Does anybody have experience running LT wheel and tire combinations on a F-450 so that lower tire pressures can be used? If so, what wheel and tire combination are you using and do you have any Pro/Cons?

Reason for asking, I intend to buy a truck camper along with a new truck and have been looking at the 2017 F-450. The camper I have been looking at is the Lance 1172 or slightly smaller which require a DRW setup. This will be a daily driver (less than 10 miles per day) replacing the F-350 SRW I currently have and I really like the turning radius on the F-450, the front to rear tire tracking, and the possible long term SRW conversions from 1stattack, Firematic, etc. The main issue with the F-450 is the inability to air down those 19.5 tires for soft sand. I go to the beach often and have had issues with the 36x12.50 on the SRW if I don’t air down in some areas. So I am pretty much guaranteed to bury myself with the stock 19.5 tires. Exploring the possible options to resolve this dilemma on the F-450.

 

As you know the comm'l 19.5 tires on the F450 are road tires and not made for the sand or otherwise. I've read where some owners run 90/95 psi in them when empty to help with the ride but I really don't know how far you could air them down. The sidewalls are pretty stiff so it would be a trial and error type thing.

I think if you just ran them lower, whatever that number is so you don't get stuck while only on the sand then you might be ok. Of course you need some type of air supply to get them back up to road psi. before going on pavement. The worst that can happen is you get stuck or you ruin 4 or 6 expensive tires. By the sound of it you must go to Pismo beach.

 

I think for what you want to do you could go with 22" rims from american force on a 450 that way you can air them way down

 

Thanks bronc71, that is exactly the solution I have been searching for. I ran across their site while searching previously but missed they had 20 and 22 inch wheel sizes in the 10 lug. A set of those wheels are very pricey, do you know of any other suppliers out there?

 

No problem 20" will not fit over the 450 brakes need to go with 22" maybe try fuzion wheels or rickson wheel manufacturing

 

I hope you are buying a gasser, less than 10 mile commute is not going to be very good for a Diesel.

Also be careful, you are buying a HEAVY camper and you may exceed the weight rating on many LT tires, especially the fronts.

 

I thought your camper required a drw? So how are you going to do a srw conversion? Also why would you want to do a srw conversion? After you get used to it its not a big deal and with the 17's now having all the cameras, specifically the overhead view and 360 view, its not that hard to park anymore.

 

He's buying a 450. Those are diesel only.

 

Thanks I suspected as much, won't get the oil up to full temp with a short drive 2 x a day, not a good idea. Also probably won't finish a regen either.

 

It will be a Diesel which ever way I go I don't like the gasser. I have driven my 05 KR Diesel for the past 11 years on the same commute and it is hot by the time I get to work in the Texas weather aside from some of the cold winter days. Regen will be a new problem that I will need to watch carefully though.

It is more a long term possibility of doing something like what earthroamer does to convert the wheels but not the big built in camper. They use big high load capacity wheels to carry the load as well as perform well off road. I am hoping the camera system will make parking easier, constantly find myself stuck trying to park in compact car sized spaces.

I think I am just going to go the F-350 DRW route given the cost to modify the F-450. The F-350 will do 99.9% of what I need and that remaining .1% may really just be a dream.

 

FWIW, I'm running 70 PSI in my 265/70/19.5 Mich XDE2+ and it rides pretty nice. Not sure how much lower you could go or if that's low enough for sand driving.

And definitely recommend Rickson, they do a great job balancing their tires and they also do the DRW to SRW conversions.

 

Just because your coolant comes up to temperature doesn't mean your oil does, in fact it lags quite a bit. Fine your truck, I don't care.

I run 50 psi in my 285's, slight bulge in the fronts and full contact in the rears.