New used truck

[klr650goldwing]

Today we test drove a 2017 Ford F350 6.7, CC,LB, DRW 4X4 KING RANCH. We currently have a 2004 F350 V10 CC LB 4X4 SRW XLT. With 13 years of technology advancements between these two trucks, I was expecting the 2017 to ride smoother, more quiet and with more power. It had more power for sure, but the 04 was much smoother and more quiet. And lastly, the ride of the 2017 was stiff and rough compared to the 04. Is this the ride of all DRW trucks?

[Cummins12V98]

laknox wrote:
Why do people who drive TRUCKS expect them to ride like CARS? Just sayin'...

Lyle

EXACTLY!!!

[shum02]

laknox wrote:
Why do people who drive TRUCKS expect them to ride like CARS? Just sayin'...

Lyle

x2

[laknox]

Why do people who drive TRUCKS expect them to ride like CARS? Just sayin'...

Lyle

[JIMNLIN]

A older '04 F350 srw with its smallish 6xxx rawr was never a good riding comparo to a F350 DRW with its big 9900 rawr....or any '17 one ton DRW truck.

Lots of DRW truck owners use the tire placard pressure which works good for 3k-4k hitch load however it can be a butz kicker when empty especially if one lives out like we do and have several miles of rough/bouncy county gravel or oil and chip roads to get to a state highway.

I keep my old '98 beater 3500 DRW chevy 4wd crew cab 454 with LT215/85-16 E rear
tires at 35 psi. It helps but still has a one ton DRW ride.

My neighbor has show horses (trainer) and has a '18 3500 DRW Ram and a Ford and Ram 250/2500 trucks. I sometimes ride along with him when he delivers or picks up a customers horse. He like some DRW truck owners brag how good it rides. Ain't so.
Now I made a living with these truck so those rides weren't new to me. I would say the newer gen DRW trucks ride easier than the older gen trucks I used in service. But their still a butz kicker compared to a 3/4 or one ton srw truck.
They are what they are and their rear suspension/4 tires are made for carrying heavier loads.

[2012Coleman]

I'll bet the ride will be much smoother when you have that Solitude in your signature hooked up.

[diginomad]

A big difference between those trucks as far as the ride quality is spring rates. The 2017 can carry more weight so it needs a higher spring rate.

The cost of that higher spring rate is while driving unloaded the suspension is stiffer. What happens is there is less movement of the springs going over bumps so the shocks can't do their job, which is dampen the spring movement.

What you can do is upgrade the seats to have air ride 😄 That is going to be the next upgrade. Just wait. Pickups will be towing 40k lbs with air ride seats like a big rig.

[cummins2014]

klr650goldwing wrote:
Today we test drove a 2017 Ford F350 6.7, CC,LB, DRW 4X4 KING RANCH. We currently have a 2004 F350 V10 CC LB 4X4 SRW XLT. With 13 years of technology advancements between these two trucks, I was expecting the 2017 to ride smoother, more quiet and with more power. It had more power for sure, but the 04 was much smoother and more quiet. And lastly, the ride of the 2017 was stiff and rough compared to the 04. Is this the ride of all DRW trucks?

I found the same thing going from a 99 Superduty 350 SRW short bed to a 2014 Ram 3500 Megacab. Only thing I like more on the Ram is the power , the reason for getting it to tow a fifth wheel .

I thought the older Ford handled better, mirrors were better, interior was more comfortable. Only thing better besides the power of the Ram is it is quieter then that 7.3 power stroke. Between the two I preferred driving the Ford . Nearly 16 years difference in age, and I still think the Ford was overall a more enjoyable truck, and it looked better :B

[goducks10]

MFL wrote:
Nice looking truck Barney! I think the Rams with air ride, and even the 2500 with coil springs would be hard to beat, comparing ride quality. The bad thing about test drives, new or used, you don't know what psi is in the tires, to make fair comparisons. You would have to carry a good tire gauge with you, and check all tires before the drive. Ya, I know, who does that, and the salesperson says "you're kidding right"

Jerry

Should be PSI info on the dash readout. I've had it since 2012 on my Rams.

[MFL]

Nice looking truck Barney! I think the Rams with air ride, and even the 2500 with coil springs would be hard to beat, comparing ride quality. The bad thing about test drives, new or used, you don't know what psi is in the tires, to make fair comparisons. You would have to carry a good tire gauge with you, and check all tires before the drive. Ya, I know, who does that, and the salesperson says "you're kidding right"

Jerry

[shum02]

klr650goldwing wrote:
It was the first dually I have driven so I wasn't expecting such a stiff ride.

At least an extra two leaf springs and two additional tires.........it wasn't going to be any smoother.

Maybe add some air ride seats and aftermarket shocks. It also helps to have at least a ton of weight in the bed, gives the springs something to do.

[Cummins12V98]

"My rear tires are at about 60 psi."

You don't air down when stationary for a while? I run 35psi rears with way more capacity than needed solo.

[BarneyS]

When I was looking to replace my 2002 F250 PSD with over 300,000 miles on the clock in 2016, I test drove a new 2016 F250 diesel and was very disappointed in the ride. I then went and test drove a new 2016 Ram 2500 CTD with rear air ride and was very pleasantly surprised with how smooth and comfortable the truck rode. In addition, the interior was far superior to the Ford. Guess what I purchased? :B
Barney

[rhagfo]

klr650goldwing wrote:
Logically speaking reducing tire pressure would make for a softer ride. However, the tires on the 04 are all set at 80 psi. The dually in comparison felt like the axles were welded to the frame, incredibly stiff and rough. It was the first dually I have driven so I wasn't expecting such a stiff ride. Is there any way to soften the ride of a dually truck?

Well the 3500 DRW will have stiffer springs as the axle is usually rated at 9,500#+, compared to about 7,000# for the SRW. I actually felt the ride is smoother in our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW than our 2001 Ram 2500.
My rear tires are at about 60 psi.

[Cummins12V98]

Two different animals! DRW truck most likely had WAYYY too much rear tire air, 35psi is plenty solo. The 17 is a newer gen truck with much more capable springs and frame. Your gen truck is known for being soft.

My DRW RAM rides GREAT since it has factory rear air ride. Friends with a standard sprung DRW RAM rode to dinner with us and both commented several times as to how nice it rode.