New-to-me 2019: big bounces on concrete highway

[aileron]

I bought a 2019 Raptor from Carmax a week or so ago. Its in-service date was October 2019 - someone put 26,000 miles on it in just over a year of ownership (during the pandemic in California, no less).

I had a surprising moment this morning driving on a concrete highway section near my house - the concrete slabs set up a recurring bounce / oscillation in the entire truck, as if it were an old Buick with the shocks completely blown out. The truck was gently but dramatically bouncing up and down, with maybe 1.5 seconds per "cycle".

I was going approximately 70 mph. It only ended when the concrete section ran out (it is only a few hundred feet long). No load in the bed other than a Leer roll cover.

In other driving the shocks seem to be okay, including on concrete highways and other surfaces throughout the Bay Area. In general it isn't that bouncy - this particular pattern in this particular road (actually an extended interchange / overpass) just seemed to trigger it somehow. Is this "normal" or should I be thinking about rebuilding the shocks already? I don't really know what's normal for a Raptor - I had a 2018 F150 FX4 and a Wrangler Rubicon before, so I'm kind of used to trucks in general, but the Raptor is new to me.

The truck looks in good condition overall - no leaking from the shocks - and while it was a little dusty I didn't see anything on the underside that looked like they had done any serious off-roading.

I'm going to bring it to the local Ford dealer in a few days to check it over but I'm not holding out much hope that they know what they're doing.

Anything I can do to check the shocks? They do firm up noticeably when I put it in Sport mode.

 

[GordoJay]

That happens on concrete highways when the sections aren't all flat, some tilted one way, the next another. It's a sign of low-quality construction. We have quite a bit of it in Colorado. I can feel it in my 2020. It was literally like holding onto a jackhammer in my old Dodge. I can't tell from your description exactly how bad it is and how much you should worry, but if it's only that one section of road, you're likely golden.

 

[Oldfart]

I've never had it happen to me, but I've seen other guys post pretty much the same description when they were on the perfect wrong piece of highway.

 

[HOLLYWOOD 1]

Welcome. You could try 1 free one, and 1 kind of expensive one. The free one is check your air pressure, try it down about 32 psi or so and adjust. The expensive one is buying Deavers and a set of traction bars. You will definitely stay planted.

 

[GCATX]

Air down your tires, as mentioned, and drive it for another week and see what you think. Dealer is last resort.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Welcome to the place. I've had the same thing happen when my Gen 1 was new when I was driving on the 10 hwy outside of LA, thought something was broke, I've travelled on the same road several times with deavers on and don't have the problem anymore. But definitely lower your air pressure as @HOLLYWOOD 1 said.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

which highway?

 

[tooloud10]

I noticed the same thing on my '19 when I test drove it on I-43 in Wisconsin. It almost nauseated my wife and I and stopped us from buying the truck. Other than that, it was optioned perfectly and the right color (Performance Blue) so I chalked it up to incorrect tire pressure (it actually wasn't) and chanced it because the price was great and it was still under warranty. I've now determined that it's almost an anomaly and has rarely happened since. I actually told the sales guy that I wouldn't have people test drive Raptors on that section of road any more.

The '17 I test drove previous to mine seemed to ride softer and more predictably.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I’m not a lot of help after coming from two different Ram HD Trucks (2004 with a Kore Suspension and a 2012 Power Wagon), but I agree to check the air pressure in the tires. That might be a good start.

 

[Joey DeLorenzo]

I feel your pain with bad roads, but, I will say, there is a stretch of JTB in Jacksonville, near A1A, that in EVERY vehicle I've ever been in but the Raptor it's up/down central, as if you're riding on roller coaster with micro hills. It's hardly noticeable in the Raptor, so much so I thought they fixed the highway. Took the girlfriends Terrain to the beach the next and nearly spilled my drink. The suspension in this truck is pretty darn good.