I'm a ways off from carrying any load yet. But the tires on my dually are rated for maximum load at 80 psi. However the door sticker states 65 psi. I know this has been discussed before. On my 04 SRW diesel 4x4 I always ran 75-80 lbs with 5er hooked up. Ran the original 52,000 miles put Michelins on and the old ones still had 4/32+ tread. I think the door sticker on it was 72 lbs. Anyhow, what are you guys running especially in the rears on F350 duallys when towing 5er's?? Thanks...

 

Jim,
The 65psi is what the tires need to be at for max axle weight rating on the truck. My Dodge dually is the same rating, and I run the 65psi with my camper on the truck. It weighs 5000lbs, and the trucks rear axle weighs 8300lbs with the camper on it. Empty, I run 45psi in the rears. Hope this helps.
Rich

 

Good thing Rich joined up. Chassis/cab guys are few in number. Reps given

Jim,

Any new production updates on your new truck bed...I know you are chomping at the bit to get it installed

Regards

 

Gosh Rich, that doesn't seem like much air to be hauling at max rear axle rating. I realize I've got four tires bearing the load now instead of two, maybe that's the point I'm missing. I don't remember what the weight rating for the tires-dual is around 3,000 each I think. So the tires are rated for more weight capacity at max pressure (80 psi) than the axle is? I guess that would be a good thing, to have MORE tire than you need instead of less. I'm just kinda confused about this. I really feel more tires are destroyed by being under inflated when heavily loaded than being inflated at or near the tires max pressure rating. Maybe I'm wrong about all this..I appreciate and value all you guys thoughts. Please let me have your views.

 

Hi Rick. I taked to the upfitter yesterday, still looking at mid to end of April. I spend my days getting more and more frustrated. I can't even mount the hitch as the upfitter has it so they can tell the bed manufacturer anything they need to know. I'm just supposed to stay out of it and let them do their job. They are all really good guys, it's just that their agenda is different from mine. I almost think it would have been easier to take a stock bed and modify it for the hitch. But this isn't the way it's going to be done. I know I'll be happy when it's done. I spend my time goofing in the garage looking at the truck. And reading the forum of course. I am glad to have Rich posting as I can learn about his chassis cab use. It doesn't seem as though there are many of us cc users. Hope your day goes well!!!

 

More pressure = more weight carrying capacity.
My F450 door sticker says 75 front and 60 rear, and it is rated for a 24,400 pound 5th wheel.

Remember, on DRW weight is distributed across 4 tires. You divide axle weight by 4 not 2. If you run max air pressure, you really are reducing the traction available at the rear, and you don't need the extra weight capactiy.

That is why tire pressure numbers as suggested by the factory are what they are.
Stick with them and you will be safe.

 

Thanks Jay. That's why I love this place lots of smart guys giving good advice. I may be old and gray but I'm open to changing my views. Thanks again for your input.

 

Thanks Rick,
As a "Dodge Boy" from another forum, I take that as a compliment
Rich

 

Jim,

Under-inflated tires flex too much and build up heat. Heat is what typically causes a tire to fail. I run my dually tires at 80 psi when I'm dragging my 18k 5er. 75 psi dragging my 14k flat bed. 70 psi when empty.

 

Rich

Please understand that being a Dodge Boy is not automatically earn you a Badge of Dishonor. I have had many civil exchanges, including private messages, with Dodge Cummins owners. Dodge owners have every reason to be passionate about their trucks. Telling the facts about their trucks has never been criticized. Negative and truthful criticisms of Ford or GM are not rebutted unless they are sensationalized. I have never said anything bad here or at RVnet about the either the Dodge or GM trucks.

You were vague about what site you were referencing but I assume you are writing about my unwillingness to be bullied out of threads at RVnet. If you have seen much of what goes on there, you will know that I used to just post "done". The bully's loved it...but derided and baited me to see if I would return. I decided that enough is enough. They post BS, I rebut with facts and then ask for them to back up what they post. They return with personal attacks and I call them out. I will not stop pointing out the truth about the bullies on that site. They know who they are.

