I spent the better part of Sunday taking my "new" '98 F250XL/LD 4x4 out into the bush to test the truck in the rough.
Although the 4.6L and 5-speed were perfect in high and low 4x4 mode, the suspension beat the living hell out of me!
Whether it was washboard dirt road, rolling pots or rocky trails, the suspension felt like someone had replaced my shocks with steel rods.
I'm running 245/75/R16 tires on factory 16" rims. The shocks and springs are stock, and my truck is a S/C L/B. I would like to find a way to soften that ride without sacrificing GVWR or handling...any ideas?

Thanks,

John

 

Welcome to F250 land. My sister traded hers for a SCrew for that very reason. We both spend a fair amount of time hunting and her 250 was beating her to death getting to the woods and back. I guess you could change out the shocks and get some relief, but not a lot. Good luck.

 

Put a set of Rancho 9000 shocks and larger tires on. I went with a set of BFG A/T 285/75/16 on mine and it smoothed it out pretty good.

 

Just remember that you have 17" rims. The 250LD rims are 17" not 16".

 

That is actualy backwards. 250ld has a 7 lug 16" rim. 17" was not an option on ld model in that year. Only on the Off road pkg 150 did you get a 17" that model year.
Have to agree with other posts, Tires and Shocks are the way to go for a better ride.
The stiff torson bars up front make it a firm ride, by droping some tension on them might help, but then you loose ride height. For the back, new spring packs.

With Rancho 9000 shocks you can adjust ride quality to meet you needs, and the stock rt/s aren't a very good riding tire in the 245/75/16.

 

Every F250LD I have ever seen has had 17" rims.

 

I'm concerned about moving to a bigger tire, as I can't afford to raise the overall truck height too much (underground parkade). Anyone have a sense of the change in ride height with 265's or 285's?

Thx

 

I have never seen a 250 LD with 17" rims. It wasn't an option.

 

Post a pic! never seen a 250ld with a 5sp, 4.6 with a long box...

 

For tire size change
245/75/16- 30.5"
265/75/16- 31.6"
285/75/16- 32.8"
But each brand could be slightly different.

But you don't need to get a bigger tire to have a better ride.

 

get rid of the stock garbage shocks and tires!

 

I have 16" factory wheels on my 250LD. They all do. Any way, as for 4 wheelin, did some damage to mine this weekend, a little to crazy on the beach and something on my front end went. Doesn't pull to the side, but noisy as hell over any bumps. And when I come to an aggressive stop you can hear the chatter of something broken. I looked underneath, saw nothing, gonna pull the shocks this weekend, hoping I trashed those and not anything worse.

 

if your'e not going to get a suspension lift, get Edelbrocks.. they are sweet on road and off road..

feels like a basketball bounce instead of a *slam*

 

The ride is the disadvantage of the solid front axle. You can damp it to death, but it still won't ride as nice as the IFS trucks do over rough stuff. It's tough as nails though

 

The F250LD is IFS. Go with some rancho 9000s on the either the 1st or 2nd setting(softest), and get some taller and wider tires. Also has alot to do with how much air you run in them. LoL, after I took my S-10 through hell one saturday, the front end sounded like it was going to fall off. I ended up replacing the shocks, and new bushings everywhere and it solved the noise problem, and gave it a better ride Then again its a 84 model, and needed new shocks anywayz