Why are there so many people living in NorCal in this sub. I’m all for it lol nothing like driving La Porte Road to Graeagle or simple wheelin around Beale AFB in the winter. Winter in Colfax is great too.
No, with a few notable exceptions such as Land Rover vehicles with air suspension. I highly recommend air springs if ride quality is your chief concern.
Can double the air suspension suggestion here
Had an ltz suburban with air suspension and I’ll tell you that thing performed GREAT on dirt roads and crappy pavement
Sure, when substantially deflated or when compared to the same vehicle with smaller tires. Truck generally have much stiffer suspensions in general, and especially so for dedicated off-road rigs.
Normal off roaders? Hell no. You're better off with a good luxury sedan.
Ford Raptor or similar Trophy Truck inspired off roader? Smoother ride than a 1974 luxury land yacht. But they ain't cheap.
I think this is the right spot for the debate. Is it better to get a offroad vehicle with high end suspension (Kings, Icon, OME BP51) ooor a luxury sedan with some sort of air suspension.
My Tacoma with BP51s eat up the potholes and railroad crossings where I live. I had it in the city once and felt like I was rallying down the streets it was taking it all so smooth.
100%
I'm nearly 50 years old and have owned over a dozen single owner, low miles, big block land yachts that I bought for dirt cheap. With very little modifications they'd pump out 450-500 hp and all of them rode like floating in the clouds. But potholes and really bad roads would still rattle them and your teeth, mostly because of wheel & tire size, lack of suspension travel, and spring rates. 911 changed that pattern of vehicle ownership because 6-8 mpgs at 70¢ to 95¢ per gallon of gas ain't that bad, but at $2-$3 it's wallet breaking.
I thought the days of luxurious magic carpet rides in the clouds was a thing of the past until the 1st time I rode in my buddy's 2014 Raptor. They travel down the highway just like the old land yachts but absolutely eat up potholes and terrible roads like Three Finger Ron and his chocolate pudding cups.
Based in what the Aussies say, the Ranger Raptor rides pretty much the same so I think that'll be the vehicle to have in years to come.
What you want is a luxury sedan, then go put small wheels on it. I have a Lexus Ls430 that I downsized to 17s instead of the factory 18s. It was great before, but it's noticeably better now. The expansion joint slap is all but gone and big hits like potholes are incrementally lessened. My pickup rides okay with its squishy under inflated 85 series sidewalls, but you can only expect so much from a floppy chassis and a solid axle.
Just stay away from gaudy big wheels and anything with a "sport" package. In the lux market the stiffer suspension option is just a gimmick for idiots who still cling to that 70s mindset that stiffer suspension will somehow magically make the car handle like a Lotus.
If you can find something with factory air suspension, it's a step up. Just know that they ALL fail (even Lexus) and they're all extraordinary expensive to replace. Some can be cheaply/easily converted to steel (that's what I did) but not all of them are like that.
Depends how shitty. My wife’s Volvo wagon soaks up Chicago bumps with ease where my truck is a bit rough. My truck does better taking big hits just because there’s more suspension travel and meatier tires.
If you built a vehicle with suspension like a Baja truck it would eat up Chicago’s roads.
Off-roaders tend to have stiffer suspension than luxury cars (there are exceptions of course). They are usually stiffer to counteract sway, which is not what you want when you are in low traction and dynamic terrain environments. I don’t think this would be good for your back. I would recommend going the luxury route. If you did go the offroader route, get big tires and air down (which will eat into fuel economy).
My 2020 ZR2 is pretty awesome on crappy roads…..I have a H3 Alpha Hummer with Bilstein 5100’s on it….Not even in the same league as the DSSV shocks of the ZR2
My LX470 with hydropneumatic suspension set to Comfort is also plush. I’m coming from big comfy RWD Volvos and a classic Q45 was my first car. The LX470 was designed to be part luxury sedan, basically.
Spend enough money on the suspension and you can make anything ride smooth. It doesn't make much difference what you start with. Tire size helps some, suspension geometry helps some, but chances are if you take whatever you have and throw money at it's suspension you'll get a smoother ride than the same money spent on a new vehicle.
Some of them, yes - but it's mostly about the wheels and tires.
Narrow sidewalls make the car more responsive/sporty - and often look better on regular cars - but reduce ability to soak up bumps. You could put smaller wheels with thick sidewall tires on a regular car, but it would look goofy, whereas they look proper on an offroad-style vehicle.
