Which truck tires are best while towing a 5er in sand?

[Grizzly]

I'm asking this question for my son, who has an 04. 5, 3500, SRW, 4x4 with a CTD, 6 speed standard and 3:73 axle. The original equipped tires are 265-70-R17, LR E.



He takes his family to a lake (Elephant Butte) in Southern New Mexico, which is very sandy, towing his 26' 5er. Sometimes he gets bogged down in the sand while towing the 5er. The truck without the 5er does better.



It is time to replace the original tires and wants to know which tires do best in sand and still provide some comfort on the highway. Maybe a wider tire? The original tires are Michelin LTX, A/S.

 

[foolkiller]

i recommend the TOYO MT 295/70/17 which is basically a VERY heavy duty 33/12. 50 tire. looks great on stock or lifted (2-3") trucks. air it down to about 35psi or maybe even a little less when he hits the sand and air em back up to 60psi for the freeway.



if it wasn't for the 3. 73s or if he knows how to wheel and tow with a truck that's geared wrong, he could consider 35s of the same tire.



check the specs on the TOYO MT 295/70/17 you will likey.

j

 

[foolkiller]

look for more advice on that airing down with the 5vr hooked up... .



j

 

[JBallou]

In the dunes I have been with people that air down to the low 20's high teens. Teh trailer needs to be done as well maybe not as low.


With my stock BFG's I air down to 15-18 and have a bumper pull that I air down to 20. When you pull in the sand with enough air out you can go just about anywhere, and not get stuck. Flat area and stuck means to much air, keep trying lower.

Friends have a 5vr and air down the same amount. Mind you they do not run on the pavement any more than 50' from a straight shot out of the parking lot out to the sand.

Any others?

 

[Grizzly]

i recommend the TOYO MT 295/70/17 which is basically a VERY heavy duty 33/12. 50 tire. looks great on stock or lifted (2-3") trucks. air it down to about 35psi or maybe even a little less when he hits the sand and air em back up to 60psi for the freeway.



if it wasn't for the 3. 73s or if he knows how to wheel and tow with a truck that's geared wrong, he could consider 35s of the same tire.



check the specs on the TOYO MT 295/70/17 you will likey.

j

I don't believe he can go with a taller tire due to the 5th wheel. How about Super Singles on the back wheels, would that help?

 

[foolkiller]

never owned a 5er... . for the 295/70 tire, the over all height increase (going by advertized tire heights) will be . 95 inches. there are no adjustments for that much difference?



scuse my ignorance on the 5er, j

 

[Grumpy John 4x4]

tires

Toyo's suck in the sand or dunes!

 

[EBung]

Toyo's suck in the sand or dunes!

Not when they are aired down they dont. I pulled a 30ft camper down the beach through sand that was to much for a couple of truck that were unloaded. Toyos have never been touted as a sand tire but when I air down to 20 front 16 rear I can and do go anywhere I want. BFG A/Ts have been the best without airing down I have had.

 

[Bob4x4]

The Toyo MTs are poor in the sand,The BFG at's are one of the best in the sand but don't hold up so well on the Cummins 3rd gens.

The Mt's need about 100 hp more than the bfg's to get the same job done

 

[Bob4x4]

The footprint and sidewall design along with a softer carcase make or break a sand tire. Unfortunately those qualities are opposites of what make a good towing tire,so we have to compromise.



Bob

 

[Grizzly]

The Toyo MTs are poor in the sand,The BFG at's are one of the best in the sand but don't hold up so well on the Cummins 3rd gens.

The Mt's need about 100 hp more than the bfg's to get the same job done

Bob are you saying BFG A/T of the same size? Also, why don't they hold up well on a 3rd gen Cummins?

 

[Bob4x4]

The 315 bfg's are not tough enough to stay together when used on a heavy truck. Not really a big surprise with their d rating. Way too many cases of death wobble.

I can still get away with running them on my second gen,but I buy the tire coverage because I know they will separate before the tread is gone. I love the size and the way they work in the sand and snow.



Bob

 

[daytripper63]

When I camp at Pismo on the beach I bring a couple 2 foot wide by 6 foot long strips of carpet and just put them in front of the rear tires and I dont sink in the sand when I try to take off, works great

 

[hammersley]

This is what you need on sand!!!

MATTRACKS rubber track conversions systems for 4x4 vehicles

be sure to look at the video's - wouldn't this be a blast...

Videos

 

[Bob4x4]

:-laf Might take a few extra minutes to install once you turn off the pavement



Bob

 

[RVTRKN]

Caution! New toy alert. :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[Grizzly]

MATTRACKS rubber track conversions systems for 4x4 vehicles



be sure to look at the video's - wouldn't this be a blast...



Videos

The Mattracks system looks great and I'm sure it will get the job done, however it doesn't seem practical, like where do you carry them and I don't even want to know how much they cost for a set of four.

 

[Shanley]

I PULL A 26' bumper pull toy hauler in the sand with 35" bfg km2's. they seem to work as good or better then the original bfg mt's. Never been stuck in the sand with either tire. I got 62,000 miles out of the first set, and have around 25,000 on the km2's. I routinely carry pallets of concrete block(3,500#) during the week, and never had any problems.

 

[Drewhenry]

in the sand

Cooper ATR 265/70/17



I live in Corpus Christi and regularly drive down the National Seashore. I have 60K on these tires and probably 10-15 more before new tires. They have performed flawlessly. I only aired down once, with a 18' bumper pull. 40 front and 25 rear. I debated afterwards whether that was really necessary. It took more right pedal, but next trip with tires aired up no problems. Not saying beach conditions are the same as your conditions will be or that I have never been in deep doo-doo. I have gotten two CTDs stuck in sand. Idling out in 4L 1st gear usually takes care but had to be pulled out once by a friend with a 1953 M37---That was a humbling experience!!



Andy

 

[EBung]

To me its a no brainer when I hit the sand AIR DOWN and no worries. It is night and day difference between 40psi and 20. And the sand we have to drive through is not packed whatsoever it is churned up deep sand that has been driven through for a whole summer by the time we go camping. It isnt even pleasant to walk through. Floatation rules and when you can double the contact patch of any tire you choose you can own the sand. I dont get stuck then air down I air down and dont even come close to getting stuck. Having onboard air helps to.