Cheapest option to soften the ride?

[ThreeBearsHD]

I herniated a disk at work back in August. I've been going to therapy and finally was declared as good as it gets with my condition. Basically, I'm 57 years old and have been abusing my body for 50 years. I've had a lot of fun, but now I have a bunch of arthritis in my back, some still mildly bulged disks, and was told to stop having so much fun on Jeeps, motorcycles, and ATVs. I told the doc I was going on a 3k+ mile road trip in March and he said to make sure that my vehicle had a "non-jarring" ride.


I took my Jeep last year, and with a lift and 35s, it is jarring. I was planning on taking my Ram 2500 since it is pretty close to stock with just a leveling kit and the pizza-cutter 35s on it. But it still rides pretty rough. The current tires on it are Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs in LT255 /85 R17 121Q E1. I have them aired down to 45 psi and they are still pretty stiff and jarring. I was thinking about replacing them with a tire with a lower load rating and more rubber, such as the same tire, but in 37 X12.50R17 LT 124Q D2. Total cost shipped and installed is $1800.

The only other option I can think of is to replace the springs front and rear with something softer. But since I would like to tow with this rig, not sure softer springs would be the way to go. 12k lbs. is the max limit of what I'd be towing, so not too bad, and easily handled with 37s on stock suspension.

Or I could go with a mild lift with softer springs and add air bags to the rear for towing, but would that be less than $1800?

Hoping for input with folks that went to 37s on stock suspension and if that made the ride noticeably better.

 

[motorhead426]

I herniated a disk at work back in August. I've been going to therapy and finally was declared as good as it gets with my condition. Basically, I'm 57 years old and have been abusing my body for 50 years. I've had a lot of fun, but now I have a bunch of arthritis in my back, some still mildly bulged disks, and was told to stop having so much fun on Jeeps, motorcycles, and ATVs. I told the doc I was going on a 3k+ mile road trip in March and he said to make sure that my vehicle had a "non-jarring" ride.


I took my Jeep last year, and with a lift and 35s, it is jarring. I was planning on taking my Ram 2500 since it is pretty close to stock with just a leveling kit and the pizza-cutter 35s on it. But it still rides pretty rough. The current tires on it are Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs in LT255 /85 R17 121Q E1. I have them aired down to 45 psi and they are still pretty stiff and jarring. I was thinking about replacing them with a tire with a lower load rating and more rubber, such as the same tire, but in 37 X12.50R17 LT 124Q D2. Total cost shipped and installed is $1800.

The only other option I can think of is to replace the springs front and rear with something softer. But since I would like to tow with this rig, not sure softer springs would be the way to go. 12k lbs. is the max limit of what I'd be towing, so not too bad, and easily handled with 37s on stock suspension.

Or I could go with a mild lift with softer springs and add air bags to the rear for towing, but would that be less than $1800?

Hoping for input with folks that went to 37s on stock suspension and if that made the ride noticeably better.

Sorry to hear about your back. I'm currently going to PT, however I don't have any disc problems... yet.

I've heard a lot about shocks improving the ride. Do you have stock shocks still on the truck? Maybe someone with some aftermarket shocks can weigh in.

 

[Forceofwill]

What leveling "kit" do you have? If it's a spacer, id start by getting rid of that. Also, 45 cold psi might still be a little high.

If you want a drastic improvement you'll have to spend some money. I'd get the Carli back country level but they have a slightly cheaper shock option too. Thuren level would also be an option. I wouldn't mess with the springs in the rear, just the rear shocks.

 

[Trash Panda]

There just isn’t any getting around the fact that an unloaded 3/4 ton pickup is going to ride somewhat harshly, especially in the rear. Even the air ride on my unit is still less comfortable than my 20 year old half ton.

For the front, pretty much any leveling spring is going to be noticeable, as they are softer than the OEM. Ditching the leveling spacer for a leveling spring will be a help there, especially coupled with a good shock.

Disconnecting the front sway bar has been talked about making a difference on here, but I haven’t done it myself.

 

[Units]

What about some sort of extra seat support/cushioning? There are several on the Zon that are relatively inexpensive.

 

[johnmyster]

Free: air pressure.

Free: remove front sway bar.

Cheap: put 1000# of gravel in the bed.

Not Free - Front: Thuren/Carli front springs, but will require longer shocks. Bilstein is the cheap option but not optimal for ride quality. Rear: Same.

Lower load rating tires do not necessarily have more compliant sidewalls. In fact, high load tires require compliance in order to not overheat when run loaded.

My springs were second hand and shocks from ebay. Everything was like new open box deals. Probably have less than $450 in coils plus four shocks.

Is renting an Altima/Camry for your trip a cheaper option vs a full suspension overhaul? Even the new Tahoes with independent rear ride really well compared to a truck.

 

[johanh13]

A bit more info would help. What suspension mods are you currently running? Any front spacers? Also, is it a diesel or a gasser? That makes a big difference.
In my opinion, the tires you’re running are already about as “soft” as it gets, especially at 45 PSI, so I wouldn’t expect meaningful gains there. If the ride is jarring, I’d focus on the front springs and shocks.
The softest setup I’ve personally run on my RAM (see sig) was Thuren front coils paired with Thuren Fox 2.0 shocks - very compliant and easy on the body. What I’m running now (again, see sig) is noticeably firmer, mainly due to the Carli King shocks, which trade comfort for control.
Regarding the front sway bar, I’ve run no bar, stock, and Carli. None of those configurations made a meaningful difference in sharp, jarring impacts. The sway bar mainly affects side-to-side motion - like crossing a rut at an angle or hitting a pothole with one wheel - not the vertical harshness that usually aggravates back issues.

