Yes, I know this is probably an exercise in futility, but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone has suggestions. It is my work truck, not my choice or specs, but what the powers that be decided upon when I'm pretty sure a 350 or at the most, a 450 would've sufficed, however, since I didn't have a say, I'm just going to use it and be happy I have a new truck that should take me into retirement.

What I have is a 2022 F550XL 4x4/CC/6.7/203" WB, w/19,5 GVWR It came with a 100 gal diesel tank, and I added another 100 gal tank I took off my Sno-cat, I have both of them filled with appx 96 gals, that helped, maybe a tad. Currently it has Bridgestone M729 on all six, so I know the fronts are drive tires, and they suck on paved roads, any suggestions for a good steering tire that is still somewhat aggressive for snow/ice/mud?

I'm hoping the Banks Derringer will help with the de-tune, until then I'm stuck with 50mph up the mtns... sigh...

I live and work in the Sierra Nevada's, a large part of my driving is up fire roads or absolutely terrible roads to the tops of mtns, and for this, it is terrible!

So, is there ANY way to soften the ride?! Even a smidgen would help! As it is, I usually drop to 4-Lo and lock it to 2nd or 3rd going up and coming down, sometimes on the smoother spots getting up to 5th or 6th.
Would different shocks help? Love the utility body, have it mostly full, hoping it holds up over the years, will be a good test.

 

Soften the ride….in the rears you can put sulastic springs heavy duty version. They cost about 750 a pair. It’s a rubber bushing that mounts at the rear end of your shackles. With the heavy duty version…there is a lever for no load vs loaded. I don’t recommend the non heavy duty version.


you can add more toys but the return on per thousand spent starts to get low beyond the sulastics.


fox 2.5 or king shocks = about 2500 a full set

supersprinfs. = they come in +1000, +1500, and +2800 reverse spring force . I have +1000 in the front and +2800 in the back.

bigger tires if you don’t have to worry about DOT spot checks. I have 37”s on 22.5’s and my truck rides like a Cadillac. I think I have 16ply tires.

one bad thing about sulastics…depending how much you excersize them… they will wear out and have to be replaced so keep your okd shackles in case you don’t want to play that game.

Not a big fan of air bags cuase they all leak. Summo springs work like air bags , are progressive, and are filled with different density foam so they do not leak.

 

Thanks Speak, yeah, since it's a "company" truck, mods are going to be hard to get approved, I am going to try for super singles when these wear out.. not holding my breath, I may end up seeing if I can find an air ride seat, take some of the harshness out at least on my back lol. I thought about dropping the rears to like 70 or so... but I've heard that's no bueno on 19.5's.

I've never heard about sulastics... I'll have to GTS

 

I put standard Sulastic shackles and Fox monotube 2.0 shocks on my F-450 and it helped a lot. If I were in your situation I would look into shocks, the heavy duty Sulastic shackles, and this kit Super Single — Founders MT Radial. Have no idea about the driving manners or wear of those tires, but I'm curious.

 

Air ride. File a few workman's comp disc compression claims and they'll come around.

I rode in a 550 roll back with my 4000lb van on it--bust your teeth out with that ride.

I rode in a 650 with air ride. Cadiddelac ride.

 

Ok, just looked at the sulastics website, that looks like it would definitely take the harshness out of the rear which would be a move in the right direction, the warranty is 3yrs, be interesting to see how long they would last on this heavy pig.

I contemplated removing the front shocks for a few days just to see the difference, definitely not going to be able to spring for the fox's.

 

Those MT tires are rated to 68 MPH, so watch your speed with them.

No matter what is done with these big heavy trucks, the ride won't be smooth. Adding 2,000 pounds in the bed makes it the smoothest you can get.

 

Well, the beast doesn't go over 76 mph, which for the most part is ok, it's the de-tuning that is a royal PITA, I'm definitely going to look into getting the sulastics, and also hoping that the springs will soften a tad over time...

Yep, I know it is a big heavy pig, and with that comes a not smooth ride, hence adding the 100 gal tank in addition to the one it came with, add a few more #'s, every little bit helps, and it saves me from finding a spot in my shop to store it over summer till I put it back on my Sno-cat.

I have looked at the SS's, and will try to make the case for them when I am due for new tires, also going to hit my tire guy up for new steer tires during my next service, as the ones on there aren't rated as such, as it is a "fleet" truck, there is a fleet mgmt co. that has to approve crap like that, however I am going to go at it with the safety angle of having drive tires on the steering axle.