I'm curious as to which of the suspension kits that are out there provide the most comfortable, plushest ride, without raising the ride height of the front past level?

Yes, I know it's a 250. Yes, I read every thread with 'leveling' in the title. Yes, I know that's how it supposed to ride. Yes, I should put a pallet of my tears in the bed to make it ride better. Yes, I know I'll need airbags to avoid squat.

I've searched the level kits threads, other places, and YouTube. I am wondering if anyone else spends 99% of their time unladen and on pavement, and has improved the comfort of the ride with a change in shocks, springs, and other suspension equipment. CJC Offroad puts out the best content on YouTube, and it looks the Carli Commuter is their top pick for on-road comfort and driving response. However, it seems like that is what they sell and other options like Icon or BDS don't have the same amount of information out there.

So if you made your PowerStroke F-250 or -350 SRW more comfortable, how did you do it, and what would you recommend? I'm interested in understanding what you did in the front and rear, and reviews on S&B, BDS, Carli, and others.

 

Anything you do to get a softer ride will negatively affect your weight-carrying capacity, regardless of if the truck squats or not when loaded, because the springs are STIFF - it is an HD truck. I am rarely an advocate for airbags, even in leveled trucks - adjust your headlights properly after the install and even loaded you shouldn't have an issue getting brighted.

You can get some 'relief' in ride by swapping to softer shocks, but it will usually not be as responsive to varying road conditions.

You can lower your tire pressures to 40-50 psi as a lot of guys do when unloaded and it will help. Just don't forget to air back up when you load up.

More sidewall will help soften the ride - bigger tires or smaller wheels. Your tires are basically rolling pillows, and with less sidewall you have less pillow. Again, this comes at a cost of steering response.

This is my personal opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but I daily an F350, and have actually never daily driven anything smaller than a 3/4 ton truck in 20 years. The ride is nice for what it is, and I wouldn't change much, if anything, about it. If I wanted a cushy ride, I'd have a half ton or something like my wife's expedition, and adjust my hauling duties accordingly (more trips/get a trailer).

 

Best riding? Full Kelderman or Liquid Springs - be prepared for sticker shock.

 

OP.... it's a vehicle built for load carrying and towing. Want a softer ride sell and get a car or suv.

Want a better ride put a 1000# in the bed that will soften your ride.

 

I went with the BDS 5” Radius Arm Lift with full rear spring replacements and no block and Fox 2.0 shocks all around. It rides smoother than stock. I’ve even had comments from people that it rides really smooth compared to before the lift.

 

For my F250: factory snowplow coilsprings, 35×18 wheels and tires, tires 55/40psi unloaded... rode very nice. Then Fox 2.5s x4 and rides even better. I just rode 6 hours in a friend's 2024 GMC Denali HD on 35x20 65psi and factory Rancho shocks, and my F250 rides nicer. I would like the aftermarket progressive coilsprings and leaf pack, but I didn't want to change the haul and tow abilities.

 

Bigger tires and run them about 50 psi.
shocks may help, especially in the rear.
Research Sulastic rear shackles also.

 

thanks I will check them out.

 

I'm tracking the shocks and tires. Curious if there is a preference on shocks.

 

Sgt93 - Sweet baby Jesus - those are some NASA level solutions. I'm thinking more like coil springs and shocks kits. But wow.

 

Which tires are you running?

 

Like I said in the original post - I can put a pallet of my tears in the back. I wish I was as tough as you to handle the scary harsh ride of my SuperDuty. You're right, I probably sell it and go back to riding my girlfriend's Huffy.

I thought I made it clear I didn't need an explanation of what the thing is for. It's not for hauling *** across the desert, but the CJC Offroad guys have plenty of video of airborne SuperDutys.

 

Airbags will never be as plush as the correct steel spring. Their only advantage is adjustability.

Soft springs. But not too soft.
Super firm, quality dampers. Fox or King 2.5+.
Small wheels, 17-18" only. 9 wide. +18-+20mm back spacing,
35x12.5r18 tires.
No sway bars, or a Carli Front sway bar.
Fox ACS steering damper.
Modern trac bar.
Cowboy up and quit being a girl. Your seat aint wooden,

Good luck.

 

Easiest first step is, as previously suggested, lower tire pressure when not carrying/hauling. I run 50 F/R when empty. No, it's not S-Class, but it IS a big improvement.

Theoretically, I can see lower rate springs, but you will still need helper/overloads if you want the same max capacity. Not sure where/how to direct for specifics.

The above ideas/suggestions are entirely apart from "leveling". Leveling is, to my mind, only cosmetic. If you want to tow/haul, it has no place.

 

Cooper Discoverer STMAXX