I haven't driven a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup since the '80s. My trucks have been 1/2 tons or less. I test drove a recent model Chevy 3/4 ton today. It was nice but I felt every bump. I realize the extra carrying capacity requires stiffer springs but it rode stiffer than I expected. Do all modern HD trucks ride like that? My Tundra's not smooth for sure but has more compliance. The Chevy had a tire pressure monitor and the tires were at 58-60. Do people lower the tire pressure when running unladen?
What are you looking for your truck to do? Any specific jobs or tasks you have planned?
I guess we all have a different seat-o-meter to measure from so ride is pretty subjective. I've driven solid front axle (SFA) 4wd trucks all my life so to me the difference of ride is very noticeable when a truck is is un/loaded, tire psi, springs and shocks. Someone who is used to riding in cars, suvs or any luxury vehs will take a much different view of ride.
My current trucks are a 06' 5.9l Ram 2500 4wd SBQC 192k with Thuren softride springs, Fox 2.0 shocks and stock rear leaves. The other is a stock 07.5 6.7l 3500 Short Bed Mega Cab 4wd w rear overloads and Bilstein 4600s and 262k. Both trucks ride great and I'd put them against any other out there.
Trucks these days have huge differences in equipment from coils, to leaves to Independent Front Suspension (IFS) to solid front axle (SFA). Ride is subjective.
As to your question, the trucks ride different. I can feel it with just an adult passenger and weekend camping gear on board.
When unloaded I ride both trucks' tire psi at 63front/57 rear. Loaded it's 63front/6e-65rear. Rear psi unloaded DOES make a noticeable change. I Cat scale my trucks every now and then. My 06 stock was 4500 front/2700 rear. Superlight rear so any change in balance/weight is noticeable. As is the psi. Think of it like
ballast/balance/weight transfer in the tractor when you do adjustments to rear ballast, front loader weights or tire ballast. It all affects the handling. With a higher psi in the rear unloaded the truck tends to bounce around and skitter or grab tire groves. Not comfortable.
I'm a Ram/Cummins owner- always have been. There's lots of GM/DuraMax or Ford/Powerstroke owners have the same type of knowledge and driving experiences to draw from. I don't change/buy vehicles every few years. I don't have vehicle payments and I keep my vehicles for a long, long time. So, my perspective my be very different.
IMO the current/newer great riding trucks are why the work figures/expectations of trucks have decreased. If you think a modern truck rides rough, you might be disappointed in trucks altogether. My feelings are that modern trucks have gotten soft at the expense of capacity and broadening the scope of owners. This era of new trucks, of all brands, have gotten much softer than trucks of the past.
I think if you purchased a pickup truck that was right for you, and you drove around for it a while, you wouldn't even notice the ride. You just have to get acclimated, like changes in seasons.