Chassis Cab Ride Quality

Thanks for the responses, I am gleaning that the 550 or 5500 is the safer option.

Also, that even loaded a washboard road will be jarring as the front of the truck is still lighter loaded than the rear.

I noticed that the gas models of these trucks force you to have 4.88 gears, at least Ford does, I dan’t imagine how that must impact mileage when freeway driving, even at just 65mph.

I’m currently getting 9 mpg with my Ford 350 with the 7.3 Godzilla and 4.30’s….I’d assume my mpgs would drop lower than that with 4.88’s.

Empty 450/550's are brutal. Air suspensions solve that for the most part. A typical loaded truck (sprung) will be super smooth on the rear (unbelievable what can sit on the outside of the rack...like a partial pop can at the rear...and make it 40 miles home. But the drivers area will have a much more 'jarring' ride. i.e. don't try to write something on a pad...it will look like you have Parkinson's or drank to much coffee. It's not a bad ride, but it's not plush. Just isn't much weight on the front typically, and add the wheel style (19.5's) and the result resonates more.

With stock springs, when loaded, they ride firmer than a 350/3500. But that's partly because most of those are maxed out/overloaded.

We're over 19000 solo, usually 27, 28000 when pulling our trailer. Run the numbers, but I bet you'll find that the 450/4500 would have less room to wiggle. I know very few folks who end up weighing less than they thought, carrying less than they think they will, finding that they 'over did it'...

I haven't had a 450 since about 1996...everything since, and now (have three currently) is 550. It's about the spring pack..rest of the truck is pretty much the same.

I have over 2,000 lbs additional payload after my camper is mounted. Nice margin and we can still consider towing a trailer with a weight distribution set-up. Empty or wash-board forest service roads requires a sports bra. Our suspension is factory stock with a 60" cab to axle wheelbase.

They have a much higher GVWR compared to the pickup varieties, so yes, they have a rougher ride unloaded with much more capacity springs.

I studied a lot on getting a RAM 4500 C&C to carry a TC but never ended up building it. When I ran the numbers the 4500 was really close. I have a family of five and a dog that would be in the cab. I was planning to have storage boxes above and below the flatbed because the truck would double as my day to day work vehicle. I was also planning on towing a 6,000 pound boat behind the rig. When I added everything up the 4500 would have done it but it was going to be really close which surprised me. If I were to built a rig like that I think I'd go with the 5500 too.

Re-reading your first post, OP, appears you're not planning on a heavier camper?
You already have a couple thousand lbs of headroom in your real world payload on your new dually, beyond what the loaded camper weighs. Seems like an ideal match as you have it, unless you're wanting to pack around a literal ton of extra "stuff" beyond the (estimated) 4500lb fully stocked camper.

First comment, if you upgrade, thank you for doing far more than your part to bolster our economy!

Second comment, go take one for a ride. Some tend to downplay the extremely harsh "empty" ride, IMO. (and to be fair, likely purchased them primarily as a hauler and not a driver)
And if you do decide to go forward with it, personally I'd try to configure the CA length and bed length to try to get a decent chunk of camper weight on the front axle as well. The only thing that rides worse than an empty class V truck, is one that has all the payload on the back and the, now extremely over built over sprung front suspension and tires haven't calmed down with some extra weight on them and the weight on the back exaggerates the harshness of the front.

Some folks proclaim to "love" driving around a med duty truck that acts like the axles are welded to the frame, some don't.

On wash boarded road, bumpy with camper on back, worse without...

I went through the same thing starting with the Newbie 1500 and worked to the 5500.. I went with the 5500 over the 4500 as I felt it's just a better/stronger model, and was only like $1200 difference..

I like it, it's just a little difficult for me, traveling around to find a dealer that can service it... most can take the 3500 no problem but then there's a line.. and few can service the 5500... not a big problem just be aware of it.. and plan accordingly..

Good luck...'

I have 2 of them. Loaded not bad at all. Unloaded a little rough. I have a 4 link kelderman, front and rear on one and it rides great unloaded. Wife loves it.