Tire Questions now that I weighed my rig

[Jrork]

At the risk of double posting, I forgot about the towing/hauling forum.



Nutz, I weighed my setup and found 4200lbs on the front and 6700lbs on the rear fully loaded and wet with full tanks of fuel in the truck and camper and my wife and I both in the truck.

The truck drives fantastic and realize that I'm overweight but given that we only go on weekend trips, I'm not that concerned and will modify the truck as needed.



My issue is the tires. I have almost brandnew Toyo 265/75/16s mounted on the factory steel wheels. These are load range E and are good for 3415lbs a peice. Clearly I am at the limit of the tire rating.



So..... I would really appreciate some real world experiance.



Options...



Option 1

Run the Toyos for a limited time and watch temps with my heat gun to get some readings. So far, driving it on the freeway hasnt gotten them hot.



Option 2

See if I can fit some 285/75/16E that have a load rating of 3700lbs a peice. This may or may not work with the stock wheel and I would appreciate any thoughts.





Option 3

Stockton wheels for the back with a heavier duty tire





Option 4

A 19. 5 wheel and some big boy tires to use when we are hauling the camper and run the stock wheels and my existing tires when we're not hauling.





Whatcha think guys? I clearly don't want an awschucks but at the same time, I wonder how many of these rigs I see on the road actually know their weight and if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill.



Thanks a bunch... ... john



PS, it's a 9. 9' camper

 

[macdaddy]

It's good to see that someone is actually weighing their rig. Since you have already bought the set up, youd be smart to go to a 19. 5 tire with a F, G,or even an H rating. Only problem is the harsh ride when empty, and the rear axel remains overloaded. Camper salesmen should be all over this problem but is generally ignored.





More people should be doing this.



Mac

 

[Jrork]

Thanks Mac. I'm seriously considering some Vision 19. 5 rims with some 225s but I'll be honest, the piggybank is pretty empty at the moment. If I can enjoy it a few times this summer before I pull the trigger on the new tire/wheel combo I would be thrilled.



The Camper brochure and the Saleman both said this camper was good for SRW trucks. I wonder how many folks don't know what their tires are rated for or how much weight is on the rear axle?



I will watch my rear axle but I'm not as concerned with it as the tires. Dana80





Thanks again..... john

 

[Beast2B]

i think there is enough of a fudge factor built in to factory and govt specs that you are fine. I would agree you'll want to watch the tires and keep the pressures maxed when loaded (maybe even fill up your fresh water when you get close to your destination), but i wouldn't sweat it at all.

As far as the 285s on the stock steel wheels I wouldn't do it. The 285 Toyo specs show a wheel width range of 7. 5"-9. 0" and with a narower wheel you will get some sidewall sway. Maybe get a set of the factory forged aluminum 8" wheels for the 285s.

 

[macdaddy]

JR



I didnt know you had the Model 80. The dana Model is an excellent load bearing unit which... If I had to carry a slide in would be the one I want.



Also consider an exhaust break, along with some sort of beefed up brake system such as EBC, or EGR. Having these items id be comfortable with the rig.



Mac

 

[RVTRKN]

What are the axle ratings/weights on your drivers door?

 

[Jrork]

What are the axle ratings/weights on your drivers door?

I'm at work but I recall years ago when I bought it that it was rated higher than the 1 ton dually Chev that I just sold.



A quick search on Dodgeram.com for rear axles rating shows a 2500 Dana 80, with manual transmission and quad cab at 6800lbs and the 3500 at 7500lbs.



With the air bags, swaybar and adjustable shocks it really drives pretty nice (long time Combination/CDL holder) given the change of the center of gravity and added weight.



Thanks again... ... . john



Completely agree on the upgrade to a exhaust brake and I'll also look into the EBC setup. I'm not familiar with them but I do have some Hawks from Genos and have been very happy with them.



Thanks for the tip on the wheel width issue and the stock wheels.

 

[RVTRKN]

You need to refer to your axle ratings on the drivers door because that is what a trooper would go by. I strongly recommend you do not drive it over those ratings, the legal implications and safty issues are too great. There is a Thread in the "Towing and Hauling Forum" pertaining to personal responsibility and the law on this subject. But that being said, it looks to me your within the ratings that you have posted. If it is #6800 in the rear you are safe by #100, thats with your gear and tanks full.

 

[EricBu12]

Jrork,



John, You are on the right path to get 19. 5 tires. . All you need is F rated 12 plys which is what I have,. . I have Michelin 245/ 70R 19. 5" Which is like a 285-16" tire in diameter but skinnier... A 225/70R-19. 5" tire will hold the weight just as well and roll better. . It is better to get a set so the fronts will roll better as well and get you better mileage.



There are several 8 lug 19. 5 Rims out there. . Mine Are Ricksons. . I bought the rims, then went to a truck michelin dealer and had them ordered and installed. .



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This is comparing my old 265-16" tire sitting loose to the new 19. 5 tire and rim on the truck



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I tow a 36' Toyhauler and these tires do the job just fine. . I Have about the same weight on the bed of the truck as you.



