which 3/4 ton has smoothest ride?

I've got a 1/2 Suburban and I want to upgrade so I can tow more.
Unfotunately, I also have some scarred sciatic nerves that hurt more
when subjected to rough rides. The suburban is great, great seat
support, sits up high and overall I can tolerate its bumps pretty well.
I know the next size up is going to be a bit more painful but I'd like
to minimize it. So what's the groups opinion on ride roughness?

I'd guess

F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)

I suppose no difference between gas and diesel.

Is it also that case that a 1 ton will ride rougher than a 3/4 ton?

tks
Don WA5NGP
btw that really is a valid id if you want to mail directly to me.

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 15:57:39 -0500, don <[email protected]> wrote:


>F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
>Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
>Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>

This is such a subjective measurement, I doubt you will get any useful
information. My Dodge 2500 (you rate middle) is the harshest ride I've
ever had in a pickup. Makes my Hummer ride seem like a Benz or Caddie.
<bg> If you are looking for more towing, GVWR, etc., ride goes out the
door.

Considered just taking any available truck, and getting an air-ride
seat like in a semi? That might give you the feel of a good ride,
without compromise on the payload/towing capabilities.

They all ride smooth when loaded that is what they were designed for the
load not an empty ride.

--
HarryS My 2¢
"don" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| I've got a 1/2 Suburban and I want to upgrade so I can tow more.
| Unfotunately, I also have some scarred sciatic nerves that hurt more
| when subjected to rough rides. The suburban is great, great seat
| support, sits up high and overall I can tolerate its bumps pretty well.
| I know the next size up is going to be a bit more painful but I'd like
| to minimize it. So what's the groups opinion on ride roughness?
|
| I'd guess
|
| F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
| Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
| Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
|
| I suppose no difference between gas and diesel.
|
| Is it also that case that a 1 ton will ride rougher than a 3/4 ton?
|
| tks
| Don WA5NGP
| btw that really is a valid id if you want to mail directly to me.

tks Pete,

Hmm... Never heard of an air ride seat. Is that like a cushion or the
whole seat? maybe I can use that on my old 240z too. It has a ride
like a buck board. Been thinking about selling it but I've had it for
almost 30 years now. My first sports car. I'll google air ride seat
and see what I get.



Like I said if I can get close to a standard suburban I'd be really
happy. I'd even consider going with a 3.73 or 4.11 in the 1/2 ton
suburban that I have.

Your the 2nd person to say that the Dodges ride rough. My friend had a
F150 and switched to a Chevy pickup. His wife would never drive the
F150 but she just hopped in the Chevy and took off. Maybe Ford is going
for the macho market.

Is it correct that a 1 ton will be firmer/harder than a 3/4.

I'm kinda partial to Chevy anyway.

tks

Peter D. Hipson wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 15:57:39 -0500, don <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>>F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
>>Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
>>Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>>
>
>
> This is such a subjective measurement, I doubt you will get any useful
> information. My Dodge 2500 (you rate middle) is the harshest ride I've
> ever had in a pickup. Makes my Hummer ride seem like a Benz or Caddie.
> <bg> If you are looking for more towing, GVWR, etc., ride goes out the
> door.
>
> Considered just taking any available truck, and getting an air-ride
> seat like in a semi? That might give you the feel of a good ride,
> without compromise on the payload/towing capabilities.

Ok, here is a good rule of thumb:

1 adjust air pressure to load, most manufacturers will supply you a chart of
air pressure to load recomemndations. If you just fuill to 80psi then you
will beat the crap out of yourself. I run my 3/4 ton lower empty then when
hauling on tire pressure.

Next shocks, shock and shocks. The factory ones, junk em, put on air adjust
ranchos and you can go from super smooth like a road car to rock crawling
hard with a touch of 1 or 2 buttons.

Then if your legs are as bad as mine, invest in air ride ont he seat. And
the rest is gravy.




"don" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got a 1/2 Suburban and I want to upgrade so I can tow more.
> Unfotunately, I also have some scarred sciatic nerves that hurt more when
> subjected to rough rides. The suburban is great, great seat support, sits
> up high and overall I can tolerate its bumps pretty well. I know the next
> size up is going to be a bit more painful but I'd like to minimize it. So
> what's the groups opinion on ride roughness?
>
> I'd guess
>
> F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
> Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
> Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>
> I suppose no difference between gas and diesel.
>
> Is it also that case that a 1 ton will ride rougher than a 3/4 ton?
>
> tks
> Don WA5NGP
> btw that really is a valid id if you want to mail directly to me.

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 21:23:02 -0500, don <[email protected]> wrote:

>tks Pete,
>
>Hmm... Never heard of an air ride seat. Is that like a cushion or the
>whole seat? maybe I can use that on my old 240z too. It has a ride
>like a buck board. Been thinking about selling it but I've had it for
>almost 30 years now. My first sports car. I'll google air ride seat
>and see what I get.
>
>
>
>Like I said if I can get close to a standard suburban I'd be really
>happy. I'd even consider going with a 3.73 or 4.11 in the 1/2 ton
>suburban that I have.
>
>Your the 2nd person to say that the Dodges ride rough. My friend had a
>F150 and switched to a Chevy pickup. His wife would never drive the
>F150 but she just hopped in the Chevy and took off. Maybe Ford is going
>for the macho market.
>
>Is it correct that a 1 ton will be firmer/harder than a 3/4.
>
>I'm kinda partial to Chevy anyway.
>

