Steering/Ride Quality of Big Three HD trucks

[johndeerefarmer]

I have had two Ford diesels- an 05 with the famous death wobble. I then went half ton for awhile but then got a '13 Powerstroke. The steering wheel would still move with every imperfection in the road. I tried both 2wd with the Twin I beam and the solid axle four wheel drive -both stink.
I need a truck with NO feedback from the road to the steering wheel. I have tendonitis in both elbows and all of the movement of the steering wheel makes my arms hurt so bad that I can't drive for very long. I dumped the Powerstroke for a F150 but need a HD truck again.

If you have a Duramax how is the steering? If you let go of the steering wheel and drive down the road or thru a pasture does the wheel move with every imperfection in the road?
If you have had a Dodge, how was the steering on it? The report on pickuptrucks.com said that the Dodge had the best feeling steering but that's hard to believe since it's got a solid front axle.

Ride quality, as far as the rear end bouncing on bumps isn't as big of a concern but any input there would be helpful too.

[D_MAX]

Go drive them all. And most ford guys haven't so they don't understand how nice a GM truck drives and tows.

[john_b1]

My 2001 f350 SRW has always and still does go down the road perfectly. I don't understand these posts on them driving sp badly. I love to get behind the wheel and go with or without a 33 ft fifth wheel,no problems.jb jmho

[john_bet]

No feed back on my Dodge, but it's a 2wd with rack and pinion steering. I assume you want a 4wd.

[bmanning]

LimogesMan wrote:
How about going out to the dealership and test drive them?

We have a winner.

Steering performance & ride comfort leave a pretty good margin for subjectivity so you really need to drive them all to find the one YOU feel is best.

[Engineer9860]

If test driving new I would hope that they all drive great/awesome/super. Test drive some used trucks with 50,000~100,000 miles. I think you will see a noticeable difference.

[ksss]

johndeerefarmer wrote:
Thanks for the responses. My 05 Super Duty had a steering stabilizer. I replaced it with an aftermarket one but it didn't help much. I didn't try dual stabilizers because I was just running the stock suspension with no lift or larger tires. In 2011 I went to an F150 ecoboost. It was fine until I got a Nitro 24FQS toyhauler. I ordered a 2013 F250 to pull it with. While waiting on the truck to get here I sold the toyhauler and bought a Surveyor Select travel trailer. The '13 F250 arrived and the steering was awful. I had ordered a 2wd hoping that it would be better than the previous 4wd. I was wrong. The twin I beam was worse and I couldn't find an aftermarket stabilizer to add. So I sold it and got another F150 ecoboost. This truck tows the 30' Surveyor TT just fine but I need to start hauling some large loads of hay and need more capacity.
So this is why I am looking at heavy duty trucks again.

My question for current Dodge owners is, why does the Dodge have such a better steering setup if both the Ford and Dodge are solid front axles? It makes perfect since that the Duramax being IFS would be better.

Yes, I will do a long........... test drive before spending $50-60k on another truck.

Thanks

I bet your Ford Dealership sent you a nice Christmas card!

[whsk]

no steering issues on my 2013 Ram 3500-whsk

[johndeerefarmer]

Thanks for the responses. My 05 Super Duty had a steering stabilizer. I replaced it with an aftermarket one but it didn't help much. I didn't try dual stabilizers because I was just running the stock suspension with no lift or larger tires. In 2011 I went to an F150 ecoboost. It was fine until I got a Nitro 24FQS toyhauler. I ordered a 2013 F250 to pull it with. While waiting on the truck to get here I sold the toyhauler and bought a Surveyor Select travel trailer. The '13 F250 arrived and the steering was awful. I had ordered a 2wd hoping that it would be better than the previous 4wd. I was wrong. The twin I beam was worse and I couldn't find an aftermarket stabilizer to add. So I sold it and got another F150 ecoboost. This truck tows the 30' Surveyor TT just fine but I need to start hauling some large loads of hay and need more capacity.
So this is why I am looking at heavy duty trucks again.

My question for current Dodge owners is, why does the Dodge have such a better steering setup if both the Ford and Dodge are solid front axles? It makes perfect since that the Duramax being IFS would be better.

Yes, I will do a long........... test drive before spending $50-60k on another truck.

Thanks

[2oldman]

My ex-truck (F450) had steering wheel play by 75,000 mi. Whole front end rebuild at 90.

[Boxer_Lovers]

I've owned a 11 Duramax 3/4 and one ton. Now a 12 Dodge 3500. Steering and handling good in all three. I like the Dodge best but not because of handling. Never owned a Ford. Probably won't.

[donn0128]

Steering and handling have as much to do with tires, suspension geometry, and design as anything. Maybe you need to keep what you have and look at improving it with better tires, quality shocks and see how it goes.

[FishOnOne]

I would have to give the nod to the Chevy IFS for having the minimum bump steer. I would say the Chevy HD IFS is comparable a half ton in terms of bump steer.

Both the Ford and Dodge have a steering stabilizer on the front suspension for a reason.

To resolve the Bump Steer this issue with a Ford or Dudge you'll have to add a after market dual steering stabilizers and will perform much better.

I would also give the nod to the pre '14 Dudge with having the harshest ride. Now that they have the copy and past Ford large swing are front suspension and coil springs on the rear I'm sure the ride quality has improved. I've yet to read of any reviews on the new rear coil suspension setup. :h

[jjj]

I have an 02 Ford F-350 dually that I bought used in 05 and during test drive it had the death wobble. During an inspection of the steering there was no steering stabilizer and they installed one for free and all my problems went away. Steering is a little stiff but it is a truck and don't want it too easy so it doesn't wander. Goes down the road staight and not affected by any bumps.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

Oh I forgot to say take a duramax on test drive and run down some of those same roads. Proof in the pudding !!

[Bessie-Hunter]

My '12 Chevy 3500 goes straight down the road and no feed back on bumps or imperfections in the road. I work for a company that has 3 '07 Fords, 1 F250 and 2 F550's, all of them not only do you feel every bump at the steering wheel but they wonder, very hard to keep going straight down the road.