Front axle

It's out of alignment (camber/caster) take it to a shop

Buzzcut1 wrote:
It's out of alignment (camber/caster) take it to a shop

I had just had front end worked on & alignment done. The truck with the heavy engine & tyranny means the truck payload is rated 1900 lb. But prior owner beefed up rear springs. Is that what the front needs? Or is it a lost cause? I'm noticing in googling it that I she replace with bigger wheels/tires. But why the problem with tire wear? It doesn't wear like that if I'm not carrying a truck camper.

Did you have it aligned with the camper on or off. If you did it with the camper off then it's not right with it off. The added weight of the camper changes the way the truck sets.
It doesn't wear like that when you're not carrying the camper because then the alignment is correct for the weight it's carrying.
I have this same problem with my work trucks. When you get a new truck and have a utility bed installed and fill it full of tools and supplies you have to get the truck aligned or it will tear the front tires all up.
If you mostly haul the camper I'd align it that way. If you mostly drive empty I'd align it that way. If it's pretty even split you may have to get a shop to sort of put it half way between "correct" for each situation and just deal with the tire wear.
Carrying a big heavy truck camper is going to make your tires wear out faster anyway so be prepared for that. I doubt you'll get more than about 30,000 miles on a set of tires with really heavy loads.

Like KD4UPL says, get an alignment with the camper on. Hopefully that is the way you use it the most. If you use it about the same with and without the camper, then you may want to put about 1/2 the weight of the camper in the back (pallet of bocks?) and then get the alignment. It won't be right for either application but will be close for both. The other things is make sure you rotate the tires about every 5,000 miles.

Might be nothing but what are the scale weights with and without the camper?

Typically the center of gravity for the camper is pretty close to the rear axle and shouldn't significantly impact the front axle weight.

I sold that camper but was thinking of getting a different one. So I can't weigh anything now.

As above mentioned, take it to a truck shop and align with camper and full water …j

mizdeb wrote:
I sold that camper but was thinking of getting a different one. So I can't weigh anything now.

Not a bad idea to get the base axle weights, so you know what you have available to work with.

mizdeb wrote:

Buzzcut1 wrote:
It's out of alignment (camber/caster) take it to a shop

I had just had front end worked on & alignment done.

take it to a different place and get itchecked, ask around who does the best alignments and go there. it took me 3 shops before I found one that actualy does it right.

as for load in or load off, I havent noticed a difference, I got the alignment empty and when I have my camper in Iam atmax, when I have the 5th wheel on Im almost at max. more miles loaded than empty and everything is fine.

Steve

IMO, there is only one condition that “might” cause that type of tire wear while hauling a camper with your truck (independent front suspension). And that would be if your camper center of gravity was significantly aft of the rear axle, taking a considerable amount of weight off the front axle causing a bit of positive camber.
There is very little chance the camper was adding significant weight TO the FA. And if it did, it would cause a theoretical opposite camber and opposite wear that you’re seeing.

Your front tire wear is either due to misalignment, too much toe or somehow negative camber. Or the more likely cause is if you drove alot of miles on very twisty roads, the body roll of the camper will put more stress on the outsides of the tires than the inside.

In short, 99% chance it’s alignment or front end components causing it. 1% chance it’s the camper unless a lot of tight turning mountain miles I could foresee some wear.