Achieving the smoothest ride quality in any vehicle, whether a daily driver or an off-road machine, is often a priority for drivers. Several key upgrades can help enhance comfort and handling while reducing road noise and vibrations
According to last year’s SEMA Market Report, pickup trucks still represent the largest segment of vehicular sales, accounting for 32% in 2023. It also notes that specialty equipment sales grew to $52.3 billion. People certainly love upgrading their trucks!
If you want to upgrade your pickup, focusing on comfort, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, let us find out how you can get the most bang for your buck when choosing what to upgrade.
1. Consider Upgrading Suspension Components
One of the best aspects you can upgrade on is the suspension. It’s the single biggest contributor to ride quality, and a suspension that’s too hard or soft can be super frustrating. As Diesel Power Products states, there are three key principles of any suspension system. These are road isolation, road holding, and cornering.
When most people think of suspension upgrades, they think about road isolation. It deals with your vehicle’s ability to absorb shocks from bumps and uneven terrain.
You have to remember that stock suspension setups are often designed to balance comfort, durability, and load capacity. However, they can leave something to be desired, especially when driving over rough terrain or carrying heavy loads.
Thankfully, there are so many great aftermarket brands out there. You have many suspension products that are well-regarded for their high durability and range of options. Their “no fine print warranty” also makes them popular among many customers.
Similarly, you can find out if your truck’s manufacturer offers premium suspensions that you can upgrade to. Shock absorbers are the first thing you should be swapping out when it comes to upgrading diesel truck parts. These vehicles bear the brunt of rough roads, after all. Consider opting for progressive-rate springs, which allow the suspension to adapt to different driving conditions.
2. Tires: The Key Body-to-Road Contact Points of Your Truck
Many drivers overlook tires as a factor in comfort, focusing solely on tread and size. However, the type of tire you choose, its construction, and even air pressure can have a huge influence on how your truck rides. If you’re aiming for a smoother, quieter ride on paved roads, then highway terrain tires are your best bet.
They are designed to reduce road noise, excellent traction in wet conditions, and a more cushioned ride compared to all-terrain or mud-terrain tires. These tires also feature a softer sidewall, which absorbs bumps more effectively, making daily driving more comfortable.
For those who regularly drive off-road or on uneven surfaces, AT tires are a better compromise. This is because they offer better grip on gravel, dirt, and other off-road conditions. The trade-off is that they can be noisier and stiffer on paved roads, but selecting premium brands can mitigate some of these downsides.
Similarly, many truck owners don’t realize that simply adjusting tire pressure to the optimal level recommended can significantly improve ride quality.
According to Forbes, tire pressure monitoring systems usually alert you only when pressure drops 25% below the default setting. Underinflation is an easy oversight and can lead to a 2% loss of mileage per five PSI that your tire is lacking.
3. Steering and Alignment Adjustments for a Smoother Experience
While suspension and tires make up the bulk of a comfortable ride, steering and alignment adjustments are often the unsung heroes of ride quality. Even the best suspension setup won’t deliver the smooth ride you’re after if your truck’s steering system isn’t finely tuned.
A steering stabilizer or damper can make a world of difference, especially in trucks with larger tires or those used frequently in off-road conditions. Steering dampers reduce vibrations and shocks that can travel up through the steering column, offering a more controlled, less fatiguing driving experience.
This upgrade can be particularly useful for mitigating “death wobble,” a notorious problem that is known to affect pickup trucks and SUVs. In fact, Jeep had to settle lawsuits due to over 192,000 owners noticing the issue on their vehicles. A part of the settlement also included extending manufacturer warranties up to 90,000 miles or eight years from the vehicle’s first use date.
Another important upgrade is to consider adjustable control arms. These allow for fine-tuning of the truck’s camber, caster, and toe alignment. Poor alignment can cause your truck to pull to one side, make steering feel “twitchy,” and affect ride quality.
Lastly, stock bushings are typically made from rubber, which can wear out over time and lead to a rougher ride. Upgrading to polyurethane or high-performance bushings provides better durability and can reduce the vibrations and noises that make for a harsher driving experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does 4X4 suspension work?
4X4 suspension distributes power to all four wheels. This improves traction and stability on rough terrain. It also uses a combination of shocks, springs, and control arms to absorb bumps while allowing each wheel to move independently. The end result is better off-road handling and ride comfort.
2. Why do some pickup trucks have 6 tires?
Some pickup trucks have six tires, known as dual trucks. The extra wheels exist for enhanced weight distribution and stability. You will often see this setup for towing heavy loads because the extra tires provide more grip and reduce wear on each tire.
3. What are the 3 main adjustments when performing a front-end alignment?
The three main adjustments in front-end alignment are camber (tilt of the tires), caster (angle of steering pivot), and toe (direction of tire point). These adjustments ensure proper tire wear and vehicle handling.
All things considered, most people don’t have issues with pickup trucks, particularly new ones. However, these are machines that endure for a while, and over the years, you may start to feel the ride quality degrading. If you work your truck in harsh conditions, this becomes even more likely.
The tips given above will ensure that if and when that happens, you know what to look at.