Do you tow (or have you towed) with a 3/4 ton pickup?

[russingr]

I'd like to find the smoothest riding 3/4 ton pickup that I can, since it is also my daily driver.

Previously, I had a Toyota Tundra and loved it, but with lots of gear and such in the pickup and trailer, it was just a tad too close to capacity for my peace of mind. I understand that many folks happily tow a 30' Airstream with a 1/2 ton pickup (or even an SUV or whatever), but that's not for me; I'm going to tow my 30' with a 3/4 ton pickup, so I'm not interested in discussion on that point.

I also am well aware that a 3/4 ton is going to ride rougher than a 1/2 ton, given the much stiffer suspension.

In 2014 I bought a used 2013 Ford F250 with a few thousand miles on it, and I'm driving it currently; it now has just under 80K miles on it. It has what Ford calls the SuperCab; it does have a back seat, but it's a small one. The previous owner had traded out the factory shocks for Bilstein shocks, and had also added Firestone air springs; I purchased the truck from a dealer, so I've never spoken with the prior owner. One of the reasons I bought this model was that I wanted to have a shorter wheelbase than the SuperCrew (the full back seat) so that it would have a tighter turning radius and thus be simpler to park when not towing. Now, I'm guessing I may have traded off a somewhat smoother ride that I might have gotten with the SuperCrew and longer wheelbase. On a very smooth highway, of course the ride in my current truck is fine; but given the poor condition of many interstates, in some places it feels like this truck is going to rattle the teeth right out of my head.

I would like to trade this truck for another 3/4 ton pickup with a smoother ride. I have not begun test driving Chevys or Dodges (or Fords with a longer wheelbase) yet, but I will begin that soon.

Do you have experience with a longer wheelbase truck that made a significantly smoother ride?

Do you have (or have you had) a 3/4 ton pickup that you can recommend as having what you considered to be a smoother ride?

I'm well aware that "smoother ride" is highly subjective, and depends on an individual's perspective and opinion.

Thanks in advance for sharing any experience you may have in this area.

[joshjack]

I have a 15 Ram 2500 Megacab. We bought it about 1.5yrs before getting the AS. My wife approved totally and often comments how much she loves riding around in it - even for long road trips whether hauling or not.

The megacab has a huge back seat for passengers or usually our 2 dogs and some gear. For a long wheelbase and tall stance, it handles wonderfully on the narrow, winding roads of the NC mountains.

It is my daily driver when we aren’t camping.

[Bill M.]

I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 short bed quad cab diesel. It is a tooth rattler on rough roads and a dream on smooth highways. When I rode in friends Ford and GMC trucks they both felt smoother. I have not tried the new Dodge with the air suspension.

[Mike S.]

I have owned ford and gmc trucks. By far, the better ride is a gmc. Just my opinion. Mike

[GMFL]

I have 2016 GMC Denali HD with Magnetic Ride. Let me just say smooth as silk

[Squire]

We have a 2017 2500 Silverado diesel. The wife loves it and is NOT a truck person. She even enjoys driving it! For perspective, back in the day, she wasn't sure she was going to like our "big" Odyssey after having had compact cars. I am happy, as well.

[rlhendren]

I test drove a 2-door GMC 2500 and a 2-door Ford F250. I thought the GMC rode slightly better, but I didn't like the seat position (I thought it was too low).

[featherbedder]

I had 3500 chev. crew cab 8 ft. box, all heavy duty w/all tow pkgs. road as smooth as my now 2500 standard cab heavy duty w/ tow pkgs. both very smooth ride even on very rough roads. My son has 3/4 ford super cab set up w/off road as my chevs. are including tow pkg. when I ride in his my neck and back hurt for several days w/headaches etc. also my chev. better puller than his ford even tho same set ups. The 3/4 ford that I had before chevs. also rough ride and all had 8 ft. box. I would never even consider another ford for any reason. Also my father and bro. were killed in ford 3/4 pu w/ safety issue. Son also had toyota not bad ride. Other son has chev. pu and ford excursion roughness can't even describe as same set ups his ford and chev. except stinky noisy ford diesel Clarify all pu I have owned have had off rd. every thing heavy duty w/ tow pkg. except 1966 1/2 ton ford pu no extras, pulled new 1967 30 ft AS no prob. of any kind, but was hit head on by drunk totaled, had 1 more a 3/4 ford worked but went to chev. crew cab for extra room at time w/ 2 small boys, never had any dealings w/dodge, but I recommend gm pick ups for past ownership for 55 yrs. of ford and chev. pick ups. But each person has there own ideas. Test drive all considered, not just around the block, even rent one for couple of days. I had employee that had set on a model of car, was going on 5k trip, I talked him into renting for trip when got back said I saved him a huge amount of cash as most miserable car ever driven. They also pd. cash never financed a car. I also have 2012 ford escape pur. new, piece of junk.

[CatNJAMES]

I'm looking to get a Airstream and recently bought a F- 350 SCREW SRW with a 8 foot bed. The wheelbase is 172". The reason I bought this truck with the 8 foot bed is the wheelbase. I had a F-150 SCREW 156" WB and pulled a 28ft camper and my wife did not appreciate the ride. I think the wheelbase makes a difference.

[Bgibbs]

I'm on my second 3/4 ton Duramax. The first was a 2006 and I traded it in on a 2017 in February. Both were 4x4 with towing and off-road package. Both have been my daily drivers when not towing. I put Bilsteins on the 2006 and they firmed up the ride somewhat. The 2017 is a very smooth riding truck. Both have been crew cab with short bed. We took a friend to dinner last week that is a long-time Tundra owner. He was surprised that the Silverado "rides as good as his Tundra".