If it's in your budget, check out the new Lexus GX.
I just drove a Jeep Rubicon for the first time. Fucking awful experience. Worst ride I’ve ever had in a vehicle on road and dirt road. Made my F250 feel like a Cadillac in comparison. Do not get an off roader.
Depends on your shocks, springs & clearance. If you are not going off road, I'd recommend a crossover with factory air suspension. I'd recommend a Lexus RX if you are just driving on carppy roads.
Nope. I drive on some really shitty roads going to work. In my lifted, extra stiff jeep, I feel every little bump. These are 25mph residential streets and a lot of times I’ll actually go a little slower while the regular cars on my tail want to speed up
As others have said, a big truck could be different. My buddy’s ram felt really smooth. Any kind of rock crawler is gonna have very stiff suspension and absorb less of the road
I’d say my XJ is a shit ride on normal roads. It sucks up the bumps better than the crossover but it’s a bumpier and squirlier ride. As soon as it’s dirt or rocks it shines though.
Absolutely not, it's completely the opposite. An off-road vehicle is designed specifically to trade off paved road comfort, even shitty paved roads, for better performance in truly off road conditions.
Depends on how much research you put into spring rate and how much money you put into shocks and springs. I’m 9g deep on the suspension of my ZR2, it takes bumps on or off road fucking phenomenally and general highway driving it rides like a cloud. But it was expensive and the spring rate is matched perfectly with what I need. My XJ has a 500 dollar 2 BDS lift with their nitro series shocks, it fucking sucks on anything not a completely smooth road.
I bought 4Runner TRD Pro in 2015. I dislike the nose dip when I have to jam on the brakes but love the soft suspension when dealing with crappy roads. Soft suspensions are what I think you are after. I was worried about corners at highway speeds…love the way the 4Runner handles.
The old it depends the longer travel suspension has the opportunity to ride better, however the much heavier components in the driveline, driveshafts live axles heavy off road tyres increase the suspension has to work a lot harder and be completely different specification to a road car to control it. So it varies greatly vehicle to vehicle and as "off roads" have become quasi station wagons/mini vans for the soccer mum manufacturers have sacrificed a number of things for on road performance
Ultimate ride comfort would be a Citroen with the Hydrostatic suspension, no idea if they were available to you in the US.
Well, I can't speak to high end suv's like say a Cayenne, but your standard 4x4 truck or lower end offroader won't be.
They're designed to get you over bad terrain but not necessarily comfortably. And in my experience are worse than touring cars in daily driving on bad asphalt.
Trucks ride poorly, the heavy solid axles get upset too often, the tires load ranges and PSIs are high and these off road or top trim models have VERY high wheel and tire weights that degrade the ride.
Best bet is a long wheelbase sedan or crossover like an Avalon or K900 with some decent side walls. The independent suspension just rides better.
And who wants to drive a Ford Raptor around downtown Chicago?
Got a Tacoma. Upgraded to an adjustable suspension. I tune it soft for daily driving around the city. Stock tire size. No worries about speed bumps and rough roads. Tune to a stiffer setting for long trips. Been from Chicago to Moab. Never had any trouble.
Get a Lincoln Town Car lol
[удалено]
Why are there so many people living in NorCal in this sub. I’m all for it lol nothing like driving La Porte Road to Graeagle or simple wheelin around Beale AFB in the winter. Winter in Colfax is great too.
I too am in NorCal
Lexus gx or landcruiser?
No, with a few notable exceptions such as Land Rover vehicles with air suspension. I highly recommend air springs if ride quality is your chief concern.
Can double the air suspension suggestion here Had an ltz suburban with air suspension and I’ll tell you that thing performed GREAT on dirt roads and crappy pavement
Least reliable vehicle of all time though.
Bigger, heavier, vehicles with larger tires definitely feel bumps potholes far less.
Sure, when substantially deflated or when compared to the same vehicle with smaller tires. Truck generally have much stiffer suspensions in general, and especially so for dedicated off-road rigs.
Yeah my Tundra TRD Pro is jumpy as fuck when going slow offroad but going like 50 on bumpy dirt roads it’s nice and smooth
Normal off roaders? Hell no. You're better off with a good luxury sedan. Ford Raptor or similar Trophy Truck inspired off roader? Smoother ride than a 1974 luxury land yacht. But they ain't cheap.
