Why with weight in truck bed it rides better (sorry posted in wrong category and I can't find out how to move thread)

[Jhbryaniv]

It's common for pickup trucks to ride better with added weight vs no weight in the back. They are designed to be loaded(even though many think they are a status symbol) and do well when loaded as intended(of course within certain limits)

They aren't a status symbol?

OH my, do you mean the 24" chrome deep dish rims with 30" tires and led strips that light up at night don't make me look cool?

Damn.

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[RedDakooter05]

They aren't a status symbol?

OH my, do you mean the 24" chrome deep dish rims with 30" tires and led strips that light up at night don't make me look cool?

Damn.

Hmm yes, the people I wish would land upside down in a ditch.

 

[VAMike]

don't worry, as they continue to try to turn pickup trucks into overpriced family hauling station wagons for the image conscious, they will eventually get them tuned to ride well empty/not have a payload.

 

[Muffin1]

I just looked up the weight of the DeeZee brand rubber met mat. It only weights 40 lbs. for the Ranger 5' bed, so probably not enough weight for what I was hoping. I do have the factory lined truck bed and for the type of cargo I usually might haul, sliding hasn't been a problem. I did buy one of the hook pole things and keep it in the bed (I have a tonneau cover) in case I have a box slide forward and so I don't have to climb in the bed.

two or three of these should take the 'snap' out of the springs and feel more planted.

From Menards website, HD or Lowes has Sakrete brand sand tubes.

 

[Frenchy]

two or three of these should take the 'snap' out of the springs and feel more planted.

From Menards website, HD or Lowes has Sakrete brand sand tubes.

I have definitely done that a few times simply for winter traction. It's amazing on how much that helps

 

[Muffin1]

Yes i have them also the Sakrete sand tubes @60lbs x3 works very well.

 

[paval3]

two or three of these should take the 'snap' out of the springs and feel more planted.

From Menards website, HD or Lowes has Sakrete brand sand tubes.

I see Home Depot has Quikrete 60# bags in stock. I may try starting off with 2 bags and see what that feels like. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Dgc333]

FWIW, 30 years ago a friend of mine bought an F-250 to haul his horse trailer. Most of the time the truck was unloaded. If you think the Ranger is harsh unloaded try driving a 30 year old 3/4 ton pickup.

Anyway, to improve the ride unloaded he made a plate with a threaded rod on it and attached it the bed floor behind the wheel wells, one on each side. He then picked up some of the lead plates they use to tie down aircraft on grass fields. He stacked these on the threaded rod and used a large wing nut to secure them. They didn't impact space in the bed for most uses and were easy to remove if needed.

 

[Muffin1]

I see Home Depot has Quikrete 60# bags in stock. I may try starting off with 2 bags and see what that feels like. Thanks for the idea!

I have the Quikrete ones i mistakenly posted the wrong brand above
HD / Lowes didn't have them in stock in my local store so i got them from Ace Hardware.

 

[DeerSlayer]

I carry 5 cinder blocks under my work box (200pds blocks+ 150pds in work box). I have FOX shocks and it rides good. It also gets way better traction in snow and ice which one runs into alot in NE Montana. I'll take them out soon and be back to bouncong around, especially on washboard gravel roads.

 

[Dean Schaffran]

I have an aluminum cross-bed toolbox (carrying some vital things!) and a custom-built aluminum tri-fold bed cover, along with the DZ rubber bed mat, and a Curt trailer hitch, mostly added soon after I bought it. Maybe 300# (400?)? Never seemed bad (after about 17 years in a Sport Trac. But it's a truck, so ....
'19 XLT 4WD SCab.

 

[majorv]

I have the same truck; 2021 white XLT. Get a rubber truck mat and leave it in the bed permanently; they weigh about 80 pounds and cost about $50. Added bonus is that they stop things from sliding around and protect the bed.

I have a Ranger logo’d rubber bed mat, and it did help a little, but when I threw 3- 13” old tires in the bed it really helped, lol!

 

[NotBudule]

 

[Nellieg]

Deer road kill works until it starts to smell...works great as dead weight

 

[PltFX4]

For my previous Ranger, 2005 which I had from new till 2019, I had bed weight made to order from 1/4" plate to use in the winter... total of 400 lbs. Ran a bolt through the box into the frame so it would no bounce around over rough roads and speed bumps. Doing the same for 2019 Ranger as well. Definitely smooths out the ride.

See pics.

Wood frame to hold the plates (1"x1" screwed to 1/4" plywood)

Plywood shaped to fit between wheel wells... full width otherwise... just slide it in.

Steel plates are 100 lbs each:

Covered by BedRug and still have a flat usable bed.

Used it for 15 of the 20 years I had the truck... well worth the effort.

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