Crap, tjguy, I am so sorry -- I totally missed you said DRW in your 1st post. Thanks David! I was running down the wrong track until you just posted that .

For both the reasons tjguy: you're an inch too small rim-wise for those tires -- they are gonna move on you even full of air! And worse as David points out, the sidewalls will be rubbing down on the pavement side when loaded -- extremely bad! You do need to change the tires out to be safe imho...

Anthony: what you do is actually what is recommended if you put just two new tires on. Always put them in the rear, doesn't matter front or rear wheel drive, if you get more traction in the front (think braking in the rain), you're swapping ends before you know it!

Thanks again David, props to ya'

 

Took the truck to the alignment shop, expecting to pay $150 for an alignment. They found these issues,

Left/Right lower ball joint loose
Track bar with inner and out tie rod end loose

they also want to add a camber/caster sleeve. I guess to fine tune it over stock.

seems kinda of soon to replace these ball joint with only 55k on the clock?

bottom line it's gonna cost me to get the front end tight. Along with the oversize tire for the rim, I am guessing this is my issue? normally the truck drives OK, at least it's not a scary ride. With the added weight of a truck camper I am assuming it's stressing out the loose front end and with the added T/A KO's making for a wild ride. I am going to have the work done, I'll report later today. What i need to do is add the truck camper and see if that cures my issue.

I also talked to the local tire shop here in So. Cal. since the KO's are practically still new, BFG has authorized the store to give me credit for the correct tire, The credit is good as long as I get the Commercial T/A's and go with a 235/85 16. I just don't like the look of the pizza cutter tires on such a large truck. the guy at the tire shop says it's the same height as the 265 75 16 just thinner. also since these are highway tires they will perform better. Wouldn't that be more of an issue with the heavy weight? no idea what to do. I might as well get the stock size. Seems like a downgrade.

I am thinking about the helwig sway bar and I am getting shocks as well.

I want to thank everyone input on this,

 

That's actually great news, tjguy! It sounds like you have two very good shops you are dealing with. I absolutely would go with the stock size tires with the rims you have. Now if you could get a set of matching fronts in 7" width, you could, for looks, go with a wider tire as long as they were pretty close to exact same diameter. Personally I wouldn't hassle with it. Duallys are cool enough without wider tires. On the ball joints: it depends on how the truck was used/where driven, etc. Where we live there's lots of hills and twisty turns -- everybody goes through 'em up here. Get some greasable Moogs and give 'em a shot of grease now and then -- they'll last longer...

And you'll like what the sway bar does...

I definitely was when I read through your post the 1st time, again sorry about that.

 

I would either go to the stock size, or invest in spacers on the rears. Your choice. I agree the bigger tire looks better. Use some Commercial T/A Traction tires. You get a more aggressive tread pattern still with a smaller shoulder.

Ball joints don't surprise me at all, but the track bar and tie rods do. A second opinion isn't always a bad thing. Doing the camber sleeves is a good idea. Ask them to set the toe-in just a bit compared to spec. It will track better with the camper on. I set them all that way.

Dan, I kinda thought you missed the DRW part after I read your posts this morning. But no worries!

 

i have the same truck. i switched to 235/85/16's and couldnt be happier, the ride is nicer and no worries about my backs rubbing. you get used to the skinnier tire look. Bought Cooper Discoverer HT's.

 

Just a update,

I picked the truck up and drove it home Friday night. It was a difference between night and say. It drove so much better , front felt tight. better steering response. So thanks for all the post and suggestions.

Ordering shocks online, prices are about the same so far, unless someone may have lead.

I am also thinking about a spacer for the back. I really like the look of the 265/75 16. If I space the rears is there a danger in running tires on a 16x6 rim?

Driving home yesterday, I thought how much I enjoy driving my diesel truck. Just hate paying the maintenance.

 

I missed the DRW also. Sorry to mislead. Very cool that it's good now. I never had a tire issue with my last truck,, it was a DRW.

 

Yes, as I personally found out. I ran tires rated for a rim wider than I was running them on. We started getting a "death wobble" with maybe 7500 miles on them (maybe a third of that loaded). I went in to the tire shop thinking they needed to be balanced and a short while later the manager asked me to come take a look. The tread was separating from the carcass on all 4 tires. He said I was lucky I came in when I did as they were close to catastrophic failure.

So for your desired tire size, the minimum rim width is 7 inches. My mistake cost me some bucks - luckily the shop: Discount/Americas Tires, was willing to send them in as a factory defect and prorated the price so I got 75% towards the right size for my rim.

But it could have cost much, much more -- if you follow what I'm saying.

Since your shop will give you full credit, either get the right size rims and put it towards that set-up, or go with the right size tire for your rim. It's just not safe otherwise...

 

Diesel Dan is right on the money with the tire and rim width,the weight tears them up along with the narrow size it makes them heat up more.

 

OK Dan, you had me at catastrophic tire failure. I'll go down Monday to discount and get them switched out. discount is giving me 80% so I still have to pay, with labor so.. I was trying to get away with that size. I am thinking they should have at least advised me of the fact the rim size was to small, but I get a feeling the guys as discount do not do a lot of trucks. They always seem puzzled when I stop by and ask for 80psi in my tires.

thanks for the advise.

-Joe

 

Thats where I bought mine from, they always put 80 in mine without even asking. They know I tow often, maybe thats why lol

 

Out in Kalifornia they had to name themselves America's Tire Co. (maybe some other western states too), but everywhere else they are Discount Tires. They've always treated me well, we've traded in tires on cars we bought and they've given me a good price. They sponsored our race car when we lived in TX in the 90s. The tires that delaminated I bought online and they still did the credit thing for me. Nice folks . And they fix anybody's flat for free (if it's fixable), heck they even did two of my Rhino's tires! Also will rotate/balance any tires you come in on...

We finally got our own store in Auburn CA -- makes it super easy for rotations etc.

 

just an update,

Went and got the 235/85 16's put on Monday. Drove the truck home, and it seemed to handle the same, a slight pull to the left. I'll have the alignment shop check. But overall happy with the smaller tire. Thanks for all he suggestions and help.

Next swapping out the shocks. I am going with the KYB Monomax, cause I am on a vacation budget. KYB's are cheaper the the Bilstiens and a lot cheaper then the Rancho's.

The sway bar will be next. Then I think I am done with this money pit for now. I already spent $$$ for a BPD oil cooler, remote oil filter and egr cooler. The shop where I had the work done, told me as long as I don't do anything crazy in mods, the engine should do ok in the coming years. Says the oil cooler is the root of most of the problems on the 6.0. I hope he is right.

 

You could have taken us all to lunch for the price of the cooler/filter set up...

I just don't see the need, but hey, it's done and it sounds like you are on your way. As they say:

Enjoy the ride....

 

you have no idea, I can't wait to get out of dodge, with my Ford. The camper goes on, wife packs it up, get the dogs, hook the jeep on and we are gone!! Really looking forward.