Hello all, newbie here and glad to be part of this group. I just bought an '03 F250 4x4 with a 6.8. It has 98k on it and runs like a top. It's a SC, LB with a canopy. It has never towed anything! Lariat edition, nearly all options except sunroof. No accidents or rust. Paint is in good shape. I paid 12k for it and feel like I did ok on the deal, agree? My main issue is that the ride is board stiff! Every little bump is transmitted to my back and it's quite an unpleasant ride. I used to own a '99 F150 and it rode like a dream. I know this beast is a different animal, but wow. The turning radius is way worse than my F150 was. It has new 275/65 R18 tires. Not sure of the PSI on them but they are listed for 80PSI max. Can I lower it to 50 or so and expect a better ride without sacrificing tread life or fuel economy? It has Rancho shocks on it that look fairly recent, but the original owner can't remember replacing the originals. Do I have to be pulling my 23'TT to get the ride to smooth out a bit? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Oh, how can I turn on the driving lights? It didn't come with an owner's manual..

 

I have the same truck only an '04. These trucks are meant to work and every component is stiff and beefy. They are going to ride rough until you weight them down which is what they are meant for. I did the same thing going from a 150 to a 250. You get used to it after a while.

I usually run 60lbs of pressure in my tires and have good results. Check to see what load range your tires are. LT tires are usually a D rating but can be an E rating which is made to handle alot of weight but will ride extremely rough and stiff. I just had my tires Road Force balanced and it makes a difference, no vibrations just nice and smooth. But that does not affect bumps and humps in the road, it is still stiff.

As for your driving lights, once you turn the headlights on, pull outward on the ****. they should come on if the lights are ok.

By the way, you got a good deal on the truck. I bought mine last year with 72k on it for 15 grand. I thought that was a decent deal.

 

For running empty 50 psi is fine. Used to run 40 in the rears on my rigs with 16 in rubber. Tires may wear quicker and mileage my suffer a little, but it is better than beating the whole rig and yourself to death. The shocks can make a big difference also.

I tried some of the cheap Ranchos once and they were the worst shocks I ever had. No control at all, just let rig rig jolt and bounce.

Don't listen to the guys that say these rigs can't ride decent. They don't have to beat themselves or you to bits.

 

Many thanks, you two! I'll replace the shocks and lower the pressure in the tires (they are 6-ply).

 

My tires are load range E, and I believe I run the PSI at 55-60 as it hasn't towed a 33ft 5th wheel in 6 years..

I go over bumps real slow or else it gets pretty bumpy. I don't care much cause the v10 is so awesome (favorite truck ever).

One thing about the turning radius, it doesn't have one.... Too big to measure..
I usually back in if possible, as it's way easier pulling out than backing out.

 

I just throw my two cents in, too.
The main problem of the F250 and the quite similar Excursion is the hard bumpy and mostly uncomfortable suspension. The F250 was made to get a heavy daily load....if you do so, your ride will be much smoother, but who do this? The most
are grocery getters and soccer mum taxis. Well, two children and a ball arent that heavy.
You have two things in your suspension that are the malefactor:
OEM Leafsprings and Shocks, or cheap aftermarket shocks.

Its getting hard for your wallet, but there is no other way. You have to deal with it.

Since our leafsprings are just a pair of steelblades they cant operate otherwise as being stiff. You need multilayer blades. The most soft / progressive ones are from ICON.
No, I dont get money from them proclaiming it.Its just a fact.
Ford - 1999 - 2004 Super Duty - Complete Suspension Systems - ICON Vehicle Dynamics
And the other component is your shocks. The best ones in a reasonable price category are
Bilstein 5160 series and the Fox 2.0 Remote Smooth Body.
The Bilsteins are a bit firmer then the Fox. If you want more articulation, read soft, than you should go the Fox way so they are a bit more pricy. In a set of 4 about $150 more.
Get a mild lift to keep your center of gravity low, but get enough room to let your new suspension
articulate, read sucks up bump stops. I suggest 4".
If you want to round this package up, you should put a bit more rubber around your rims.
OEM 16" rims with 35" wheels. Than you can drive at lower PSI and let the thicker and stiffer
sidewall do their softening work added to the modified Suspension Kit.
If you need links or help let me know.
Believe me, the results are worth every penny, because that are the last shocks and leafsprings
you will ever buy. Btw....Fox and Bilstein are both rebuildable, just in case you really kill them, what will be a really task.