2012 f350 LWB DRW.....road walking non stop.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: west Texas oil fields
2012 f350 LWB DRW.....road walking non stop.
Bought it used. Clean truck. It walks all over the road. Scary.
No mods. All stock. What might be the cause?
Tires look good. Less than 30,000 miles on the truck.
Thoughts?
No mods. All stock. What might be the cause?
Tires look good. Less than 30,000 miles on the truck.
Thoughts?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 16
From: Arizona/Texas
Brand of tires?
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
in my experience, tires without a solid center rib tend to wander noticeably more than tires with them. Particularly with longitudinal tining on a concrete road, the more aggressive tires tend to grab the tine marks and follow them as they are never perfectly straight.
if you have the BFG All-terrain's, i would not be surprised to hear that it wanders noticeably. to that point, my Cooper AT3's wandered quite a bit more than my Cooper ATR's.
i have not noticed this with the BFG rugged trail's on our SD, though.
something to keep in mind if everything else checks out.
if you have the BFG All-terrain's, i would not be surprised to hear that it wanders noticeably. to that point, my Cooper AT3's wandered quite a bit more than my Cooper ATR's.
i have not noticed this with the BFG rugged trail's on our SD, though.
something to keep in mind if everything else checks out.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: west Texas oil fields
They are Rugged Trail T/A. Definitely not a street tread but maybe a mild AT tread.
I guess they are the showroom tires. Maybe an alignment issue, too? I see some owners upgrading the steering dampner. Need to check tire psi, too.
Thanks for the suggestions!
I guess they are the showroom tires. Maybe an alignment issue, too? I see some owners upgrading the steering dampner. Need to check tire psi, too.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
definitely check the alignment.
the Rugged Trail T/A's are the most aggressive looking highway tread on the market. make no mistake, though, they are a highway tire. they suck on anything but pavement.
i've never noticed the vehicle trying to follow the road texture with these tires (have them on two vehicles ....much to my dismay), so i'd be inclined to think there is probably something else going on.
start with a visual inspection and start jacking the wheels to see if you can find loose components, ball joints, tie rods, ect. Or go get an alignment and tell them it wanders and have them check it out.
i'd be willing to be the PO had the same problem and just didn't want to mess with it. call around and check which shops can align a dually, many don't have racks wide enough for the rear.
the Rugged Trail T/A's are the most aggressive looking highway tread on the market. make no mistake, though, they are a highway tire. they suck on anything but pavement.
i've never noticed the vehicle trying to follow the road texture with these tires (have them on two vehicles ....much to my dismay), so i'd be inclined to think there is probably something else going on.
start with a visual inspection and start jacking the wheels to see if you can find loose components, ball joints, tie rods, ect. Or go get an alignment and tell them it wanders and have them check it out.
i'd be willing to be the PO had the same problem and just didn't want to mess with it. call around and check which shops can align a dually, many don't have racks wide enough for the rear.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: west Texas oil fields
I am on the same page as you as to alignment. LF has even wear. RF has abnormal wear on outside edge tread only. Balance of tire is fine. I have access to an excellent independent shop and will be there Monday.
Mine drives as if tires are over inflated coupled with an alignment issue. However tire wear does not suggest over inflation....so with that in mind, just checked the RF....80psi. Still headed to alignment shop Monday but will drop psi on the fronts in the AM and go for a short run. 65 on the front unloaded sound ok?
Mine drives as if tires are over inflated coupled with an alignment issue. However tire wear does not suggest over inflation....so with that in mind, just checked the RF....80psi. Still headed to alignment shop Monday but will drop psi on the fronts in the AM and go for a short run. 65 on the front unloaded sound ok?
Trending Topics
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
tire pressure is highly individual and subject to opinion.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-guys-run.html
assuming you have a crew cab diesel, you are a little over 4100 lbs on the front axle empty. your tires should be rated to 3195 @ 80psi, so you should be able to run all the way down to 51psi safely IMO.
4100/2 = 2050 lbs per tire
2050/3195*80=51.3 psi
sometimes lowering pressure can help quite a bit. if it were my truck, i wouldn't be afraid to try it.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-guys-run.html
assuming you have a crew cab diesel, you are a little over 4100 lbs on the front axle empty. your tires should be rated to 3195 @ 80psi, so you should be able to run all the way down to 51psi safely IMO.
4100/2 = 2050 lbs per tire
2050/3195*80=51.3 psi
sometimes lowering pressure can help quite a bit. if it were my truck, i wouldn't be afraid to try it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: west Texas oil fields
You are right. Crew cab, diesel.
I have a lot to learn as to axle loading and tire psi. No shortage of opinions but I agree with your math. I haven't checked the link you provided yet but are minimum psi numbers ever stated? Seems cold max psi is the focus and for good reason.
