I will try to keep this as short as possible. My truck is a 2008 Dodge Ram/Cummins 4X4 quad cab. The front end is tight and has been recently aligned. The tires are 285/70R17 Cooper Discoverer AT "E". This truck is new to me with 63k miles and I purchased it with the Cooper tires on it. Towing I run the tires at 80 PSI and daily driving I have tried different combinations but found 50 front, 60 rear to work the best. I pull a Raptor 3018 equipped with a Reese dual cam hitch that has been properly set-up. I normally run around 1,200lb. tongue weight.My issue is while driving the truck will not keep a straight line. It seems I am constantly making minor adjustments with the steering wheel. It is more noticeable on the highway. While towing it is even worse to the point where it is hard to tell if it is trailer sway or the truck. 60-65 MPH and it can be a handful! I went back over my hitch today. I flipped the cams and borrowed a set of new bars from a friend with no change. The only thing I noticed is if I go up one link on my chains to 4 from 5 and add some tension it helps a bit but not much.I am at the point of trying a different set of tires but am looking for some input before I go that route.

sportsman 500 wrote:I will try to keep this as short as possible. My truck is a 2008 Dodge Ram/Cummins 4X4 quad cab. The front end is tight and has been recently aligned. The tires are 285/70R17 Cooper Discoverer AT "E". This truck is new to me with 63k miles and I purchased it with the Cooper tires on it. Towing I run the tires at 80 PSI and daily driving I have tried different combinations but found 50 front, 60 rear to work the best. I pull a Raptor 3018 equipped with a Reese dual cam hitch that has been properly set-up. I normally run around 1,200lb. tongue weight.My issue is while driving the truck will not keep a straight line. It seems I am constantly making minor adjustments with the steering wheel. It is more noticeable on the highway. While towing it is even worse to the point where it is hard to tell if it is trailer sway or the truck. 60-65 MPH and it can be a handful! I went back over my hitch today. I flipped the cams and borrowed a set of new bars from a friend with no change. The only thing I noticed is if I go up one link on my chains to 4 from 5 and add some tension it helps a bit but not much.I am at the point of trying a different set of tires but am looking for some input before I go that route.I think you posted over in the cummins forum. Its the tires. Try lowering the pressure. I swapped out tires and the wander went away... Then i sold the truck. :(

Try swapping tires from side to side, front to back.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:Something to read.Good find. I'll have to bookmark that one.

2008 Dodge Ram Wanders | Good Sam Community

newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2014
Do you have good shocks
Lyrikz
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
sportsman 500 wrote:
I will try to keep this as short as possible. My truck is a 2008 Dodge Ram/Cummins 4X4 quad cab. The front end is tight and has been recently aligned. The tires are 285/70R17 Cooper Discoverer AT "E". This truck is new to me with 63k miles and I purchased it with the Cooper tires on it.
Towing I run the tires at 80 PSI and daily driving I have tried different combinations but found 50 front, 60 rear to work the best. I pull a Raptor 3018 equipped with a Reese dual cam hitch that has been properly set-up. I normally run around 1,200lb. tongue weight.

My issue is while driving the truck will not keep a straight line. It seems I am constantly making minor adjustments with the steering wheel. It is more noticeable on the highway. While towing it is even worse to the point where it is hard to tell if it is trailer sway or the truck. 60-65 MPH and it can be a handful! I went back over my hitch today. I flipped the cams and borrowed a set of new bars from a friend with no change. The only thing I noticed is if I go up one link on my chains to 4 from 5 and add some tension it helps a bit but not much.
I am at the point of trying a different set of tires but am looking for some input before I go that route.

I think you posted over in the cummins forum. Its the tires. Try lowering the pressure. I swapped out tires and the wander went away... Then i sold the truck. :(
azrving
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
Try swapping tires from side to side, front to back.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
Something to read.
azrving
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Something to read.

Good find. I'll have to bookmark that one.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
rjxj wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Something to read.

Good find. I'll have to bookmark that one.

It's a pretty common complaint for owners of that big hunk of pig iron over the front axel they call the "Cummins." :B
transamz9
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
OP, have you had the ball joints replaced?
Brewurown
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
I had the same problem, I had the steering gear box stabilizer installed and it solved my problem.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
I would reduce the PSI in the front tires before trying anything else.
wcjeep
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
Brewurown wrote:
I had the same problem, I had the steering gear box stabilizer installed and it solved my problem.

There was a recent Dodge recall for steering components. Dealer to inspect/replace if necessary. Also check tires. Some tires are more perfect than others. Just because the tires say they are the same doesn't mean they are. How are the Unit Bearings?

After all that I agree with bolting in a steering stabilizer. I installed mine at about 5k miles. They were more important on earlier generation Dodge. The steering box can flex on the frame causing the driver to experience wander.