I really appreciated your willingness to come here and help Jim out with his questions. I have had phone conversation with Jim and he is a great guy. There are not a lot of chassis/cab guys posting here. You answered his questions. Your other postings compared the trucks honestly without bashing or cheering either brand. That was refreshing.

Jim, please forgive me for using your thread to discuss this with Rich. He does not have enough posts for a PM discussion.

Regards

 

Rick, Rich and Rest of the Guys,

I REALLY appreciate all you guys. It is apparent to me that most of the guys here have gone much further in the analysis of their trucks than I ever will. Some of the guys are real power freaks and some are technical freaks. I enjoy all their posts and always learn something. I drove my 04 diesel for seven great years and traded it in February. I dare say I've learned more about it since becoming a member of this forum than I did in all the years I drove it.

I was always a "little" confused about the 72 psi sticker and 80 psi tire pressures on my 04 FX4 diesel. I'm "really" confused about the 65 psi sticker vs 80 psi pressure on this 2011 dually. I realize you are talking two rear tires vs 4. I just wanted someone to explain what I was missing or hadn't thought of. I guess if Ford used four rear tires rated for max weight at 65 psi there would be no confusion. I suppose they use the same rear tires in other applications as well.

I guess if a guy feels 65 psi is a little low when towing a 5er you could put in a little more and still be within the max of 80 psi that the tires are rated for. Maybe this would cause a little less internal friction and reduce tire heat. Just thinking out loud. As always I welcome and appreciate you dually guys giving your thoughts. I have NO dually experience, lifelong SRW owner.

And, I too really like to read posts from Dodge & GM owners who can add intelligent responses. We all need to avoid getting so darn personal. These are just trucks not breathing beings. I think the exhaust I've heard on some of those Cummins engines is the coolest sound. Have a GREAT DAY...

 

Thanks Rick,
I was really just messin with ya. I'm on rv.net all the time(have pm'd you there) and know the site very well. You suggested I join this site when I asked you a question about the turbo lag on my work truck. I plan to continue providing information on my experience with the 6.7, and to learn from all the others on this site.
Rich

 

Hi Jim,
80 psi in your 4 rear tires will give you over 11,000 lbs capacity, which is way over the max rear axle weight rating of your truck. 65psi is what Ford says you need to run at the max weight, and I don't think you'll even come close to that with the hitch weight of your fifth wheel. On my dually, I run 65psi with my camper on the truck. It is a heavy slide in camper, 5000lbs loaded and ready to go. The rear axle weight of the truck with the camper on board is 8300lbs, 1050lbs under the max rear axle rating. At this weight, I'm still under the tire rating quite a bit, the tires don't get hot or even come close to rubbing. I have run at 80psi but the ride was a little harsh so I backed it down to 65. It's up to you if you want to run at max psi. The only drawback will be a harder ride, and possibly wearing down the center of the tread quicker due to the tire being overinflated for the weight they're carrying. If you are concerned about the tires getting hot, get yourself one of those infrared heat guns. They are great for checking tire and hub temps, not only on your truck but on your trailer also.
Rich

 

The Michelin tires that came on my 2011 F250 20"wheels came from the dealer at 70PSI should I lower it to 65 for normal empty driving or would the 70psi be better for fuel millage ?
This is my first Super Duty.
Thanks
Jason

 

Not to repeat myself but if you run the tire pressures listed by Ford on the label inside your front drivers door you won't have a problem.
They pick a number that balances weight carrying capacity with ride quality.

Over-inflating the rear tires on a DRW will only reduce the traction available and hurt ride quality.

I forget where I found it before but there is a chart for load range E tires that shows the weight carrying capacity is at different air pressures. Try Google and see if you can find it.

If my F450 can carry a 24,400 pound 5th wheel with 65psi in the back tires I doubt anyone else needs more air to keep their tires from exploding.

My 5th wheel on the other hand had 2 trailer tires explode, so I switched to BFG Commercial tires and run them at 80psi. They are loaded right at max for the tire and after a drive are very hot to the touch, while my rear truck tires feel cool.