Would you, or would you not...probably not...

[steved]

Its time for new tires... and I need advice...



I currently have 265s on the truck... I had 315s at one point, and I really liked that look (but the tires were defective, so they were short lived)... picking the tire isn't a problem... 315x70R17 BFG KOs (new this time!)... these are D-rated at 3195#s which is the same as the current 265s (although there is a lot more sidewall)... I know the 315s will fit my rims and the truck with no rub.



The problem lies in the fact I carry a slide in camper as some of you remember... and I can carry it from the right coast to the left coast occasionally. I believe it weighs around 2k loaded... I do have airbags.



I'm thinking the 315s probably won't cut it... I'm thinking there'd be a lot of squirm, not to mention the slightly higher COG.



Am I correct in my assumptions that it probably be pretty undriveable??? Anyone have experience with this "combination" to confirm/disprove my thoughts???



Thanks in advance,

steved

 

[jelag]

I've had problems all along with the stock tires on my dually's... . always felt they never really gave me the life I expected for the dollar... to make matters worse, I own an F550 with 225/70-19. 5" rubber that costs about the same but lasts 100K miles, is available in a recap for the rear... . (1/2 price of new) and each tire is rated at 4500 lbs... . nice stiff sidewalls designed for load... .

I've now bought new dually steel wheels for my truck... . and will have them for the SRW trucks in 19. 5" as a work wheel... The SRW's will also replace the wheels on 5er. . so I can put 19. 5" on that as well... .

I chose the 225/70-19. 5" because it is with in 5-7 turns per mile as the stock tires on my truck and 5er... on one tire with no modifications will fit all my trucks... . just the 5er will be SRW and the rest of the trucks are DRW... .

I see your plight, and understand it, and I'd worry about something that is on the very limit of what your doing... .

My duallys all have air horns, and air bags powered from the exhaust brake compressor... . we've gone one additional step in that we've put a piece of square tubing between the rubber bumper and bumper mount so that the overloads will pick up the load when the bed sags 1/2" instead of the 2" gap that was there before...

It was our intent with the air bags to keep the truck as level as possible so that the headlights aren't looking for people in the tree tops... .

Hope this helps. .

 

[CumminsBu]

There was a rumor that an "E" 315x70R17 BFG KOs is in the works, but nothing on the th website says so. There is some 305x65R17 BFG KOs and 285x70R17 Toyo OC "E" tires out there that would work for you.

 

[Ace476]

Jim, sorry to hijack the post but I have a brand new 2008 3500 dulley.

I had Line-X in my 02. I see you have them in your trucks. Do you have

experience with other liners? I am about to get something put in mine and

would like to hear your reasoning for Line-X.



Thanks,



Mark

 

[DBentley]

I have had 315 bfg kos on my last dodge25k mi and on the 06 now12k mi and run a large slide on sunline 3000k + large cooler 100lbs ice extra water tank etc. The bfgs have been great with no complaints on the highway there stable as could be expected with a single wheel truck trying to do the job of a duelly. My average trips are 150-200 miles on weekends and i run empty all week. A few 500 mile trips went smooth though. I hear a lot of bad about bfgko but I like them.

 

[steved]

Hmmm, one nay, one possible???

The weight carrying capacity of the tires isn't really at issue here... it is the stability of the tire with a load...

The added sidewall height coupled with the softer sidewall is what I'm concerned about... seems to me there would be squirm??? Especially with the increased COG??

Any others?? I'd really hate to buy tires to find out it was not driveable with the camper...

steved

 

[CumminsPower98]

I just got a load of firewood on my 33x12. 5x16. 5 BFG A/Ts load D and they felt pretty good but it was only a 65 mile trip. I know these are a bit smaller. I had 65 psi in the 50 psi rated tires. I don't know how much weight I had but I'm guessing maybe 2800-3k lbs of wood comparing to the pin weight of some of the big 5th wheels I used to pull vs air bag pressure. I had side boards up about 2 feet above the cab. I had 90 psi in the bags to keep it level (I do have a leveling kit up front so that makes it harder to level). I also had a small trailer.

 

[jelag]

Mark

I have a deal with the owner... . 200. 00 cash and he does my trucks... no other reason... it works, and seems to last just fine... no other liner in town would make that deal... all the others were in the 300 range... . so I tried it on the first one... he's done 5 now since 01 3500.....