 

[Razzman]

I have three bulging discs in my back and know the feeling well. When we bought ours early 2021 the ride home from the dealer was 30 miles, by the time I got back i knew it wasn't going to cut it. In two weeks I changed the front springs and sway bar to Thuren and added their re-valved Fox 2.0 shocks all around. Night and day difference for sure. I've been towing a 7500lb trailer since new with no issues, however for something that heavy you'll definitely want air bags imo. Tires alone won't fix the ride, it's the suspension that's the issue and I personally wouldn't lower the load rating of the tires with towing 12K but that's me. When I changed from stock 285/60R20 I went with LT285/65R20 E and it actually rides better.

 

[johanh13]

I have three bulging discs in my back and know the feeling well. When we bought ours early 2021 the ride home from the dealer was 30 miles, by the time I got back i knew it wasn't going to cut it. In two weeks I changed the front springs and sway bar to Thuren and added their re-valved Fox 2.0 shocks all around. Night and day difference for sure. I've been towing a 7500lb trailer since new with no issues, however for something that heavy you'll definitely want air bags imo. Tires alone won't fix the ride, it's the suspension that's the issue and I personally wouldn't lower the load rating of the tires with towing 12K but that's me. When I changed from stock 285/60R20 I went with LT285/65R20 E and it actually rides better.

I like your setup! I have 275/65r20 BFG KO2's on my stock wheels and with my current suspension setup, this was firm on the highway, but downright harsh on rocky off road trails. With my 35x12.5r17 tires that I'm currently running, it's still sporty on the highway, but much softer on the rocky stuff. Just my $0.50 ...

 

[ThreeBearsHD]

A bit more info would help. What suspension mods are you currently running? Any front spacers? Also, is it a diesel or a gasser? That makes a big difference.
In my opinion, the tires you’re running are already about as “soft” as it gets, especially at 45 PSI, so I wouldn’t expect meaningful gains there. If the ride is jarring, I’d focus on the front springs and shocks.
The softest setup I’ve personally run on my RAM (see sig) was Thuren front coils paired with Thuren Fox 2.0 shocks - very compliant and easy on the body. What I’m running now (again, see sig) is noticeably firmer, mainly due to the Carli King shocks, which trade comfort for control.
Regarding the front sway bar, I’ve run no bar, stock, and Carli. None of those configurations made a meaningful difference in sharp, jarring impacts. The sway bar mainly affects side-to-side motion - like crossing a rut at an angle or hitting a pothole with one wheel - not the vertical harshness that usually aggravates back issues.

It's got the Tuff Country spacers up front and no other suspension mods. It's a diesel. I'll look into those Thuren products; thanks!

 

[G Mcpherson]

Call Thuren and speak to Andrew or Zeb. Tell them about what you are looking for. They are Very Helpful.

 

[ShadowJ]

…..buy a Cadillac.

 

[Dewey]

You have a Diesel right?

1 inch Thuren front springs, shock and a front sway bar. This may not be the cheapest, it will improve your ride.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I have three bulging discs in my back and know the feeling well. When we bought ours early 2021 the ride home from the dealer was 30 miles, by the time I got back i knew it wasn't going to cut it. In two weeks I changed the front springs and sway bar to Thuren and added their re-valved Fox 2.0 shocks all around. Night and day difference for sure. I've been towing a 7500lb trailer since new with no issues, however for something that heavy you'll definitely want air bags imo. Tires alone won't fix the ride, it's the suspension that's the issue and I personally wouldn't lower the load rating of the tires with towing 12K but that's me. When I changed from stock 285/60R20 I went with LT285/65R20 E and it actually rides better.

I have a diesel. How does your truck sit while towing? Level? WDH?
Thinking about Thuren +1 front springs. Keeping oem rear springs. I won’t pay their price for Fox shocks though. I have good aftermarket shocks already.

 

[AH64ID]

While 255/85R17 isn’t in my load and inflation table 255/80R17 is and it will be very similar… 45 psi is too little for the front with a diesel, and too much for the rear empty.

You should be running 50-55 up front with that bumper and 35 out back empty. I’d hit the scales before a long road trip….

Remove the front anti-sway bar, that’s a huge improved in jarring motion from potholes, curbs, gutters, etc. I notice a slight amount of increased body roll, and I mean slight, only because I know the sway bar isn’t installed. I still tow my 5th wheel on winding mountain roads and it’s perfect.

Thuren front springs would improve your ride over the spacers, along with the proper shocks for the springs. No need to go fancy thou.

For the rear, dunno… zero complains about the harness of the ride on my 2500. Sometimes it’s too soft, but overall it does pretty great for a coil spring HD truck. I still prefer the 3500 auto-level rear loaded on the road, but for hunting use the 2500 is much better than I imagined.

 

[Razzman]

I have a diesel. How does your truck sit while towing? Level? WDH?
Thinking about Thuren +1 front springs. Keeping oem rear springs. I won’t pay their price for Fox shocks though. I have good aftermarket shocks already.

Yes I have a wdh and perfectly level. I too have 1” springs they actually lifted 1.5” and stayed that way. I too kept the stock rear springs and just air down when not towing. If you retain stock length shocks you could have issue with the taller springs. Don’t have to have Fox but the need to be the correct length. Definitely get the sway bar, makes a huge difference.

 

[Dave01]

Look for a gel or memory foam pad to put under your butt. I know this isn't a truck ride softening mod, but you might be surprised how much relief a soft cushioning seat pad would provide.