bpimm
Brian Pimm
I've come to the conclusion it is the result of trying to meet the 'needs' of American buyers. They want a truck with a decent payload capacity, but it must also ride soft and comfortable like a car. So the makers use very soft springs and set them up really high to allow lots of sag when a load is added. Notice how the truck looks like a 'low rider' when something is in the bed. On my F150 "shop truck" I lowered the suspension all the way around (it is mildly customized), and added air bags to the rear suspension. That way I can pump up the air bags when I need to load the bed.
That may be part of it, My F350 is from the early 80's and empty the rolling 25mph speed bumps they love to litter the streets with, if hit at 25 in my truck I catch a fair amount of air and it hurts when you land, I hate it when they don't mark them... I'm also thinking of adding air to it after removing all but the main leaf in the springs, that should soften it up a bunch then I can add air to set the ride height.
I have used air in the past as well, my 76 F250 had air in the back and I loved that setup, that's why I want to try it on all four corners on the newer truck. and come up with a self leveling system so it's automatic.