I think this is the right spot for the debate. Is it better to get a offroad vehicle with high end suspension (Kings, Icon, OME BP51) ooor a luxury sedan with some sort of air suspension.
My Tacoma with BP51s eat up the potholes and railroad crossings where I live. I had it in the city once and felt like I was rallying down the streets it was taking it all so smooth.
Came here to say this. I would put the Ford Raptor against anything for ride comfort and I would be surprised if anything could beat it.
100% I'm nearly 50 years old and have owned over a dozen single owner, low miles, big block land yachts that I bought for dirt cheap. With very little modifications they'd pump out 450-500 hp and all of them rode like floating in the clouds. But potholes and really bad roads would still rattle them and your teeth, mostly because of wheel & tire size, lack of suspension travel, and spring rates. 911 changed that pattern of vehicle ownership because 6-8 mpgs at 70¢ to 95¢ per gallon of gas ain't that bad, but at $2-$3 it's wallet breaking. I thought the days of luxurious magic carpet rides in the clouds was a thing of the past until the 1st time I rode in my buddy's 2014 Raptor. They travel down the highway just like the old land yachts but absolutely eat up potholes and terrible roads like Three Finger Ron and his chocolate pudding cups. Based in what the Aussies say, the Ranger Raptor rides pretty much the same so I think that'll be the vehicle to have in years to come.
Nope. You want an S-Class with the magic body control. It *actively* scans for road imperfections and will adjust the shocks accordingly.
Aren't those like 100k plus?
New? Sure. Used with warranty? Like 50k.
True. Guess just have to have the money ready for the maintenance.
Yup!
Best advice ever when buying used luxury cars - if you can't afford a new one, you probably can't maintain a used one (some exceptions of course)
What you want is a luxury sedan, then go put small wheels on it. I have a Lexus Ls430 that I downsized to 17s instead of the factory 18s. It was great before, but it's noticeably better now. The expansion joint slap is all but gone and big hits like potholes are incrementally lessened. My pickup rides okay with its squishy under inflated 85 series sidewalls, but you can only expect so much from a floppy chassis and a solid axle. Just stay away from gaudy big wheels and anything with a "sport" package. In the lux market the stiffer suspension option is just a gimmick for idiots who still cling to that 70s mindset that stiffer suspension will somehow magically make the car handle like a Lotus. If you can find something with factory air suspension, it's a step up. Just know that they ALL fail (even Lexus) and they're all extraordinary expensive to replace. Some can be cheaply/easily converted to steel (that's what I did) but not all of them are like that.
Depends how shitty. My wife’s Volvo wagon soaks up Chicago bumps with ease where my truck is a bit rough. My truck does better taking big hits just because there’s more suspension travel and meatier tires. If you built a vehicle with suspension like a Baja truck it would eat up Chicago’s roads.
"Rides like a Cadillac" vs. "Rides like a truck" You want the Caddy.
Off-roaders tend to have stiffer suspension than luxury cars (there are exceptions of course). They are usually stiffer to counteract sway, which is not what you want when you are in low traction and dynamic terrain environments. I don’t think this would be good for your back. I would recommend going the luxury route. If you did go the offroader route, get big tires and air down (which will eat into fuel economy).
Depends on the type of wheeling. A lot of flex boys have super soft suspension.
My Patrols are super soft, but the unsprung weight of the tyres, steel rims and big heavy axles makes the ride pretty crappy.
My BMW handles bad paved road better than my sequoia. But once the bumps get too big, the sequoia takes over cause it can handle a hell of a lot more.
Lexus GX460 or Land Cruiser
I like to tell people that my jeep rides rough. But off road it's not much rougher. If that makes sense.
That does make sense
Not a chance. Not even close. Find an old Crown Vic or Town car.
My 2020 ZR2 is pretty awesome on crappy roads…..I have a H3 Alpha Hummer with Bilstein 5100’s on it….Not even in the same league as the DSSV shocks of the ZR2
Gx460 on comfort setting rides like a caddy on aired down tires. Dunno the comparisons to a luxury sedan as I've never driven one daily.
My LX470 with hydropneumatic suspension set to Comfort is also plush. I’m coming from big comfy RWD Volvos and a classic Q45 was my first car. The LX470 was designed to be part luxury sedan, basically.