 

[DonMartin]

Jim, sorry to hijack the post but I have a brand new 2008 3500 dulley.

I had Line-X in my 02. I see you have them in your trucks. Do you have

experience with other liners? I am about to get something put in mine and

would like to hear your reasoning for Line-X.



Thanks,



Mark

they say line-x is more durable if you haul lots of heavy stuff but for me it is to rough



i haul stuff in my truck but it is not a full fledged work truck and if i want get up in my truck and move around in my shorts i dont want to tear my knees up on a rough liner



thats why i always choose rhino liner as it it tough durable and is soft rubber feel

 

[steved]

they say line-x is more durable if you haul lots of heavy stuff but for me it is to rough



i haul stuff in my truck but it is not a full fledged work truck and if i want get up in my truck and move around in my shorts i dont want to tear my knees up on a rough liner



thats why i always choose rhino liner as it it tough durable and is soft rubber feel

I like my drop in liner... best of all it was FREE! Call me cheap...



One thing I don't like about the sprayed in liners is the fact that if something gets dropped on the bed, it might not hurt the liner, but the floor gets dented... a drop in liner having the raised ridges protects the bed slightly better in that aspect...



Its a good thing there's a search button... we've went from using 315s with a slide-in camper to talking bedliners...



steved

 

[SnoKing]

Its time for new tires... and I need advice...



I currently have 265s on the truck... I had 315s at one point, and I really liked that look (but the tires were defective, so they were short lived)... picking the tire isn't a problem... 315x70R17 BFG KOs (new this time!)... these are D-rated at 3195#s which is the same as the current 265s (although there is a lot more sidewall)... I know the 315s will fit my rims and the truck with no rub.



The problem lies in the fact I carry a slide in camper as some of you remember... and I can carry it from the right coast to the left coast occasionally. I believe it weighs around 2k loaded... I do have airbags.



I'm thinking the 315s probably won't cut it... I'm thinking there'd be a lot of squirm, not to mention the slightly higher COG.



Am I correct in my assumptions that it probably be pretty undriveable??? Anyone have experience with this "combination" to confirm/disprove my thoughts???



Thanks in advance,

steved

My studded snow tires are 265 D rated and the truck drives with a softer ride with them, I would not want to tow the 5er very far with them. SNOKING

 

[Ace476]

Thanks Jim, I was wondering about liners. Don, I here you

the knees getting torn up. Sorry to change the subject!?!

 

[steved]

My studded snow tires are 265 D rated and the truck drives with a softer ride with them, I would not want to tow the 5er very far with them. SNOKING

My dad got took by a local tire shop that sold him "C" rated snow tires (he didn't check)... they are definitely too light for the nose of a 2500. Even with 50psi, they are squished good.



steved

 

[icman95]

I put Cooper Discovery ATR's on in the OEM sizes with E load rating. THey work great. I pull a fairly heavy toyhauler 5th with it and no complaints about the tires. I can't really tell you much about longevity as I don't do tons and tons of miles each year-about 10-12k and the tires have only been on for two years. They're great in snow. With a load of firewood on or the trailer behind it, the thing rides like a Caddy. Empty, well, it rides like a truck, but it's always done that-even before these tires. Good luck.

 

[steved]

Well, since I will be selling the slide in, it is a moot point anyway now!



I'm looking at either getting the 315s or getting a set of studded snows... I already have two sets of rims, one aluminum and two sets steel.



I already have a new set of Pirelli STRa's on the aluminums (which I would need for the 315s)... the steels are what are currently on the truck (wearing out the OE junk BFGs)...



I'm really liking the Cooper M+S (or the MasterCraft version) or the Bridgestone Blizzak. Since I can potentially travel crosscountry in the winter, and I have the option to remove the snows in the spring... this might be a better option.



steved

 

[Regcabguy]

Steve,I'm real pleased with my 285-70-17 Toyo AT's. My camper weighs 2000# and is on my back constantly. I'd consider the new size Toyo AT. It's 285-75-17. 33. 8" tall and load range E. On my '99 when I went with Toyo M-55's,load range "E" from BFG KO's load range "D" there was a marked improvement in stability. We're carrying a "high" load which exerts more leverage over the body than a similiar load in the bed. Just my opinion based on experience. Now all you load range "D" guys can chime in.