Generally air-ride seats are complete assemblies, thougn you can get
base units to fit a number of non-air truck seats. The base has a
suspension system that uses compressed air. A lever lets you adjust
the ride, and height. DOes require compressed air, but that is not a
major issue, lot's of 12V compressors avaialble now-a-days. The first
few miles you drive it will feel strange that every thing moves in
relation to you, including the steering wheel! <bg>

Uh, no, won't fit a 240Z! <g>

As the vehicle GVWR goes up, the ride quality goes down, especially if
it is not fully loaded. Put 3-4K in a 1 ton, and it may well ride very
well. Empty, you'll be bouncing down the highway, feeling every crack
and bump. And heaven forbid you hit a pot-hole! My Dodge hits holes at
speed and will jump several feet over when not loaded. Ug!

Thanks Kenner all others.

Sitting up high in general is good thing for low back pain sufferers.
It gives weight support on the back of your thighs as opposed to just
straight down your spine. Toyota are the worst about this, although I
like Toyotas for all the other standard reasons. I've got a pillow in
my wifes care to get the support up higher.

So I'll have to shop a bit. I never was a Chrysler man anyway so I'll
try to avoid the Dodges altho I kinda thought the Cummins thing was
neat (macho man coming out) One of the problems with the loading
requirement is that towing a 5th wheel may not be so much a load just
drag so I'd have to play with the tire pressures and shocks.

tks
Don

We just sold an 88 Chevy 1 ton ext. cab, non dually, very nice ride, I was
amazed when I went up a logging road to a job in it after going for several
days in my ford 1/2 ton, in the chevy I didn't even know were the wash board
parts were.

"don" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got a 1/2 Suburban and I want to upgrade so I can tow more.
> Unfotunately, I also have some scarred sciatic nerves that hurt more when
> subjected to rough rides. The suburban is great, great seat support, sits
> up high and overall I can tolerate its bumps pretty well. I know the next
> size up is going to be a bit more painful but I'd like to minimize it. So
> what's the groups opinion on ride roughness?
>
> I'd guess
>
> F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
> Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
> Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>
> I suppose no difference between gas and diesel.
>
> Is it also that case that a 1 ton will ride rougher than a 3/4 ton?
>
> tks
> Don WA5NGP
> btw that really is a valid id if you want to mail directly to me.

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 15:57:39 -0500, don <[email protected]> wrote:

>I've got a 1/2 Suburban and I want to upgrade so I can tow more.
>Unfotunately, I also have some scarred sciatic nerves that hurt more
>when subjected to rough rides. The suburban is great, great seat
>support, sits up high and overall I can tolerate its bumps pretty well.
> I know the next size up is going to be a bit more painful but I'd like
>to minimize it. So what's the groups opinion on ride roughness?
>
>I'd guess
>
>F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
>Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
>Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>
>I suppose no difference between gas and diesel.
>
>Is it also that case that a 1 ton will ride rougher than a 3/4 ton?
>
>tks
>Don WA5NGP
>btw that really is a valid id if you want to mail directly to me.


I have no experience with 250 and up Dodge trucks, but I own a '99
F-250 Ford (4x4, Super Cab) and have spent quite a bit of time in '00
3500 Chevy (4x4 Crew Cab). The Chevy is like a Cadillac compared to
my Ford. Much better steering response too. The brand new Fords are
probably quite a bit smoother with the coil spring frontend, but I've
yet to try one.

Matt
99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab 4x4

This is like asking which of the big 3 (cat).. Lion, Tiger, or Cheetah
will be the best mother for my orphaned baby deer.



don wrote:

> tks Pete,
>
> Hmm... Never heard of an air ride seat. Is that like a cushion or the
> whole seat? maybe I can use that on my old 240z too. It has a ride
> like a buck board. Been thinking about selling it but I've had it for
> almost 30 years now. My first sports car. I'll google air ride seat
> and see what I get.
>
>
>
> Like I said if I can get close to a standard suburban I'd be really
> happy. I'd even consider going with a 3.73 or 4.11 in the 1/2 ton
> suburban that I have.
>
> Your the 2nd person to say that the Dodges ride rough. My friend had a
> F150 and switched to a Chevy pickup. His wife would never drive the
> F150 but she just hopped in the Chevy and took off. Maybe Ford is going
> for the macho market.
>
> Is it correct that a 1 ton will be firmer/harder than a 3/4.
>
> I'm kinda partial to Chevy anyway.
>
> tks
>
> Peter D. Hipson wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 15:57:39 -0500, don <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> F250 the harshest ride (I've ridden in one of these, it was rough)
>>> Dodge RAM whatever 250 next
>>> Chevy 250 smoothest (rode in a 1 ton version dually not too bad)
>>>
>>
>>
>> This is such a subjective measurement, I doubt you will get any useful
>> information. My Dodge 2500 (you rate middle) is the harshest ride I've
>> ever had in a pickup. Makes my Hummer ride seem like a Benz or Caddie.
>> <bg> If you are looking for more towing, GVWR, etc., ride goes out the
>> door.
>>
>> Considered just taking any available truck, and getting an air-ride
>> seat like in a semi? That might give you the feel of a good ride,
>> without compromise on the payload/towing capabilities.