Hi allWhen 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! :-)

The more weight you put in that box the better the ride is going to get, you may want to check the tire pressure, I lower mine when i am empty to smoothen things out a bit too, aired up to max whithout a load will cause them to wear in the middle. Wes

Yes, that should smooth it out nicely.

Has been like that for over 100 years as spring suspension design for thousands of lb load will be stiff with empty bed. Google Sulastic hangers if you want to improve it.Or Dodge offers air suspension, but although that sounds good in theory, the reviews are not too exciting.

Rear Tire pressures will change how it feels/drives ----empty to loadedSuspension is stiff and becomes more 'smoother' with increased loadsI run my Rear Tires at 45# empty and 80# loaded.Big difference in how it rides...but empty it is still a TRUCK*I leave Front tires at 65# All the time due to heavy diesel weight

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

Edd505
Explorer
Sep 21, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
You guys question too much _____ that is not pertinent nor your business.
He!!, the OP is looking at 1 tons and planning on a small camper (from what we know) and someone is already trying to pick a theoretical gvw fight with him.....
Pure entertainment here.
Edd505
Explorer
Sep 21, 2019
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Rear Tire pressures will change how it feels/drives ----empty to loaded

Suspension is stiff and becomes more 'smoother' with increased loads

I run my Rear Tires at 45# empty and 80# loaded.
Big difference in how it rides...but empty it is still a TRUCK

*I leave Front tires at 65# All the time due to heavy diesel weight

Yep this is the biggest thing with out a load.
billtex
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2019
LosAngeles wrote:
billtex wrote:

Where is this 2500# camper you speak of???

Well BillTex perhaps you are not familiar with Hallmark pop up campers.

Here is one example.

http://www.hallmarkrv.com/campers/hallmark-ute/

With the options we will get, it will be about 2,500 lbs wet. At most 3,000 lbs wet but realistically 2,7500 lbs max.

These are real world weights I am quoting, based upon actual campers that have been weighed by owners, with similar options.

Now back to the thread.... thanks again to everyone for the info about how the weight of the camper will smooth out an F350. It wasn't horrible empty, but great to know it will be somewhat better when loaded with our camper.

:-)

Awesome. Post scale weights after you are locked/loaded. Pop up does not = lighter.
Have you owned any truck previously?
Any truck will be “jittery” unladen. HD even more so.

However, 3/4 ton vs 1 ton only difference that effects ride quality (sic) should be overloads.

Welcome to the world of TC’s.

Fun factor is high, learning curve is steep.

Be safe.
Bill
LosAngeles
Explorer
Sep 20, 2019
billtex wrote:

Where is this 2500# camper you speak of???

Well BillTex perhaps you are not familiar with Hallmark pop up campers.

Here is one example.

http://www.hallmarkrv.com/campers/hallmark-ute/

With the options we will get, it will be about 2,500 lbs wet. At most 3,000 lbs wet but realistically 2,7500 lbs max.

These are real world weights I am quoting, based upon actual campers that have been weighed by owners, with similar options.

Now back to the thread.... thanks again to everyone for the info about how the weight of the camper will smooth out an F350. It wasn't horrible empty, but great to know it will be somewhat better when loaded with our camper.

:-)
jimh406
Explorer III
Sep 20, 2019
If the tire pressure is near max, it will definitely ride worse. The exception is 19.5s that don’t ever get that soft because most recommend you never go below 70. With regular E rated tires, you could easily drop to 50-55 unloaded instead of the max 80. Even on 19.5s with a SRW, going from 110 down to 70 will help some. You may have to run more than 50 on the front if it’s a diesel.

On my DRW with 19.5s, I never bother to change my pressure since I run with camper at 75 and I can only air down to 70.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 20, 2019
billtex wrote:
dhull wrote:
Try an F250 for your 2500 lb camper. You don't need a F350. There is a noticeable ride difference between the 2. If you had a 3500 lb camper then yea F350.

Only difference is the overloads, which will not come in contact unladen.

Unless the new body styles changed, the 2011-2016 base F250s had much softer rear leafs.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 20, 2019
You guys question too much _____ that is not pertinent nor your business.
He!!, the OP is looking at 1 tons and planning on a small camper (from what we know) and someone is already trying to pick a theoretical gvw fight with him.....
Pure entertainment here.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Sep 20, 2019
LosAngeles wrote:
billtex wrote:

Where is this 2500# camper you speak of???

Not sure How this relates to the thread....

But

We get the camper in the spring.

I believe 'billtex' was questioning the weight of the camper not its current location.
LosAngeles
Explorer
Sep 20, 2019
billtex wrote:

Where is this 2500# camper you speak of???

Not sure How this relates to the thread....

But

We get the camper in the spring.
billtex
Explorer II
Sep 20, 2019
dhull wrote:
Try an F250 for your 2500 lb camper. You don't need a F350. There is a noticeable ride difference between the 2. If you had a 3500 lb camper then yea F350.

Only difference is the overloads, which will not come in contact unladen.