This truck stays unloaded except for when an enclosed car trailer is getting towed.
Thanks for all your input. Much appreciated.
I have a lot to learn as to axle loading and tire psi. No shortage of opinions but I agree with your math. I haven't checked the link you provided yet but are minimum psi numbers ever stated? Seems cold max psi is the focus and for good reason.
This truck stays unloaded except for when an enclosed car trailer is getting towed.
Thanks for all your input. Much appreciated.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
i've never seen a minimum stated. only figured out using known weights.
FWIW, i got the curb weights from here:
http://www.hillerford.com/resource_l...50f350f450.pdf
pg. 70.
and in the interests of full disclosure, i screwed up ... i jumped a line when i read the chart. the base curb weight listed on the chart is 4344 lbs.
corrected math:
4344lbs /2=2172 lbs per tire
2172lbs /3195lbs *80psi = 54 psi.
so 54 is the "safe" minimum.
there is a different equation you can use that will allow you to further reduce the tire pressure if you find the need. (n=0.65 for tires over load factor 100)
(2172/3195 lbs)^(1/n) = 0.679^(1/.65) = .551
.551*80 psi = 44 psi (absolute minimum)
but i doubt you'll feel the need to push the absolute minimum. and you should probably use scale numbers if you are going to take your pressure any where near the minimum.
here's a good thread on tire pressures, if you are so inclined:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tle-stiff.html
keep us posted!
FWIW, i got the curb weights from here:
http://www.hillerford.com/resource_l...50f350f450.pdf
pg. 70.
and in the interests of full disclosure, i screwed up ... i jumped a line when i read the chart. the base curb weight listed on the chart is 4344 lbs.
corrected math:
4344lbs /2=2172 lbs per tire
2172lbs /3195lbs *80psi = 54 psi.
so 54 is the "safe" minimum.
there is a different equation you can use that will allow you to further reduce the tire pressure if you find the need. (n=0.65 for tires over load factor 100)
(2172/3195 lbs)^(1/n) = 0.679^(1/.65) = .551
.551*80 psi = 44 psi (absolute minimum)
but i doubt you'll feel the need to push the absolute minimum. and you should probably use scale numbers if you are going to take your pressure any where near the minimum.
here's a good thread on tire pressures, if you are so inclined:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tle-stiff.html
keep us posted!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: Advocate Hbr. Nova Scotia
I run 50 psi in all tires on my dually, its a gasser though. I put six new BFG rugged trails on it last fall, balanced with dyna beads.
You might want to check your track bar mounting bolt. If its loose the front axle will move side to side. You can sort of check it by parking level on asphalt and turning the wheel side to side. If there is play in track bar it will feel as though the whole front end is moving independant of the axle.
You might want to check your track bar mounting bolt. If its loose the front axle will move side to side. You can sort of check it by parking level on asphalt and turning the wheel side to side. If there is play in track bar it will feel as though the whole front end is moving independant of the axle.
Last edited by NovaNewfie; Apr 20, 2014 at 04:14 AM. Reason: Tire brand
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 29
From: Bismarck, ND
Well it sure as heck isn't the tread pattern being "to aggressive" that's causing your issues. I really wonder how all these wives tales get started. I'm running the more aggressive BFG A/T's on both my F250 and my wife's Toyota 4Runner. No wandering issues at all. Zip. Nada.
Something wrong in your front end. Could be alignment, or something more serious. But it's not the tread pattern. Good Grief.
Good luck, hope you get it resolved. Sounds like your on the right track with a trusted front end shop.
Something wrong in your front end. Could be alignment, or something more serious. But it's not the tread pattern. Good Grief.
Good luck, hope you get it resolved. Sounds like your on the right track with a trusted front end shop.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
Well it sure as heck isn't the tread pattern being "to aggressive" that's causing your issues. I really wonder how all these wives tales get started. I'm running the more aggressive BFG A/T's on both my F250 and my wife's Toyota 4Runner. No wandering issues at all. Zip. Nada.
Something wrong in your front end. Could be alignment, or something more serious. But it's not the tread pattern. Good Grief.
Good luck, hope you get it resolved. Sounds like your on the right track with a trusted front end shop.
Something wrong in your front end. Could be alignment, or something more serious. But it's not the tread pattern. Good Grief.
Good luck, hope you get it resolved. Sounds like your on the right track with a trusted front end shop.
i've had it happen on many different vehicles and it can be quite worrisome, especially if you are hauling a load at the time.
longitudinal tining on a concrete road and aggressive tires are almost a sure bet to have it happen to some degree.
perhaps you've never had it happen, but i have, and it is a very real thing.