Just air them down lol. It's not rocket science. What the max rating for those tires at 80 psi? Do some basic math and you will find the PSI you need for towing, when not towing you can decrease it even more. Save yourself a ton of money, 35's on stock wheels, aired down appropriately, remove front and rear sway bar, 5100's all around.

 

Oh i do air down. I run 60 in front and 70 in back when towing and run 50 when not for the stupid TPMS. I guess I can go lower though and just have a light on. I'll be getting new tires in the next couple months before camping season. But yeah I decided on the 5100s for the cost being half of the Fox 2.0s and will probably get the steering stabilizer while at it. Then start with sway bars and go from there. Only other thing im thinking at the moment would be the carli shackles. People seem to like them with the initial jolts in the rear. Cheaper then sulastics and serviceable. But that's only a maybe down the line.

 

I did the carli shackles on my 2011 f350. they are a good part to run in conjunction with a full leaf pack. But if the stock leaf pack is present, it's a waste of money. I noticed ZERO change. Easy install though.

how many head you milking?

 

Good to know. I'll just go with tires, shocks and removal of sway bars for now.

Well none now. We milked around 900 head but sold our milking cows in June of last year. Our co-op made some large mistakes and were taking a lot of money off the top of our milking checks and instead of losing more and more money we sold them while they were at record prices. Still raising our heifers and selling them 2-3 months before they calve. Also raising some for others but no more milking. Alot less stressful lol

 

Ag sucks. Idk how dairymen do it anymore.

 

they don't. It is now dominated by large corporations and non citizen labor, with a few big family farms interspersed. I grew up with dairy farms all around. It's not a living most people want to do anymore, but the families I knew doing it wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Turns out hard work is hard and we have a soft generation where a significant percentage doesn't want to do hard work. Not a blame game, but jus the facts.

I have a high degree of respect/admiration for farmers. During summers as a teenager, I'd throw hay for a family farm and the granddad must have been in his 70s back then. He was throwing bales and stacking right along with me. I think he lived until he was 95.

 

I swapped over to Bilstein 5100's all around, including the steering stabilizer. I also chose the 5100's over the other options because it seems that more emphasis is put on the 5100's for doing a lot of towing than either the 4600's or Fox 2.0's. Then I later swapped to a set of Falken Wildpeak AT4's in a 295/70/18 on my stock wheels. I typically run these around mid 50's all around when not towing - and in the winter time they can be in the high 40's. But, doing these things has completely changed the way my truck drives/handles and rides. Much more controlled, and while I still feel bumps, they aren't near as bad. Sure, if the potholes are big enough, it can still be jarring, but it doesn't bounce me all over the place. I hit them, and then it's done. I would highly recommend both the 5100's and the Wildpeak AT4's, especially if towing.

And FWIW, my truck is the 6.7 so that also likely plays a part in the way it rides with the upgrades. I do have the stiffest 5990 front springs, and the 5 pack rear leaf spring, and I also have the rear sway bar in place still. Overall, I love the way it rides, both hooked up and unhooked!

 

It's tough. Im 4th generation and have been blessed to work with my dad on my farm my whole life of almost 33yrs. It was a hard decision we had to make but we made the right one looking back. We're surprised more havent followed in our footsteps as much as the ones that did but they must see something we didnt or couldn't see. Sad part is nothing ag related in our area is any good right now and lots of farms going under.

 

Unfortunately you're not wrong. Ive never considered doing anything else in life. But plans have changed as well as the industry in general. I hope it turns around for those who are still going but for now I will say I don't miss it and feel blessed to be out of it.

It is interesting as I grew up with kids that grew up on dairies and very very few stayed around. My dad always said its either in you or its not. I really loved most things about the dairy. I've learned alot in so many things like welding and fab, mechanics, plumbing, farming and taking care of animals. But when it just was always so tight financially and had to cut costs here and there to make things work year after year for the amount of hours and work we put ourselves through it just didnt make sense anymore. It sucks cause I just had a son a few months before that thinking he could be 5th generation but that's not gonna happen. But that's OK. Better jobs to be had where you don't have to married to it basically 24/7.

 

That sounds great! I appreciate hearing your experiences with those. That's pretty much the setup I plan on going with. The 5100s all around with steering stabilizer and the Wildpeak AT4Ws. Since I have the gas im still debating but likely might stick with a 275/70r18 as they come out to a 33.4"x11.2" tire on the Falken website specs. I don't want to lose too much towing power with my 6.2 with 3.73 gears. I can't imagine 1" changing the ride that much more. I have 5200lb springs with 4 leaf in the back. Im assuming it will be somewhat comparable with my lighter gas up front. I guess we'll find out! Have also heard about 4800lb tremor springs which would give me around only a 1" lift with a little nicer ride up front. That's got me interested over an actual level kit. I gotta get off this forum before I get anymore ideas lol

 

ha. we had the same childhood. My boys got to spend time on the dairy with their grandparents before the cows were moved off at least. I dont think they remember much of it. We still call it "the dairy" even though everything is gone except the manure smell when it rains lol

 

No problem, and I think that you will enjoy that setup! I thought about sticking with the 275's when I got my AT4's but I wanted that little extra so went with the 295's. I have 3.31's but I also have the 6.7. I was surprised that I couldn't even tell a difference by going to these larger, heavier tires. I didn't even notice a difference in mpg's! Happy surprise for sure!

 

That's awesome! My girls have gotten the experience and think there old enough to remember it. How much who knows but theyll at least have a memory. Haha yeah that's a smell ill never forget. But yeah we still have 700 heifers on the place so at least its not sitting empty. Got a few of those around us. Sad sight to see.

 

Yeah if i had a diesel I wouldn't even think twice my first truck was a 06 6.0. Installed a 8" lift with 37" tires. I got about 9mpg lol. A few years later I dropped to the 4.5 Carli and 35s and then got some SCT custom tunes and then would get 14mpg and usually 17mpg on the highway. Lesson learned lol. I get high 15s-low 16s highway now. I could lose a couple mpgs now and wouldn't be too disappointed but more worried about the towing power loss. Still waiting on prices from my usual tire place.

 

Curiosity got the best of me. Found out about people putting lower rate tremor springs in non tremor trucks that helped soften the front up some while only doing about a 1" overall lift up front. For $320 delivered i couldn't help but try them. Give more travel up front while not leveling and keeping around a 1.5" rake for towing. And go from the 5200lb springs to 4800lb springs. I don't see why I need the heavier springs for my 6.2 gas anyways being that the diesels usually came with the 5200lbs.