This thing rides like a......truck.......

[Bronco638]

Thanks for the feedback but the Bilstein units are outside of my budget.

 

[monsterchuck]

I notice you said you had LT tires on your truck. That can definitely cause rough riding issues on a vehicle as light as a Ranger. What load range are they? You can change shocks, but it might not help as much as you hope.

 

[6.2]

Bilstiens aren't that expensive. Sounds to me you can't afford to be picky. Run what you have.

 

[Bronco638]

I notice you said you had LT tires on your truck. That can definitely cause rough riding issues on a vehicle as light as a Ranger. What load range are they? You can change shocks, but it might not help as much as you hope.

I think you might be right.

Load Index: 120
Load Index Translation: 3086 lbs.

Bilstiens aren't that expensive. Sounds to me you can't afford to be picky. Run what you have.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'expensive'. The Bilsteins I found for my Ranger were about $100 each. I can't afford to be that picky. I'm happy for you that you can be.

 

[6.2]

And anything worth buying that will give you what you want, will cost $100. Hence, my comment.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I guess it depends on your definition of 'expensive'. The Bilsteins I found for my Ranger were about $100 each. I can't afford to be that picky. I'm happy for you that you can be.

It wouldn't take much to improve over shot original. I am very happy with my nitro skyjacker shocks, hands down better than what was on there... With lt tires

 

[wizkid00104]

Dave, I had another thought. Ranger cabs are mounted on rubber cab mounts. Mine were really dry rotted which cause the cab to sag, which was obvious by the body line between the cab and the bed. These loose mounts made bumps a lot more intense because the cab would bounce and shake over the bumps.

You could tighten the bolts to secure the bad to the frame, but the runner cushioning was gone. There are metal sleeves that line the bushings and they would crimp down until the bottom out so it would be like the cab was welded to the frame.

You can replace them with stock rubber which would restore the ride quality or you can replace them with poly urethane bushings that don't rot, but they are firmer by material properties. I opted for the polyurethane to prevent further rot which solved the shaking problem to lessen the shaking, but you can definitely tell they are not rubber by ride quality.

Just some food for thought... Hope you can solve your ride issues.

Another more extreme measure would be to install softer rear springs and install air bags for helpers. This could also alleviate the harsh ride.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Bronco638]

I'll take a look at those mount insulators. However, I would not be surprised if they're in good/great shape as this is a southern truck. However, just because the truck is from down south doesn't mean they're not getting tired.

At this point, I think it might have more to do with the tires, load rating and the fact there's 35 psi in them. I am getting ~18 MPG though.....

I wonder what taking one leaf, out of each leaf pack, would accomplish.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think rubber would take salt water better than heat...

 

[Blown]

I'll take a look at those mount insulators. However, I would not be surprised if they're in good/great shape as this is a southern truck. However, just because the truck is from down south doesn't mean they're not getting tired.

At this point, I think it might have more to do with the tires, load rating and the fact there's 35 psi in them. I am getting ~18 MPG though.....

I wonder what taking one leaf, out of each leaf pack, would accomplish.

I run 25 psi with 255/70R16's P metrics, not LT tires. They still do not contact the road at the outside edges of the tires! You may get better mileage at 35psi but I bet you are burning the center out of those tires and getting a bad ride from them.

Note I air-up if I am carrying anything of wieght in the bed and won't carry heavy loads. I don't need the load rating and bad ride of a "C" rated LT tire do you?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I run 25 psi with 255/70R16's P metrics, not LT tires. They still do not contact the road at the outside edges of the tires! You may get better mileage at 35psi but I bet you are burning the center out of those tires and getting a bad ride from them.

Note I air-up if I am carrying anything of wieght in the bed and won't carry heavy loads. I don't need the load rating and bad ride of a "C" rated LT tire do you?

I have ran 30psi in mine for 14 years... tires wear fine. Load range c tires ride fine too.

 

[Blown]

I have ran 30psi in mine for 14 years... tires wear fine. Load range c tires ride fine too.

I would assume you are running stock size tires, rotate as required and maybe have some weight in the bed??

We can disagree, load range C LT's have stiffer sidewalls and do not ride as well as a lessor rated tire.

I am not discounting the effects of worn shocks, that added with 35 psi in a LT tire is likely the culprit in this case.

Been playing with trucks for 35 years.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

31x10.5-15's. Up until 3 years ago it had P rated 235/75-15's on it.

I don't always have stuff in the bed but I don't only use it as a car either.

I didn't notice a big difference switching from p rated 235/75-15 Dunlop Mud Rovers (before that it had cheap car tires of the same size) to my current LT Firestone Destination MTs.

Switching out the who-knows-how-old rusty shocks for new ones made a new truck out of it. I maintain the OP should check that out before picking on the tires too much.

 

[Bronco638]

The reason for the LT tires: when I bought the truck, two (rear) tires were shot (right down to the wear bars). The two others (front) were almost new (90% tread depth), complete with the "air escape" nubs. So, in the interest of saving a little money, I replaced the worn out tires with two new ones (same make/model as the nearly new ones).

The shocks are here and I'll try to get them on this weekend.

I wonder what ~200 lbs. of sand, over the rear axle, would do. Winter is coming but the truck does have 4WD.

 

[Blown]

I wonder what ~200 lbs. of sand, over the rear axle, would do. Winter is coming but the truck does have 4WD.

I put-in an extra 120lbs, two of the "Tube Sand" bags made for the purpose and over the rear axle. It helps a bunch. Lowes or Home Depot has had them in the past.

I recently eliminated about 100lbs of weight aft of the rear axle which has helped the handling.