New tires!

[DPelletier]

I hope to find out. I also have a heavy slide-in camper. They are load rated - 3415# ea.

I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade, but they won't be great with a large slide-in. The load ratings are nice, but they aren't the important issue; sway is the issue with a large slide-in esp. on a SRW truck. Three things affect sway as far as tires are concerned;

- 1) Sidewall stiffness

- 2) Sidewall height

- 3) Air pressure (stock load range E's are good for 80 psi)



Tall, soft tires aired up to a max of 65psi just aren't going to be wonderful for handling with a large top-heavy slide-in camper. Hopefully the tires will work OK for you, I just don't want someone to spend major $'s on new tires and be disappointed because the load rating was acceptable.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[PKnoerzer]

I just loaded up my camper to take it out and empty the tanks for winter. It drives better with the Nitto's. No noticible sway - of course the IPD anti-sway bar does wonders. The larger footprint seems to help.

 

[Task125]

I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade, but they won't be great with a large slide-in. The load ratings are nice, but they aren't the important issue; sway is the issue with a large slide-in esp. on a SRW truck. Three things affect sway as far as tires are concerned;

- 1) Sidewall stiffness

- 2) Sidewall height

- 3) Air pressure (stock load range E's are good for 80 psi)



Tall, soft tires aired up to a max of 65psi just aren't going to be wonderful for handling with a large top-heavy slide-in camper. Hopefully the tires will work OK for you, I just don't want someone to spend major $'s on new tires and be disappointed because the load rating was acceptable.



Cheers,

Dave

sounds like you need ricksons,I just happen to have a set for sale

 

[DPelletier]

It drives better with the Nitto's. No noticible sway - of course the IPD anti-sway bar does wonders. The larger footprint seems to help.

Better than what? Did you have the BFG AT 315 load range D tires on previously or?



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

sounds like you need ricksons,I just happen to have a set for sale

Thanks anyway; I bought a dually. Your right though, the Ricksons are good for heavy slide-ins because the 19. 5" tires are usually load range G or H and they are stiff and can take more air pressure (120lbs?). Like anything, there is a trade-off; the 19. 5's wouldn't be good offroad and the ride would suffer some. Why are you selling them? FWIW ride is way secondary to sway and handling for me.



Dave

 

[PKnoerzer]

The offer on the Ricksons was probably for me. I thought of them but I didn't want the stiff ride. I had the stock 265/70R-17 Rugged Trail BFG's on it before. I'm happy with the handling and ride of the Nittos - empty or loaded.

 

[Task125]

Just kidding with you I took a deposit on the ricksons today.

I bought them because I thought I would trailer my boat more, boat alone 7500lbs

Now I want to run 315s or around there. that should work on the highway better with 410s. and I like the look with leveling kit and 1in add a leaf in rear

 

[ClintWilliams]

Keep us posted on how the tires work out. I have a camper and would like to have more carrying capacity and would also like to reduce low speed sway.

 

[DPelletier]

Keep us posted on how the tires work out. I have a camper and would like to have more carrying capacity and would also like to reduce low speed sway.

If you truly want to reduce sway, you need to stick with load range E tires and air them up to 80 psi.



Dave

 

[ClintWilliams]

I do run the tires at 80 lbs and I have the factory BFGs load range E. It is stable on the freeway and passing trucks but low speed bumps and gutters cause more sway than I would like. But the camper is tall and I may just have to live with the sway. I'd like more carrying capacity on the tires for peace of mind. Have thought about Ricksons but don't really want the weight of steel wheels and the aluminum wheels don't have the correct offset.

 

[PKnoerzer]

My rancho 9000 shocks set on 9 help a little with the low speed sway, but the IPD sway bar made the most difference. I don't think Rickson's would help with that because it is the suspension giving. The Ricksons would definitely be better for stability on the the highway and for insurance against blowouts.

 

[DPelletier]

I would agree, if you already have the tires at 80psi, the sway you're feeling is mostly suspension. The Ranchos will help some as would the sway bar. The most noticable difference on mine was when I replaced the factory overloads with a custom 5 leaf overload pack. Timbrens would also work.



Dave

 

[ClintWilliams]

Thanks for the advice. I set my Ranchos on 9 with the camper, and it seems better with just enough air in the air bags to level it (passeger's side is heavier) and yet still just touch the overloads. In fact it seems to do better when the water tank is full so I suspect it is related to the center of gravity of the tall camper (not the balance point of the camper relative to the rear axle). I appreciate the suggestions and will look into a IPD stabilizer bar as the posts on Helwigs report problems with it.

 

[Sled Dog]

Two extra mpg's, sounds pretty good.

 

[DPelletier]

Thanks for the advice. I set my Ranchos on 9 with the camper, and it seems better with just enough air in the air bags to level it (passeger's side is heavier) and yet still just touch the overloads. In fact it seems to do better when the water tank is full so I suspect it is related to the center of gravity of the tall camper (not the balance point of the camper relative to the rear axle). I appreciate the suggestions and will look into a IPD stabilizer bar as the posts on Helwigs report problems with it.

Actually, it handles better with the full water tank because the overload springs are engaged, not because the centre of gravity is an 1" lower. Keeping the air bag pressure low to allow the overloads to engage is a good idea. Air bags are useful for leveling the truck; they don't do much for sway control.



Dave