different ride quality. F-150 has IFS, less rigid chassis, lower ride height, different shocks, the whole nine yards. Not the same rough ride at all.

I love my F350, but yeah, the ride doesn't compare to an equivalently modern F150. I never thought the ride on my truck was rough, but a friend picked up a '20 F150 and it drives like a car.

No comparison.

 

[RayIN]

I understand what you're saying, and on paper it makes sense, but it doesn't really work out that way. My truck has 18" wheels (smallest possible due to brake rotor size) and 35x12.50 tires with lots of sidewall, and I run them 10 psi under sticker. It still rides like garbage.

I have been told that the F-350 actually rides slightly better than the F-250 because on the 1-ton they use a smaller main leaf pack and then add "overload" leafs for carrying large loads. So when running empty you actually get a softer ride. I cannot confirm.

I do know that if I had to buy another truck right now, I'd order a F-150 instead and add the high capacity payload package to it. Those are much lighter and efficient trucks, with much better ride quality, yet they have the same payload as my F-250 and they are within 1,000 lbs. of max trailer rating also. Seems like the perfect truck.

As I posted previously, my cousins son bought a new GMC Serria 1T SRW. He said it rides much better empty than his previous 2022 GMC 3/4T Serria.
He buys new every 2 yrs. since his dad retired from GM.
The only reason auto mfgrs went to larger dia. rims is the increased brake size. At least with autos, suspension was redesigned to counter narrower sidewall tires reduced flex area.

 

[orezok]

Nope. I've had several F-150s before. Still have one left today. 100% different ride quality. F-150 has IFS, less rigid chassis, lower ride height, different shocks, the whole nine yards. Not the same rough ride at all.

If you haven’t owned a F150 with HDPP, then you don’t know what you don’t know!

 

[ericm979]

The only reason auto mfgrs went to larger dia. rims is the increased brake size. At least with autos, suspension was redesigned to counter narrower sidewall tires reduced flex area.

I'm sure there's some of that but it's also a fashion thing. Large wheels and tires with small sidewalls are in. I was waiting around at a Mercedes dealer for a used Chevy truck to arrive from another lot so I could test drive it, and I checked out the vehicles in the lot. A lot of SUVs with 35 or 30 series tires.

The Chevy I bought can be had with 17", 18" or 20" wheels. The brake discs are the same across the trim levels.