1 ton ride
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Santee, CA
1 ton ride
A friend of mine just bought a 1ton dually and was asking about how to soften the ride (rear end) when it is not loaded. Looked into some air-ride but all list that they are for lifting or extra load. The thought was, install the air bags and inflate just enough to take pressure off of the main springs. Then the truck is actually riding on the airbags. Anyone have any ideas or advice???
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Lexington Mo
Ton ride!
Most ton trucks have load range "E" (10 ply) tires all the way around. 10 ply tires are rated to hold 80 psi. On a ton dually you could safely reduce that pressure to 65 psi.
If the truck isn't really entended for much hauling, go to a load range "D" 8 ply tire that still handles quite abit of weight, and the ride difference will be noticibly different. An 8 ply rated tire will hold 65 psi safely.
Bob
If the truck isn't really entended for much hauling, go to a load range "D" 8 ply tire that still handles quite abit of weight, and the ride difference will be noticibly different. An 8 ply rated tire will hold 65 psi safely.
Bob
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 703
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From: Middle of a field CT
Not to be taken offensively, but tell your buddy that he just bought a one ton dually, it will NEVER ride like a minivan, so get used to it.
In the winter i run with 1000lbs of steel tractor weights in the bed and it does ride a little smoother, but still rough, just get over it.
In the winter i run with 1000lbs of steel tractor weights in the bed and it does ride a little smoother, but still rough, just get over it.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
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I'm looking at the Kelderman air ride suspension for mine. I've got a friend who installed the Firestone air bags to smooth out his ride while towing and he said it made it worse when he didn't have the trailer on.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Lexington Mo
Tires
Tires again, if it isn't worked like a truck (ton truck) reduce tire air pressure to about 65 psi, or go to a lighter sidewall 8 ply.
Adding an airbag is ti take more weight................ Not going to help on getting a smoother ride.
Bob
Adding an airbag is ti take more weight................ Not going to help on getting a smoother ride.
Bob
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,111
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From: Lexington Mo
Air pressure
Find a truck wheel supplier (AA Wheel) and get what they would call a "Cats Eye". This will have hoses that go to both inner and outter duals valve stem. With an air pressure gauge between and a place to add/remove tire air pressure.
So with just reaching in the outter dual, you can increase, or decrease air pressure. And with the gauge, can get tire pressure for both tires (inner and outter) at a glance.
Bob
So with just reaching in the outter dual, you can increase, or decrease air pressure. And with the gauge, can get tire pressure for both tires (inner and outter) at a glance.
Bob
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 417
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From: Olympic Peninsula, WA USA
The airbags won't help. I have Firestone Ride-rite bags on my dually and they are great for leveling the truck with my camper loaded, but they don't do anything for unloaded ride. The biggest improvement in ride on my truck is to run the rear tires at 35 psi. Yes, you read that correctly, 35 psi. If you check a tire inflation chart like the ones found at www.trucktires.com, you'll see that even 35 psi is more than enough pressure for a unloaded dually pickup with E rated tires. The key is that you must increase pressure whenever you carry a large load. Even with my 4500 lb camper loaded, I only need 55 psi in each rear tire.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Bristol, CT
Originally Posted by powrstrkn'
Not to be taken offensively, but tell your buddy that he just bought a one ton dually, it will NEVER ride like a minivan, so get used to it.
In the winter i run with 1000lbs of steel tractor weights in the bed and it does ride a little smoother, but still rough, just get over it.
In the winter i run with 1000lbs of steel tractor weights in the bed and it does ride a little smoother, but still rough, just get over it.
Couldn't Agree more. Tell your buddy that he bought a Pick up truck and that he just has to deal with it. I mean come on a pick up ride nice and a Dually no Less.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Pen Argyl, PA
I have the Kelderman on my F550 and it helps quite a bit, BUT I also agree with the other folks. He bought a 1 ton dually, it will ride like a 1 ton dually. My 99 F350 rode harsh and I did the tire swap which helped a bit, but went back to the bigger ply rating as I used the truck for towing horse trailer 98% of time, and just put up with the ride. This was the main reason for me getting the F550 with the Kelderman, once I rode in it, I was sold.
Bondo©
Bondo©
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Burnsville, MN
I agree with Harald, and with the same reasoning. If you look at the tire manufacturers charts, they recommend some very low pressures in a dually context that are ignored by virtually everyone.
If we're going to run unloaded dually tires at 85 psi, why not just replace them with tires made of steel or stone. The ride would be just a little bit stiffer then and we could all complain more......
If we're going to run unloaded dually tires at 85 psi, why not just replace them with tires made of steel or stone. The ride would be just a little bit stiffer then and we could all complain more......
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,111
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From: Lexington Mo
Specs
Either the drivers door, or door jam will give you factory recomended air pressure ratings. Most duals are between 55&65 psi. If the truck is not loaded, and tires are 10 ply, with 80 psi, it's gonna ride stiff. Like a work truck.....
On deflating tires to an even lesser air pressure will help the ride too. But on a dually, just make sure the sidewalls aren't touching eachother. This will eat a tire alive.
Bob
On deflating tires to an even lesser air pressure will help the ride too. But on a dually, just make sure the sidewalls aren't touching eachother. This will eat a tire alive.
Bob
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by rsauve
The only way to get a smooth ride is by a nice 4 door sedan,
Pick-up trucks are always going to ride hard. That just the way it is
Pick-up trucks are always going to ride hard. That just the way it is
In all seriousness, I'm not sure what your buddy expected, but he did buy a truck. If he isn't happy with the ride he should trade it for an SUV.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
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I've got an F-350 dually with 17 inch tires (These are a new size for the tire industry and there are no inflation charts anywhere on the web). Ford only recommends the higher inflation on the door post. The owner's manual makes no recommendation for loaded or unloaded. I wrote BF Goodrich and they sent me an inflation chart but it has no mention of light or heavy loads and it also doesn't even show a dually application.
When I talked to a Ford rep, they said go with what's on the doorpost. So the truck rides like a one-ton truck (go figure) but when I wear the tires prematurely, I've got all the documentation that says I maintained pressures as recommended.
When I talked to a Ford rep, they said go with what's on the doorpost. So the truck rides like a one-ton truck (go figure) but when I wear the tires prematurely, I've got all the documentation that says I maintained pressures as recommended.