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mizdeb's avatar
mizdeb
Explorer
Dec 12, 2021

Front axle

I have a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. Duramax and Allison. It appears the owner before me beefed up the rear suspension but when I had a heavy truck camper on it, it ate up tires on the front. The tires were wearing heavily on the outside area of tread, like the truck was pigeon - toed. Is there anything I can do to fix this so I can get another truck camper?
Thanks, Deb
  • 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.
  • 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.