does anyone else have issues going over shitty roads? In the midwest our roads are trash and super bumpy and rough. Going over some of those bumps causes the truck to sometimes "dance" or "skate" , basically feels like the whole truck twists. IDK its hard to explain. Mine is a 93

 

In Rangers the rear springs are rated for 1,000lbs over the bed's empty weight, i.e. 1/2 ton rating
This will cause rear to be too stiff with empty bed so it rides "stiff" and will also "skate" on washboard roads because tires are coming off the road

Same can happen in the front if newer higher weight rated springs are used, 1998 and up, Ranger 4x4s used torsion bar springs in the front, people would "crank them" to raise the front of the truck, cranking them changes the weight rating, that's WHY the front of the truck goes up, so you get a stiffer ride

Tires are the first things that hit bumps, so tire's air pressure matters, sometimes it better to run lower pressure to let the tire's sidewalls absorb smaller bumps, this is a judgement call, for your area and your driving conditions, they are YOUR tires, tire makers and Fords recommended tire pressure is an average for ALL VEHICLES in ALL AREAS

Shocks can matter as well, they don't support any weight, but they can prevent a spring from doing its job if the shock is "too stiff"
If you remove the shocks on one axle and then bounce on that end of vehicle, it should bounce easily, if its still stiff then the springs are the problem not the shocks

 

Ok well early this year i had new springs, new shocks on the front. KYB gas-adjust. I put new shocks on the rear too. Original springs on the rear. Tire pressures are around 34 psi. So maybe if i load up some bricks in the bed it would smooth out the ride?

 

This time of year I would use smaller size sand bags for extra weight, put them over the axle not at the rear, if rear gets too heavy it can throw you sideways on a slippery corner
And sand can be useful in winter to get unstuck in a slippery area :)

I would see how 28psi works, or even 24psi
If you are doing a highway trip, smooth roads, refill to 32psi

 

couldnt i just put a fat chick back there instead

 

I have a sand bag to the front and rear of each wheel well (1 in each corner of the bed approx 200 lb total). It has smoothed out my ride a lot. 2004 2wd standard cab 2.3.

 

No, they tend to move around

 

You also have to feed them.