[ALANSD]

Looks like the winner is chevy, from the posts above

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

I had 3500 chev. crew cab 8 ft. box, all heavy duty w/all tow pkgs. road as smooth as my now 2500 standard cab heavy duty w/ tow pkgs. both very smooth ride even on very rough roads. My son has 3/4 ford super cab set up w/off road as my chevs. are including tow pkg. when I ride in his my neck and back hurt for several days w/headaches etc. also my chev. better puller than his ford even tho same set ups. The 3/4 ford that I had before chevs. also rough ride and all had 8 ft. box. I would never even consider another ford for any reason. Also my father and bro. were killed in ford 3/4 pu w/ safety issue. Son also had toyota not bad ride. Other son has chev. pu and ford excursion roughness can't even describe as same set ups his ford and chev. except stinky noisy ford diesel Clarify all pu I have owned have had off rd. every thing heavy duty w/ tow pkg. except 1966 1/2 ton ford pu no extras, pulled new 1967 30 ft AS no prob. of any kind, but was hit head on by drunk totaled, had 1 more a 3/4 ford worked but went to chev. crew cab for extra room at time w/ 2 small boys, never had any dealings w/dodge, but I recommend gm pick ups for past ownership for 55 yrs. of ford and chev. pick ups. But each person has there own ideas. Test drive all considered, not just around the block, even rent one for couple of days. I had employee that had set on a model of car, was going on 5k trip, I talked him into renting for trip when got back said I saved him a huge amount of cash as most miserable car ever driven. They also pd. cash never financed a car. I also have 2012 ford escape pur. new, piece of junk.

In my lengthy post forgot all but 1966 were 4wheel drive.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The 2017 and later Ford's are very different trucks....

It does not matter what you buy, the longer the wheelbase the smoother the ride. That's just the way things work. Cars and trucks both work the same way in that respect. Full bed crew cab will be better than super-short bed short cab. An 8' bed on a crew cab will have a downside when it comes time to park ....

Bob

[mojoe7009]

My wife broke her back in two places in 1995. Seat comfort and riding comfort are critical for her especially on long drives. I was a Ford Dealer or General Manager for over 30 years. When deciding on a 3/4 ton to tow our 30’ Classic the 2016 Dodge 2500 4 X 4 with the Cummins diesel was the clear winner. Sort of feel like a traitor after driving Ford trucks for so many years. But features, comfort, ride quality and the Cummins brand made all the difference. Plus, my wife is only 5 ft. tall and absolutely loves to drive our truck including as a daily driver. Her BMW sits in the garage most of the time. Don’t get me started on how awesome the Ram Boxes are when towing and camping with the Airstream.

[Wingeezer]

When I chose a 3/4T, I opted for the GMC as it seemed to me to be the least "truck like." even though a diesel.

Still very happy with it after 9 years.

Ours is a crew cab regular bed length.

It has been our daily driver also, up until a few months ago when I traded our Goldwing bike in on a VW GTI.

[m.hony]

The GM trucks seem to have the smoothest ride.
I have towed cargo trailers and cargo trailers 1,000,000 miles with 3/4 ton GM trucks for work.
I am now the fleet manager over 344 GM 3/4 ton trucks.
I still prefer my Tundra to pull my 30' Classic.

[Coach B]

Everybody seems to have their favorite. If the ride is your primary discerning character make sure you drive all that qualify as a TV for you. I have a 2006 F250 diesel that is our favorite long distance vehicle, even over cars that include BMW's. I'd take a hard look at the Crewcabs that have a short box. I believe the wheelbase is the same or very close to a Supercab with a long box. I couldn't get a Crewcab/long box in my garage

[crispyboy]

If you get a 3/4 ton you may want to opt for 18" tires vs the 20" tires. The 18" could possibly ride better with having a taller sidewall.
Also I run different tire pressures when towing/daily driving. I use 70+ psi when towing and 60/45 when daily driving which makes a difference.

[Seabloom]

I have a 2012 GMC 2500 HD 4x4 with 6.0l Z71 package in a crew cab std box (6'-6"). I have the firestone air bags in the rear and I run them at the min 10 PSI when empty then about 30 PSI when towing. We have a whole work fleet of 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton.. The 1/2's for sure are more comfortable but I love my 3/4 ton. It rides a little firmer than my 2004 same setup that I put 300,000 km on. Current 2012 is at 200,000 km and going strong. Make sure you double check the exact configuration and manual before you buy it. I was really disappointed when I bought mine to find I had more power with the new 6.0l 2012 vs 2004, better brakes with the 4 wheel disc, and yet the Gross Combined Capacity had decreased several thousand pounds. My truck as configured with 3.73's has a gross combined of 16,000 lbs. Seems like lots but the truck curb weight is 6750 lbs, add in people firewood gas, BBQ etc and I am banging on the upper limit of the GCWR. Payload, axles and towing are all fine but the GM ratings at least for 2012 dropped.

My truck is my everyday all the time truck. It won't win many races, and isn't great on fuel but it has never left me stranded and it rides in my opinion very well.

Good luck with the purchase.

[h2ocoolerman]

We have a 2017 F350 crew cab long bed . While it’s not as plush riding as the 150 we traded it’s still pretty smooth. The new trucks are great.