Scotts - You purchased a truck that has a payload on about 3000lbs. It will not be a soft ride the suspension is made to take that load. Naturally when it is empty it will not ride smooth. Just the nature of the beast.

 

Yeah, all the HD's ride rough. You will get used to it. It is only because the rear suspension has to be stiff so it doesn't drag when you load it up. Some people have luck with ladder bars, they help prevent some of the axle wrap that you experiance when you drive over bumps in the road. They basically push the rear wheels into the ground, so they don't get to hop around as much.

 

You have'nt felt a stiff ride until you ride in a REAL truck with either the 60000 Lbs Camel back springs or atruck with a solid rubber suspension... The both of those are harsh....

 

It's a truck... What did you expect?

 

+2 on the tire pressure. I keep mine at 60 psi front and back and I am happy. If I goto the 80 psi, it rides like a TRUCK!!!!! It is there if you need it.

 

Yeah.... I KNOW its a truck... What else would it be genius????? BUT.... Honestly.... I expected a Rolls Royce with an air ride suspension... with the air ride passenger cabin and the almighty air ride seat... But it ust never happend.......

 

Why do people complain about the ride of a truck?! If you wanted a smooth ride you should have bought a camry or some other sedan...

 

Sorry guys, but damn... this guy was just taken aback with the ride of his truck. Honestly, in my test drive I really didn't feel it because all the roads around the dealership were just paved and the highway is in good shape... before that I drove a dakota. Yeah, it is a little bumpy, but you do get used to it. And I don't mess with the tire pressures. I bought the truck, not necissarily for what I normally would use it for, but for what it can do. And I want to be able to work it whenever, where ever. I actually like the way it rides, dakota's are like cars... smooth rides (tiny f'in brakes though, replaced them 3 times in the 2 years I owned it). But there is too much hostility on this thread. The ride is just not what he expected, and he will1)get over it or 2) trade her in.

 

Yes, you're not kidding. The diesel's are stiffer sprung than the gas 3/4 & 1 ton trucks due to the added weight of that engine.
Like others have said, running the minimum recommended tire pressures is the fastest way to get relief if you're not heavily loaded.

Different tires and shockscan help. I know that the BFG All-Terrains can be pretty plush. I have a friend with them on his '04 2500 QC CTD. His stock tires were the cheapo BFG "Rugged Trail" tires that literally rotted away their sidewalls, andhad a poor ride quality.
If the factory shocks are not Bilstein's, then I would upgrade to them, for the improved handling alone.

 

My dealer has a 3 mile rule on new vehicles so it's kind of hard to get a feel for it in that short of distance. So I went to 3-4 dealers and drove them.