Also a note on tires for the Trailer. . If you are looking to get 16" tires on them, get the BF Goodrich T/A Commercial. E rated... Run very good on my 3 axle trailer.

 

[Jrork]

What a beautiful truck Eric!!! Thanks for the reply. I think I am going to go with some 225x19. 5s given mine is just a 2 wheel drive. Just have to save some pennys first

 

[Loren]

Nutz, I weighed my setup and found 4200lbs on the front and 6700lbs on the rear fully loaded and wet with full tanks of fuel in the truck and camper and my wife and I both in the truck.

...

My issue is the tires. I have almost brand new Toyo 265/75/16s mounted on the factory steel wheels. These are load range E and are good for 3415lbs a peice. Clearly I am at the limit of the tire rating.

John,



I agree with Galen.



Here’s a motto: “If the minimum weren’t good enough, it wouldn’t be the minimum. ”



I guarantee that if Toyo says their tires can carry 3415 lbs each, then they can do that all day long for years. You are 100 lbs. under the maximum load allowed by Toyo.



Having said that, you absolutely MUST maintain the tire pressure at the maximum listed on the sidewall. This pressure must be measured when the tires are cold. Never let air out of a hot tire to bring the pressure down.



I would drive on those tires until they are worn out and THEN think about getting something with a higher load rating.



I liked my Rickson 19. 5" wheels while I had them, but the tires are very expensive when they wear out. Mine didn’t wear any longer than the factory Michelins my 2000 model year truck came with.



Good luck.

 

[Jrork]

Thanks Loren. Yup, my wife took it on a trip and I checked the tires constantly and they never felt much warmer than normal. Drove in some brutal sidewinds in Eastern Washington and seeing how the truckers were slowing down to 50 or so and didnt have a bit of trouble. I ran 80 lbs in the tire and 75 in the air bags with my Ranchos set on 7.

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks Loren. Yup, my wife took it on a trip and I checked the tires constantly and they never felt much warmer than normal. Drove in some brutal sidewinds in Eastern Washington and seeing how the truckers were slowing down to 50 or so and didnt have a bit of trouble. I ran 80 lbs in the tire and 75 in the air bags with my Ranchos set on 7.

What brand and size camper do you have. Folks do have a tendency to put too much camper for the truck.



I had a 11' 3" Lance slide in camper, which according to RV Consumer Group Guide was too much for my 3500 DRW, 4WD. They recommended a class IV truck, which is a 4500 DRW.

 

[RBridenbaugh]

John --



In a way I'm lucky, as I have a dually, so I don't have to deal with the tire load rating issue. There are several things you can do to move the center of gravity of your TC forward and give your rear tires more slack.



The bump stops on my TC are gone, so I had a 2x6 at the front of the bed acting as a stop. I recently changed it to a 2x2 and those several inches moved more than 120lbs of weight the front axle.



As others have said, running with only some water will help, depending on where your tank is.



If you are running AGM batteries, moving them inside and forward will move more weight off the rear axle and also give you more useful Ah capacity, if you winter camp, as the batteries will be warm.



If you have a built in generator, here is an excuse to dump a noisy, heavy, propane guzzling Onan for a single or pair of quiet and lighter Hondas. All you lose is the convenience of electric start. Carry them forward in the TC or in the truck, if you have a crew or quad cab.



For reference my fully loaded TC, the fueled up truck and us weigh in at 11,920 with a GVWR of 12,200. More important are the axle ratings. I'm at 4,640 on the front with a GAFWR of 5,200 and 7,280 on the rear with a GARWR of 9,350.

 

[Jrork]

Well, here's an update.



We have ran the heck out of this setup with no troubles. Been in nasty side winds in Eastern Washington, twisty roads along the coast and towed our small boat (less than 100lbs of TW) and have genuinely enjoyed it. I've been running 80lbs in the tires and 70 or 80 in the air bags. The Rancho 9000s I have left at setting 8.



We typically run with little to no water in the tank and fill up when we get close.



Tires have stayed cool and other than I see some flexing going over things like speedbumps, it's drove great... .



However... ...



As soon as I can swing it, I'm going to step up to 19. 5s and some stiffer sidewalls as I suspect (am hopeful) that it will tighten up the cornering and sway going over things like rough entrances to gas stations and driveways. We were in one very potholed campground over LaborDay and the sway was pretty nasty. Thankfully, we were only going 5mph.



Thanks again everyone and I'll keep this updated as I continue to modify my truck to carry too much weight. .

 

[jheier]

I decided to weight out my rig and discovered my Lance 1131 camper is exactly at my trucks max cargo load capacity listed on the door. I've been running this set up for a year with 15000 + miles. Keeping my tires at 80psi, and also pulling a 6000lb boat. My total rolling weight is 18,900lbs, which is 5000lbs below manufacture specs of 24000lbs. I also have a super spring and firestone airbags for assisting with the additional weight. I have 17" amritrac tires load range E, which are holding up very well for all the weight they are toting around. This truck rolls down the road so smooth and pulls 11 mpg.