SRW Tire Upgrade

[saltydog]

At the risk of fanning the flames of the SRW vs. DRW aficionados......

Those of you towing large 5ers (13,000 lbs and up) with a SRW 1T, did you upgrade your tires to a load range above E or go to a commercial truck tire to handle the load?

What were your experiences if you did/did not go beyond an E load range?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[smiller]

I would be interested in this info as well (if we can keep the weight police out of it. )

[jimcumminsw]

Hi,
Some users of the Ram Cummins diesel have installed this rim from Rickson MFG. and then install 245/70/19.5 tires see the attached links. One is from the manufacture and the other is from Turbo Diesel Register.

Rickson Wheel Manufacturing

19.5 and spare - TDR Roundtable

This may work for you.
Jim W.

[saltydog]

Thanks, Jim, I came upon that site the other day while doing my research. I'm trying to analyze the risks/effects of going with a 1T DRW vs. a SRW with upgraded tires to accomodate the load of a 13-15,000 lb. 5'er. We'll be full timing w/ kids for a year or two. Once we grow roots, I don't want to replace the TV for another daily driver, so a SRW does earn some analysis.
Changing tires is easier than changing trucks.

[Roam America]

with the 19.5" rims you'll be able to go to a LR-G tire. Won't change the weight ratings of the truck but you won't have to worry about tire blow outs as much. I pump mine up to 120# when towing then lower the pressure to 90# running solo.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by saltydog

We'll be full timing w/ kids for a year or two.

Then even considering traveling with an overloaded SRW tow vehicle sounds really dumb.

F-350 SRW diesel CrewCab 4x4 wet and loaded with family and a bed full of full-timing gear will weigh a minimum of 9,000 pounds before you tie onto the trailer. The newer ones have a GVWR of 11,500. That leaves 2,500 pounds for max hitch weight. At 18 percent hitch weight, that's a max trailer weight of 13,900 pounds. At a more likely 20 percent hitch weight, that's a max trailer weight of 12,500 pounds. And of course, that assumes you can keep the weight of the wet and loaded tow vehicle down to 9,000 pounds, which will be a real challenge for a full-timer with two kids.

Upgrading tires will not increase the other components that determine your GVWR. Rear axle, bearings, suspension, and frame all are part of the GVWR formula.

I'm trying to analyze the risks/effects of going with a 1T DRW vs. a SRW with upgraded tires to accomodate the load of a 13-15,000 lb. 5'er.

As soon as you say kids and full-timing in the same sentence, your analysis should be over. 13,000 should be the max GVWR of any 5er you consider if you want to safely tow it with an SRW pickup.

Once we grow roots, I don't want to replace the TV for another daily driver, so a SRW does earn some analysis.

It takes about 5 seconds to realize that's a very small consideration compared to the safety of your kids in the back seat.

[saltydog]

Thread killed....

[smiller]

Hopefully not... it also 'takes about 5 seconds to realize' that no one was asking for yet another lecture.

[JIMNLIN]

Salty,
It would help your case if we knew which brand/year model/truck configuration 1 ton SRW your asking about as the newer gen 2500/3500 SRW and DRW share many of the same main frame platforms. Exception of course is the trucks RAWR weight numbers and in particular rear tires/wheels and spring packages when you look at each trucks Body Builders Guide.

I'll give you some weight numbers from GM online weight calculator for a 3500 SRW. Ram and Ford will be simular.

Current Selections: CC30903 -- 2WD Regular Cab Long Box with Single or Dual Rear Wheel, JFN -- GVWR, 11,000 lbs. (4990 kg), LGH -- Engine, Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel, MW7 -- Transmission, Allison 1000 6-speed automatic, 1LT -- LT (1LT) . Payload is 4608 lbs for this loaded Dmax regular cab SRW truck.


Current Selections: CK30953 -- 4x4 Extended Cab Long Box with Single or Dual Rear Wheel, C7V -- GVWR, 11,600 lbs. (5262 kg) without snowplow prep, LML -- Engine, Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8, MW7 -- Transmission, Allison 1000 6-speed automatic, 1LZ -- LTZ (1LZ). Payload capacity is 4094 lbs.

IMO your worrying about being over your stock tires for nothing. GM gives both trucks a 17000 + tow rating with a 7050 RAWR/tire capacity for carrying those heavy loads over the truck rear axles.

Fords F350 SRW with the 20 " tire option is rated at 3750 lb capacity X two = 7500 lbs of capacity.

[FastEagle]

The tires that came on your truck will support it’s GVWR - which, of course, includes the hitch weight - with some reserve load capacity left over.

With a family of four traveling full time I can see your concern about traveling heavy and wanting some added protection if that happens. I’d never recommend traveling heavy but it does happen. There are some easy upgrades to 16” LRG tires. You may not like the name brands out there but many use them. Here is just one of the many available.

Greenball Corp

FastEagle

http://militaryaircraft-by-fasteagle.blogspot.com/

[Roam America]

Originally Posted by saltydog

Thread killed....

If you were looking for someone to come on and tell you that all you need to do is upgrade your tires and you are good to go then you won't get that from iRV2. Anyone around here will provide guidance on operating your RV safely.

[smiller]

Originally Posted by K-Star

If you were looking for someone to come on and tell you that all you need to do is upgrade your tires and you are good to go then you won't get that from iRV2.

Right. Even if it's true.

[450Donn]

Once you install tires with more load capacity, your weak link then becomes the wheels. Remember truck weight ratings are a combination of everything. Tires, wheels, springs, shocks, brakes, frames axles. Not just one component. It turns into a viscous circle trying to chase that elusive increase of weight capacity. A person is far better off financially to simply buy the correct truck for the job. What's the old adage, don't bring a knife to a gun fight!

[saltydog]

Not looking for a how-to or a do's & don't, I'm trying to find those who have....and how they faired. Appreciate the concern