Have you checked to see if you can lower the tire pressure. Weight the rear axle and check a inflation chart for your brand of tire. Momma has one of those vibrating heated seat cover that helps, but it sounds like she's under water when she talks.
If you look at new trucks pay close attention to seat construction. When checking on ordering my truck we did a test and found the bench seat more comfortable than the buckets.
Good luck cause we all know, when momma ain't happy, it's a long drive.
2012 Chevy 3500HD Dually 4X4
Crew Cab long bed 6.0 gasser 4.10
06 Hitchiker II LS 29.5 FKTS
Yamaha EF3000iSE
retired gadgetman
jmaslak wrote: I currently have a 2009 F250. I thought it was going to be the last truck I bought for a while, but it's rattling my wife's bones around a bit much for marital bliss! I used to own a Duramax Chevy 2500, and the wife liked that, but I'm thinking she wouldn't like it now and it's way, way too much truck.
So I'm looking for a new long bed truck. I tow a light (3500 lbs) Trailmanor. It has about 450 lbs tongue weight. I use a basic hitch - no weight distribution. I tow cross-country.
So, my questions:
1: How big of a difference is there now-a-days between ride (empty and with some tongue weight) on 1/2 tons vs 3/4 tons. Is bounce going to be horrible on the 1/2 tons?
2: In the past (90s?) I liked the Chevy ride better. Without getting into Chevy vs. Ford, is there a noticable difference in ride quality between the F150 and Chevy 1500?
3: Other than the financial stupidity of getting rid of a almost-new truck, am I nuts to look at a 1/2 ton again? I had the bigger truck when I needed it more. Today it's a commmuter + tow vehicle.
If you are sure you won't be going much bigger soon the range of options for what you are towing are vast and sure not limited to just trucks. A lot of very nice SUVs will do the job also such as the Expedition, Armada, etc.
OOPs did read far enough for the need to carry the bike so disregard this post, but depending on the wt of the bike your best bet might be the F150 ECO with the higher payload.
1: How big of a difference is there now-a-days between ride (empty and with some tongue weight) on 1/2 tons vs 3/4 tons. Is bounce going to be horrible on the 1/2 tons?
No
2: In the past (90s?) I liked the Chevy ride better. Without getting into Chevy vs. Ford, is there a noticable difference in ride quality between the F150 and Chevy 1500? Yes
Just went thru this, IMO for ride comfort I'd list them in this order, GM, Dodge, then Ford, and 1/2 tons over 1 tons as expected. Didn't try 3/4's. Also only tried them empty. Ford 1/2T HD ride harder the the non HD, as one should expect.
Happy Motoring
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
12 F150 HD SCAB EcoBoost LB 4x4
06 Starcraft 18SB
I personally think the F150 Eco Boost is the better towing setup. However having been an all Ford guy and recently purchased a Chevy, the ride in the Chevy is much different. I would go take them out for a test ride with your wife and see which one she likes more. Mine liked the cab height for getting in and out + the ride comfort of the GM more than the ford / dodges we test drove.
As others have said just about any half ton truck will do the trick, just find one you and your wife love and call it good.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0, 3.73, Firestone Air Bags, CCSB LTZ
We have a Chevy 1500, extended cab with the regular bed. We have the 5.3 and the older tranny. I love the 5.3. I get 20 mpg highway and 17.5 around town with AC. I have a utility trailer I tow that weighs more then your trailer and it does it no problem. The ride empty is good and loaded it's real good.
By the way, I have a rampage lift in the 6.5' bed and haul a screaming eagle ElectraGlide on it.
jmaslak wrote: I currently have a 2009 F250. I thought it was going to be the last truck I bought for a while, but it's rattling my wife's bones around a bit much for marital bliss! I used to own a Duramax Chevy 2500, and the wife liked that, but I'm thinking she wouldn't like it now and it's way, way too much truck.
So I'm looking for a new long bed truck. I tow a light (3500 lbs) Trailmanor. It has about 450 lbs tongue weight. I use a basic hitch - no weight distribution. I tow cross-country.
So, my questions:
1: How big of a difference is there now-a-days between ride (empty and with some tongue weight) on 1/2 tons vs 3/4 tons. Is bounce going to be horrible on the 1/2 tons?
2: In the past (90s?) I liked the Chevy ride better. Without getting into Chevy vs. Ford, is there a noticable difference in ride quality between the F150 and Chevy 1500?
3: Other than the financial stupidity of getting rid of a almost-new truck, am I nuts to look at a 1/2 ton again? I had the bigger truck when I needed it more. Today it's a commmuter + tow vehicle.
You will see from my signature TV details that we (couple and one doggy) chose a 1/2 ton rated to tow (as per driver' handbook, door label, glove box codes) 10,500lbs.
So we have a TV that does not give the harsh ride of a 3/4 or 1 ton BUT....can tow a 30ft TT with a little to spare after loading the TV and TT for camping!
If you and I were sat around a campfire I would strongly suggest to you....look for a 1/2 ton with a genuine FULL/MAX factory fitted trailering package added, so as to give you 'some to spare' after you have loaded up your TV and TT for camping.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ 2007 (new shape)
4x4 Crew Cab VORTEC MAX (L76) 6.0L V8 4L70E 4.10 axle
factory NHT Max Trailering Package.
2010 Coachmen Freedom Express 280 RLS
"...a Waldorf Salad?, sorry we are fresh out of Waldorfs!".......BASIL FAWLTY.
For me, if it's a choice between a long bed and an extended cab or a short bed and a crew cab, I'll take the long bed any day of the year. The trucks are almost identical in overall length and wheelbase length. The long bed allows full use of the truck as a TRUCK. The crew cab also costs a lot more $$ than the long bed does. The crew cab also weighs more and reduces the payload capacity more than the long bed.
jalichty wrote: Why the extended cab with the long bed? There are some very nice 1/2 tons out there with a crew-cab that would be ideal for you. However I don't know about the 1/2 ton crews with a long bed. But in the 3/4 tons, there are some great options. I bought a crew cab Ram with a diesel and a 3.42 rear end for about $8,000 off list. Got it with a six-speed manual and, with about 4,000 miles on it will get about 16 empty and around 12 towing the boat. Goes down to between 10 and 11 when towing the fifth-wheel we just bought. Will be anxious to see what we get when towing both the boat and trailer. The ride is a little harsher than the one we got in our 2003 GMC crew cab with a short box and a diesel.
I think he wanted the long bed to haul toys in it that needed that length.
Why the extended cab with the long bed? There are some very nice 1/2 tons out there with a crew-cab that would be ideal for you. However I don't know about the 1/2 ton crews with a long bed. But in the 3/4 tons, there are some great options. I bought a crew cab Ram with a diesel and a 3.42 rear end for about $8,000 off list. Got it with a six-speed manual and, with about 4,000 miles on it will get about 16 empty and around 12 towing the boat. Goes down to between 10 and 11 when towing the fifth-wheel we just bought. Will be anxious to see what we get when towing both the boat and trailer. The ride is a little harsher than the one we got in our 2003 GMC crew cab with a short box and a diesel.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: Sounds like the Dodge 1500 with the new air suspension and small 4.7 V8 would be a good choice for your intended light weight use and desire of a very cushy ride.
I agree and were I in the market for a 1/2 ton today, the Ram would be high on my list. But why the 4.7l? We'll see what happens with the new 8spd but today the Hemi offers better mileage and much more power...and is often a no-cost upgrade (at least in my area). With the Pentastar coming, Im not sure what role the 4.7l fills in the Ram lineup.
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