Hello All,

I am looking for some informed advice -- either how to upgrade or just move on. I recently purchased a 2022 Ford F-150 XLT Supercab with a 6.5 ft bed, 4x4, 3.5 engine, 3.55 rear end, and 18 inch wheels. This is my first full size pickup and first ever body-on-frame vehicle. I needed something with a longer bed than my Honda Ridgeline (mostly for hauling multiple race motorcycles), which I loved. I am having a hard time getting over this vehicle's weird chassis dynamics, rough idle that feels like a misfire, and crazy transmission shift logic. The rear end seems extremely bouncy and I feel the chassis flex a lot, but the front feels quite planted. I would imagine I am just stuck with the abrupt and poorly shifting transmission and rough idle.

I was wondering if anyone has upgraded the suspension or chassis to make this pickup feel tighter -- I would really love for it to feel tighter and less bouncy. I was considering some sort of rear shock upgrade and wondering if there was any way to reinforce the frame to make the truck feel like it had less frame twist when going over rough off-road sections (or even driveway inclines at an angle). The rear end also seems to bounce regularly when accelerating, causing the traction control to intervene abruptly, which isn't very pleasant. To me, it feels like the rear shocks' compression is too stiff and the rebound is too slow.

It may be the case that the loose, twisty, feel is just the nature of a big, body-on-frame, vehicle with leaf springs and it "is what it is." I just don't want to start down a road that is fruitless, if there is no way to make the vehicle ride better. Also, for what it is worth, I rarely have over 500 kg in the bed and never pull over 3000kg. I appreciate any advice that anyone may have. Thank you.

 

First thing I did on my '17 and my '20 was change out rear OEM shocks. Bilstein on the '17, never again, and Fox 2.0 on the '20. The Bilsteins work as advertised, but finish is very poor, and likely will corrode after the first winter, looks pretty bad.

 

Welcome!

*heads-up*

There are year specific forums which better serve non-general F-150 issues/topics..

 

Thank you. I didn't realize.

 

In case anybody is curious, I made a few changes over the year that have made me a bit happier with this truck. I added lowering shackles to the rear, bilstein shocks, and Yokohama E-rated all terrain tires. These changes seem to have made it ride much better. It isnot nearly as bouncy or twisty.

Obviously, this vehicle will never handle or drive like BMW, but it is a real improvement.