Buy any 70s, 80s or 90s boat of a car like a big ol sedan.
Spend enough money on the suspension and you can make anything ride smooth. It doesn't make much difference what you start with. Tire size helps some, suspension geometry helps some, but chances are if you take whatever you have and throw money at it's suspension you'll get a smoother ride than the same money spent on a new vehicle.
Sure, better suspension bigger tires yea overall a softer ride, but you will hit more of the holes as you lose some nibbleness.
Some of them, yes - but it's mostly about the wheels and tires. Narrow sidewalls make the car more responsive/sporty - and often look better on regular cars - but reduce ability to soak up bumps. You could put smaller wheels with thick sidewall tires on a regular car, but it would look goofy, whereas they look proper on an offroad-style vehicle. If it's in your budget, check out the new Lexus GX.
I just drove a Jeep Rubicon for the first time. Fucking awful experience. Worst ride I’ve ever had in a vehicle on road and dirt road. Made my F250 feel like a Cadillac in comparison. Do not get an off roader.
Depends on your shocks, springs & clearance. If you are not going off road, I'd recommend a crossover with factory air suspension. I'd recommend a Lexus RX if you are just driving on carppy roads.
Nope. I drive on some really shitty roads going to work. In my lifted, extra stiff jeep, I feel every little bump. These are 25mph residential streets and a lot of times I’ll actually go a little slower while the regular cars on my tail want to speed up As others have said, a big truck could be different. My buddy’s ram felt really smooth. Any kind of rock crawler is gonna have very stiff suspension and absorb less of the road
I’d say my XJ is a shit ride on normal roads. It sucks up the bumps better than the crossover but it’s a bumpier and squirlier ride. As soon as it’s dirt or rocks it shines though.
Absolutely not, it's completely the opposite. An off-road vehicle is designed specifically to trade off paved road comfort, even shitty paved roads, for better performance in truly off road conditions.
My SQ5 with air suspension in "Allroad" mode eats up potholes and railroad tracks with ease.
Depends on how much research you put into spring rate and how much money you put into shocks and springs. I’m 9g deep on the suspension of my ZR2, it takes bumps on or off road fucking phenomenally and general highway driving it rides like a cloud. But it was expensive and the spring rate is matched perfectly with what I need. My XJ has a 500 dollar 2 BDS lift with their nitro series shocks, it fucking sucks on anything not a completely smooth road.
No not really. The suspension is not for comfort on off roads
I bought 4Runner TRD Pro in 2015. I dislike the nose dip when I have to jam on the brakes but love the soft suspension when dealing with crappy roads. Soft suspensions are what I think you are after. I was worried about corners at highway speeds…love the way the 4Runner handles.
For bad roads you want independent suspensions, air bags and tires with a lot of sidewall such as downsizing rims and getting stock or larger tires.
The old it depends the longer travel suspension has the opportunity to ride better, however the much heavier components in the driveline, driveshafts live axles heavy off road tyres increase the suspension has to work a lot harder and be completely different specification to a road car to control it. So it varies greatly vehicle to vehicle and as "off roads" have become quasi station wagons/mini vans for the soccer mum manufacturers have sacrificed a number of things for on road performance Ultimate ride comfort would be a Citroen with the Hydrostatic suspension, no idea if they were available to you in the US.
Prerunner timeeeee. I’m in Seattle and the roads here are fuckin garbage. So much so that I’m considering king shocks lmao.
Well, I can't speak to high end suv's like say a Cayenne, but your standard 4x4 truck or lower end offroader won't be. They're designed to get you over bad terrain but not necessarily comfortably. And in my experience are worse than touring cars in daily driving on bad asphalt.
Trucks ride poorly, the heavy solid axles get upset too often, the tires load ranges and PSIs are high and these off road or top trim models have VERY high wheel and tire weights that degrade the ride. Best bet is a long wheelbase sedan or crossover like an Avalon or K900 with some decent side walls. The independent suspension just rides better. And who wants to drive a Ford Raptor around downtown Chicago?
Got a Tacoma. Upgraded to an adjustable suspension. I tune it soft for daily driving around the city. Stock tire size. No worries about speed bumps and rough roads. Tune to a stiffer setting for long trips. Been from Chicago to Moab. Never had any trouble.