THE RANGER BOUNCE

[Str8sh0otr]

When you start hitting a few large dips at a higher speed that's when the float and bounce start showing up.

This is exactly the problem I had with it...which I believe have been reduced with higher tire pressure. To me, it feels safer, as I get a better feel of the road and not as much unpredictable movement. Also steering feels better to me. Appreciate everyones concern about high psi's. Just relating my experience to anyone out there with same problems. Consult your mechanic before changing tire pressure, your results may vary, past performance does not indicate future results, etc, etc.

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[Sarge104]

Doing work on my mothers estate and hour away and I defiantly notice the bounce more with manufacture's tire pressure in when I'm empty vice when I am loaded down on the highway. Off road this little monster shines!

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

The Taller the wheel the harsher the ride. We noticed this also test driving all the Rangers. Could not pin point the bounce to either the FX suspension, leather having more give than the fabric cushion or standard suspension and PSI. We as a collective decided the leather seats on FX4 suspension had the most comfortable ride.. I have a XLT Sport on 18 in wheels. Pretty bouncy also.

same here. jmo more sidewall =worse ride. definitely 1st replacement set needs to have a stout sidewall.. at 30 all around and seems a lot better.

 

[DavidR]

The amount of bounce on pavement is tolerable for me. I've found it to be a little more annoying off-road (I have the FX4 package). Like other people, I've found a little extra tire pressure helps (I upped it to 34 from 30-31).

I'm going to be installing a set of Air Lift airbags soon to help level things out with our 1100 lb. camper on the back, it will be interesting to see if leaving a bit of pressure in them when unloaded helps the unloaded ride out a bit.

 

[Hounddog409]

This post should be renamed the FX4 bounce on pavement.

 

[chasvs]

I've got a 4x2 Lariat Sport and it's got a pretty good bounce as well. Much more than my 17 Tacoma TRD OR 4x4 did, but a much better highway ride overall!

 

[Mellow]

I had four 40lb bags of top soil loaded in the bed this weekend, it really helped to smooth out the bounce on my 4x2.

 

[Floyd]

I brought my STX 2WD SuperCab home, adjusted the tire pressure, and have driven it 3000 miles in all conditions.
Its a truck designed to do truck things well while still giving a comfortable and controlled driving experience.
Every compromise results in a plus and a minus.
The Ranger manages to hit the sweet spot on all fronts, (a few tweaks maybe over time).

 

[chasvs]

I had four 40lb bags of top soil loaded in the bed this weekend, it really helped to smooth out the bounce on my 4x2.

That's pretty much what any load will do to a truck, although 160lbs isn't all that much considering the load carrying capability of the Ranger.. Ever see a dump truck when it's empty vs when it's loaded? They bounce like crazy because of the strong springs/bags when empty because of the load it's designed to carry. Full they ride rather rough but they sure don't bounce anymore!

 

[REDWM]

Took a trip Labor Day afternoon up in the mountains over dirt roads with lots of rocks. My XLT FX4 handed it great and not too bouncy. I used trail control on the really rough stuff and it helped a lot to crawl over the real rocky parts. The bad thing was the left front tire got a stone in the tread that caused it to go flat. The Ranger jack and crank was a pain in the butt. I hope those Hankook tires hold up better and it was just fluke flat.

 

[DavidR]

I'm finally starting to see other Rangers on the highway now around here and the Bounce is pretty noticeable even from the outside

 

[RANGER_MARC]

Hey Marc,
Other users have said that replacing the shocks/coilovers on their trucks has improved road feel like you described. There are a few companies offering complete replacement kits you can take a look into (ICON, ADS, EIBACH, ROUGH COUNTRY, FOX, ect). Check out some of the threads here https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/forums/suspension-chassis.14/ .

Im not sure there is a definitive answer yet but @Randy2400h and @themikeyan did the ICON kits and seem happy with them. Good luck!

Hey, Logan, thanks. I have been looking into the options you mention above and am ready to pull the trigger on the Fox shocks and coil-overs now offered through Ford Performance and installed by the Ford dealers with warranty. They are pre-set for a two-inch level, which I was not really looking for but can certainly live with if it smooths out the street ride! At this point, the Ford Performance site will only let you add them to your wish list, not buy them outright yet, but I will have them put on just as soon as they are really available!

 

[HenryMac]

Try this $25 fix. Buy (4) 60# bags of Quikrete Tube Sand at your local Home Depot. Put the bags in the bed, near the tailgate. A little extra weight will also help traction.

If you're rolling on stock tires, follow the air pressure chart installed on the drivers door jamb. That pressure is based on your truck weight and the tire sizes shown. Changing tire pressures from what is stated will result in premature tire wear.

I can't believe dealers aren't adjusting the air pressures when they get the trucks. They are shipped with about 50 psi from the factory, which is for shipping purposes. Our truck also had 48 psi when we picked it up at White's University Ford in Laramie, WY. It was also chiming and the fuel monitor showed "Miles to E" as zero. Pretty miserable.

And if you don't have stock tires and you're running something the factory never supplied... then try the "Tire Pressure Chalk Test"..

 

[CompDude]

Does anyone notice this being fatiguing during long trips? We just test drove a ranger a couple weeks ago and me and my boy noticed the bounciness right off the bat. My wife said it feels like a truck. Wish I would of checked the tire pressure. This has me starting to consider other options..

 

[HenryMac]

Does anyone notice this being fatiguing during long trips? We just test drove a ranger a couple weeks ago and me and my boy noticed the bounciness right off the bat. My wife said it feels like a truck. Wish I would of checked the tire pressure. This has me starting to consider other options..

I've driven mid sized trucks as my daily driver since 1985.... 4x4's since 1997. An empty truck rides rough, that's the nature of the beast, and for Ranger's, a SuperCab is rougher than a SuperCrew. If that's an issue, adding some weight to the bed helps a lot, or another alternative is to buy a non-truck, like a Honda Ridgeline.

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