Right now, my tow vehicle is a F-150. It rides quite well. I'm planning to trade it in for a F-350 (SB, Scab) that will be my daily driver, but is beefy enough to handle a truck camper. However, with the heavy springs, I'm pretty sure ride quality is going to be "stagecoach" level, and I have a relative I often take places who is sensitive to bouncy rides, so even though for me, I can deal with a bone-shaker, but for her, it would make life miserable.Is there a way to improve unloaded ride quality on a F-350 without sacrificing weight carrying capability? There is always the age old trick of tossing stuff in the truck bed, but due to storage being an extreme premium right now for me, that isn't really a good fix. I am thinking airbags, and maybe even dropping the air pressure in the tires right above where the TPMS would start alerting, but wonder if there is a better way to do this.

You might be surprised at how nice they ride. If you've driven one then I guess it won't be a surprise. Without losing hauling capability only thing I can think of is airing the rear ties down to what the door placard says for an unloaded ride.I have a 12 Ram 2500 and they're not known for the nicest ride. I air the rears down to 45psi and fronts to 65 psi. I also installed some Bilstien 5100's. With the exception of really bad roads it doesn't ride all that bad. Not quite as nice as my 2010 F150 maxtow with E rated Michelins but not that much worse either. Out on the hwy its really nice.

Not to start a brand war but if ride quality is a big consideration you might test drive a GM 3500. In my experience the ride is much nicer than the comparable Ford products.

I think you will be surprised how good the 350 rides, when you try it out. My 250 has factory ordered HD service suspension. It has heavier front coils, and 4 leaf rear springs.On the door panel it says 75#s in front tires, 80#s in rear, which is what I run, most of the time. It is not a daily driver, but used for towing several trailers.I think it rides and handles great! When you go over rough RR tracks or a big pot hole, not so good. Most cases, it will ride better than you think.Jerry

KD4UPL wrote:Not to start a brand war but if ride quality is a big consideration you might test drive a GM 3500. In my experience the ride is much nicer than the comparable Ford products.X2 - The GM trucks ride softer than my Ford or friend's Ram. Choice of seats might make a difference in what your bottom feels...

The single biggest way to help the ride of a 1ton, as mentioned, is running the tires at the proper pressure for the load. When I was running 17" LRE tires that was 60/40 empty and 70/80 loaded. 70/80 empty caused uneven rear tire wear and a harsh ride.

Ride quality ideas for a F-350? | Good Sam Community

Sport45
Explorer II
May 17, 2014
When I moved from my '92 F-150 to the '00 F-250 it didn't take long to figure out I needed to drive slower when I wasn't on nice, smooth streets. Slowing down gives the best bang for the buck in improving ride quality.

I don't have TPMS so I used masking tape across the tread to determine optimum unloaded tire pressure.
AH64ID
Explorer
May 17, 2014
TucsonJim wrote:

It's not a choice, and you're guessing what the tire mfg will say based on your lack of information. There is only one placard. 65PSI front, 80PSI rear. That is also what the dealer sets it to when he does the service on it.

The lack of information is on your end, do some research and make an educated decision.

80 psi on an empty rear end is absurd for many reasons, any decent research or tire company would tell you that.

Load vs Inflation charts exist for a reason.
goducks10
Explorer
May 17, 2014
TucsonJim wrote:
ah64id wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
On my F350, there is no "airing the rear tires down". The placard calls for 80psi all the time. But I don't mind the ride. I only notice how stiff it is when I'm on a really bad road or when I'm going over a speed bump. I would not hesitate to use it as my daily driver.

Then that's your choice, the tire manufacturer would tell you that you are overinflated running 80 psi empty and are more prone to road hazard tire failures.

Are you sure there isn't a second sticker? Maybe on a different part of the door?

It's not a choice, and you're guessing what the tire mfg will say based on your lack of information. There is only one placard. 65PSI front, 80PSI rear. That is also what the dealer sets it to when he does the service on it.

That's absurd. Why would you run 80psi in the rear when the weight on the rear tires is only 3000lbs or less? The front is heavier with the diesel motor up there and only 65psi is needed so why run 80psi in the rear? I think Ford got something else wrong.
Dave___Ginny
Explorer
May 17, 2014
I have a 2012 F350 4x4 Lariat. I took my truck to keldermen suspension in Iowa. I had the front springs replaced with airbags and they put an rear air ride system on too. The truck rides great and while pulling the 5th wheel my wife can comfortably read her book.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
May 17, 2014
mdamerell wrote:
My better half has back issues so ride is important. Air bags did help the ride both loaded (20-25#) and empty (5-8#). RR tracks and pot hole are the biggest offenders.

I am interested in an air ride conversion but don't have the dollars at this point.

Example

That looks like a neat kit.

Fred.
lenr
Explorer III
May 17, 2014
Ford TPMS will go off at about 75% of sticker rating so that is about 60 psi rear for a 350. All the end user can train is position. By training the wheels backwards front to rear and running the pressures down at 65 front and 55 rear one could probably keep the TPMS from going off. Some dealers will set the trip limit down, but others will not because of liability, and it definitely takes a program change.
bfast54
Explorer
May 17, 2014
dlk wrote:
I dropped the rear tire pressure to 65 to match the front as the truck was empty until camping season, only went a little ways and the tpms alerted me to a low tire, tpms is set for 80 rear 65 front.

Did you do a " reset"......?????......should end your issue.....Look it up in your owners guide.
dlk
Explorer
May 17, 2014
I dropped the rear tire pressure to 65 to match the front as the truck was empty until camping season, only went a little ways and the tpms alerted me to a low tire, tpms is set for 80 rear 65 front.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 16, 2014
TucsonJim wrote:
ah64id wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
On my F350, there is no "airing the rear tires down". The placard calls for 80psi all the time. But I don't mind the ride. I only notice how stiff it is when I'm on a really bad road or when I'm going over a speed bump. I would not hesitate to use it as my daily driver.

Then that's your choice, the tire manufacturer would tell you that you are overinflated running 80 psi empty and are more prone to road hazard tire failures.

Are you sure there isn't a second sticker? Maybe on a different part of the door?

It's not a choice, and you're guessing what the tire mfg will say based on your lack of information. There is only one placard. 65PSI front, 80PSI rear. That is also what the dealer sets it to when he does the service on it.

Those pressures are a great recipe for outer edge wear on fronts and center wear on rears when unloaded.
Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
May 16, 2014
I can't say for sure with a newer unit, but certainly my 2000 7.3 is a beast. It calms down a lot if I turn the Rancho 9000 shocks down to the softest ride. Scared the heck out of me one time when I loaded up the camper and forgot to turn up the shocks though. What a difference.

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Ride quality ideas for a F-350?

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