Most comfortable riding
Which truck is the most comfortable when loaded with a heavy camper?
Forum Discussion
You've asked this question before and a long discussion ensued. You or your wife have back issues and it's too rough a ride.
We can't tell you how harsh is too harsh for your condition, but after owning or driving extensively at least 40 different pickups of all flavors and types of loads, I can say there is pretty much no way you're turning a HD pickup with 2 tons in the bed into a Cadillac.
Truck campers, best case typically, leave the front suspension under the same load as an empty truck. Most will unload the front a little or a lot resulting in an even harsher ride from the front axle. Rear axle will be as compliant as it could possibly be with all the weight on it.
The only significant front suspension improvements I can think of are either better springs like Carli or Thuren or air ride. BUT those options will lower the spring rate. Can't have high spring rate and soft ride at the same time, but I believe they will exaggerate the camper sway, because they're squishyer (if that's a word).
Could combat the sway with a heavy sway bar up front, but that will link both sides and effectively increase the spring rate of a particlaur side when it's compressed (like hitting a pothole).
That said, any or the newer trucks will ride slightly better when loaded compared to the ole 2nd gen lumber wagons, but not significantly. Moreso they'll drive better but may actually be stiffer as trucks and capacities have only been getting heavier since your 2nd gen rolled off the line.
Hope this helps?
We can't tell you how harsh is too harsh for your condition, but after owning or driving extensively at least 40 different pickups of all flavors and types of loads, I can say there is pretty much no way you're turning a HD pickup with 2 tons in the bed into a Cadillac.
Truck campers, best case typically, leave the front suspension under the same load as an empty truck. Most will unload the front a little or a lot resulting in an even harsher ride from the front axle. Rear axle will be as compliant as it could possibly be with all the weight on it.
The only significant front suspension improvements I can think of are either better springs like Carli or Thuren or air ride. BUT those options will lower the spring rate. Can't have high spring rate and soft ride at the same time, but I believe they will exaggerate the camper sway, because they're squishyer (if that's a word).
Could combat the sway with a heavy sway bar up front, but that will link both sides and effectively increase the spring rate of a particlaur side when it's compressed (like hitting a pothole).
That said, any or the newer trucks will ride slightly better when loaded compared to the ole 2nd gen lumber wagons, but not significantly. Moreso they'll drive better but may actually be stiffer as trucks and capacities have only been getting heavier since your 2nd gen rolled off the line.
Hope this helps?
