Just redid the front end with all new tie rods and a Skyjacker dual-shock steering stabilizer, and I have to say, I never noticed the steering was a little loose till I redid it.Now I'm looking for rims n tires, and I'm finding a very limited selection. And a place that sometimes gives away FREE BEEF quoted me almost $5k for rims and tires made me choke a bit. I don't want 'bling', I want firm and functional. Vision seems to have the very few I've seen.I know there is a very limited number of people who have a dually and gone to 19.5's, but please post pics, prices, what you think of the ride, and where you got them.

My F450 came with 19.5s, but I'd check Rickson's for more pics.Here's my F450 that came with 19.5s next to a F350 at Yellowstone. I have to say it makes the F350 DRW look tiny in this pic. I can't say how much of it is tires and how much is my taller camper.

My new to me 3500 DRW has 17-inch wheels. I haven't investigated the tires available, but do wonder why you would be interested in 19.5s on a dually?Wayne

Reddog1 wrote:My new to me 3500 DRW has 17-inch wheels. I haven't investigated the tires available, but do wonder why you would be interested in 19.5s on a dually?WayneI'm sure it has a lot to do with the 2012 Eagle Cap 1160 in his signature. Gosh those are heavy TC's!

19.5s come in F and G tires and even if not at max are still a tougher tire with less sidewall flex at a given height.

Reddog1 wrote:My new to me 3500 DRW has 17-inch wheels. I haven't investigated the tires available, but do wonder why you would be interested in 19.5s on a dually?WaynePrior to 2005, the F-350 had 16" rims with a limited tire weight rating. In 2005, Ford came out with 18" rims for the SRW F-350 and a 3,400+ pound rating per tire. Much more than the 3042 typical with the 16" rims.The 2002 F-350 dually only has a 11,500 GVWR, about what the F-350 SRW had in 2005! So cargo rating for the 2002 DRW is only 3,500 pounds with the diesel and crewcab options. You can check out all the camper weight ratings on this website. Look in the towing guide for that model year, and then look for slide in camper weight ratings, that will give you about how much cargo any model can carry. http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/Also the dually F-350 in 2001 only has 215 mm wide tires on really skinny rims, to fit them under the rear dually body extensions. To bad you can not fit the 17" modern rims on the older trucks. Ford had the design that way, so that you would not overload a rear axle with the higher rated rims.My recommendation is the Rickson 17.5" rims that are skinny, and will fit under your dually body. RicksonTruck.comThey will have a 3,200+ weight rating per tire, and give a lot more 'safety' factor. 17.5" rims are popular on commercial trucks in Europe. There are several manufactures. Though they are not as popular in local tire shops in America. Good luck,Fred.

19.5s on a Ford Dually - I'd like to see pics please

16 Replies

markowwes
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
All four outside wheels are polished aluminum, inside duals are steel, if you line up the valve stem with the hole in the outside rim it is OK, I used valve extensions to make it easier.
Boatycall
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
markowwes wrote:
1999 Super Duty F350 With Rickson 19.5

Got them shipped right from Rickson.
Made the ride a little rougher when empty but way better with the camper on!

I like those.. not flashy 'in yer face look at my bling' kind of rims.

Question - can you get to the inner dual's valve stem?
blueglide
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
markowwes wrote:
1999 Super Duty F350 With Rickson 19.5

Got them shipped right from Rickson.
Made the ride a little rougher when empty but way better with the camper on!

Nice!! Are those the Rickson SS wheel covers??
markowwes
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
1999 Super Duty F350 With Rickson 19.5

Got them shipped right from Rickson.
Made the ride a little rougher when empty but way better with the camper on!
Boatycall
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
mkirsch wrote:
Hey Boatycall, you come into some money recently? First the fancy finned aluminum transmission and diff covers, and now 19.5's? Sounds like you've got money burning a hole in your pocket.

Just kidding man.

Actually....
I was THIS close to getting a new F450, and reality sank in. I just don't need a new $80k truck when mine's paid for. So I'm putting a few more bucks into it. Especially given how many miles I've put on it since new, it's only got 80k on it. Just can't justify $80k for the amount of miles I put on a truck. Looks good, runs good, why get rid of it...

Just redid the steering - tie rod ends and a Skyjacker dual-shock stabilizer. Didn't think it would feel so different, but after 15 years I was used to the slop sneeking in. It's as tight as my Vette now.
bka0721
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2015
blueglide wrote:
Reddog1 wrote:
My new to me 3500 DRW has 17-inch wheels. I haven't investigated the tires available, but do wonder why you would be interested in 19.5s on a dually?

Wayne

Can't speak for Boatycall but I have looked hard at the Rickson 19.5 wheels for my dually. I know lots of TC folks get them to avoid exceeding tire capacities when their weights are marginal anyway. I want them for the durability...
That may be true, but it was not for me. My F550 came with 19.5" tires and with my rig fully loaded, I was within 400 lbs of my rating. That was not good for my feelings of safety margin. I could only imagine what it might have been if I would have been 1,000 lbs or more.

Many factors fall into play here, just not the wt limits on the door tag or tires. The type of terrain, road conditions and speed normally traveled. For me, it was the roads traveled. I mostly travel on gravel and secondary roads and wanted the safety margin increased, on the tires. Mostly due to the sidewall flex (bulge) of my OEM tires. With the next size up, I did not have the bulging tires and danger of sidewalls being cut by road debris. Also, with less flex, your tires will not become excessively heated during prolonged speed events.

b
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Sep 03, 2015
The ride unloaded can't be much different than the unloaded ride on my srw unloaded with 19.5s. you drop the air pressure to 80 and dial the Rancho 9000s down to a low number and it drives like a truck, not like a car but not bone jarring.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2015
Boatycall wrote:
. . . what you think of the ride, . . .

I'm wondering about the ride too. It must be a rough ride when not loaded with the camper?
blueglide
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
Reddog1 wrote:
My new to me 3500 DRW has 17-inch wheels. I haven't investigated the tires available, but do wonder why you would be interested in 19.5s on a dually?

Wayne

Can't speak for Boatycall but I have looked hard at the Rickson 19.5 wheels for my dually. I know lots of TC folks get them to avoid exceeding tire capacities when their weights are marginal anyway. I want them for the durability...tougher carcass, etc. Lots of stories of 80,000 - 100,00 miles on 19.5 tires before replacement. They may also increase highway mpg due to less rolling resistance...not so much for in town driving. I don't go to the beach with my truck so airing them down is not an issue. Thats the only negative I have found so far is that due to the stiffer steel sidewalls they can't be aired up and down alot for soft sand. Some folks also say they track in road ruts until they get a few thousand miles on them. I still have lots of miles left on my 17's but the 19.5's will probably be my next set. They sure arent cheap though!!!
mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 03, 2015
Hey Boatycall, you come into some money recently? First the fancy finned aluminum transmission and diff covers, and now 19.5's? Sounds like you've got money burning a hole in your pocket.

Just kidding man.