Ford SuperDuty more bumpy + jittery empty, than when loaded?

[john.]

Hi all

When test driving a 2019 F350 crew cab 8 ft. box – – it is empty, of course.

I find the ride a *little* jittery and bumpy when doing an ordinary road test, driving on ordinary paved roads.

I am curious – once we have a 2,500 lb (wet) pop up truck camper in it, along with camping stuff, etc…. will the ride be *slightly* less jittery and bumpy?

Yes I know it is a work truck…. i have reasonable expectations. I’m just curious as to if the ride improves a bit with some weight in it. (or not)

Thanks! 🙂

[wellsdesigned]

I can’t speak to the Ford specifically, but my experience is that all HD pickups ride smoother when loaded down.

Tom
Sacramento CA
2003 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2019 Ram 3500 SRW 6.4 L Gasser

[john.]

wellsdesigned wrote:

2019 Ram 3500 SRW 6.4 L Gasser

Thanks much Tom. Very helpful. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I have a 2012 CC F350 11500GVW and it rides a little stiff empty but throw couple thousand lbs on and it’s smoother. With no load I air down the rear tires to 65psi and back to 80psi when carrying a load. Airing down really helps in my opinion.

[ardvark]

Jittery and bumpy, heck yes. Our 2012 F250 SRW LB gasser rides like crap empty. Most folks air tires down to 50 psi all the way around which really helps and if you get a set of Rancho adjustables on it and set them way down you can almost tell the truck has a suspension system.

Put our Northstar on and air the the tires up to door sticker spec pressure and the rear Ranchos are at 8 or 9 and the fronts about 6 or 7. And yes the truck rides much better loaded, although it still really needs the Hellwig bar on the back (or something to control sway). Then it depends on the road condition as to ride quality. Don’t know what the factory sway bar is supposed to do, but sway control running loaded is not on its radar screen.

It is a continuing mystery to me why the factory calls it a “camper package” when the puny bar might as well be on a lunch break. Seems like it rides is awful empty and you still have to add a boatload of stuff to get it to handle running full.

All my opinion. 🙂

Steve

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Mello Mike]

Trucks ride rough empty because most people keep their tires fully inflated. The 65 psi front/80 psi rear pressures should only be used when you’re fully loaded.

Air down to 65 front and 45 psi rear unloaded and you’ll notice a HUGE improvement.

[ardvark]

I agree it makes things better. I actually contacted Michelin and got the weight/pressure table for my tires. Amazing how much weight the tires are rated to carry at full pressure, more than my axles are rated to carry. Still though even when aired down I have a fair amount of bump steer, if the street gets rough. I think the manufacturers worry about liability so they don’t mention airing down when running empty. 🙂

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Author]

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