put my 19.5s on today

twodownzero wrote:

jimh425 wrote:
I suspect people are adding 19.5s to NOT push their luck.

Perhaps if you think that tires are all that make the difference. They are certainly the weakest link, but the fact is that the other parts of a 1 ton pickup are well-matched to E rated tires.

Installing 19.5" tires doesn't fix the underlying problem that the truck, and therefore its axles, springs, bearings, steering, etc., are probably significantly overloaded.

If all it took were airbags and G or H rated tires, there'd be no such thing as a DRW 1 ton; a SRW 1 ton with H rated tires has more than enough capacity to significantly exceed the GVWR of a 1 ton DRW with E rated tires without overloading or even stressing the G or H rated tires.

It takes a lot longer to see the wear and damage caused by overloading components that take a lot more time to fail than a set of tires, but it doesn't mean that they're not loaded beyond their design limits.

You should probably do a lot more research before making comments like that.

Aside from tires do you the know the only difference between my SRW and a DRW of the same year? The main leaf pack of the DRW is rated 7% higher, that's it! Everything else you listed is identical. Ford and GM do similar things.

Why do is everything a DRW and not a super single SRW? There is a minor benefit to the width, but one is generally above GVWR at that point. There is also public perception, same reason the all new powerstroke was made a V-8 when OTR trucks have shown us an I6 is better. Tire cost is another, as well as ride. My 19.5's ride petty good compared to my LRE's, in fact I prefer the ride in most conditions, but they are not what most people want from a ride. They also carry a 75 mph speed rating, lower than the rural interstate speed limit out here.

So if you want to talk design limits then you should know what they are first.

Rundown of my truck, and any 04-12 Dodge and most 03 diesels.

Front axle and suspension, same 2500 to DRW. All rated at 5,200lbs(03-09) or 5500lbs (10-12)depending on year.

Steering, same 2500 to 3500 DRW on diesel. DRW gas gets hydro boost that SRW doesn't have.

Frame. Same, give the same wheelbase, 2500-DRW.

Rear axle, all diesels 04-12 and most 03's have the same AAM 11.5" axle. The axle is rated by AAM for 10,912 lbs for SRW or DRW. Dodge give its ratings based on model from 6,010 to 9,350lbs. All under the design limit.

Rear suspension. All 2500-DRW use the same mounts. For 03-09 the 2500 and 3500 SRW main spring pack is a 4/1 design and is rated at 2600lbs/in. The DRW pack is a 3/1 design rated at 2800 lbs/in. Both 3500 SRW and DRW have upper overloads rated at 1300lbs/in. For 10-12 the 2500 and 3500 DRW are unchanged, the only change is to the 3500 SRW which loses the upper overloads and switches to the 3/1 spring pack. It's actually a weaker rear suspension than the 03-09's, but in 03-09 the upper overloads where not even engaged at the OEM RAWR so there wasn't much point to them. This is your single biggest difference, aside from tires. You can see there isn't a lot of difference, and certainly nothing a pair of airbags can't handle for a SRW.

All SRW HD pickups are tire and wheel limited, even the GM and Dodge gas 2500's with smaller axles. I believe all fords use the sterling 10.5" on SRW and Dana 80 on DRW.

The discussion is good, let's just try to keep it as accurate as possible.

2down...when I had my rear brakes done, the whole assembly was apart to check everything, since I was there already and from the size of the bearings and stuff back in there behind the brakes I don't think it will ever break...don't they use the same axel on different models...cost economy of manufacturing sort of thing!

Is there something to the notion that the manufactures would not be able to call the 1500, 2500 and 3500 pick-ups light trucks or some such thing so they meet the federal regs that the feds seem to apply at a whim.
It seems when you get to the 4500 and up they have 19.5 but are they light trucks? JAT!
It appears that the 3500 dula and the 4500 dual have the same axel assembly on one I looked at a few years ago. I may be totally out of wack here...just wondering!

twodownzero wrote:
I do agree that saying more > saying less, but sometimes keeping it short is > explaining oneself.

Sadly, I have always lacked an economy of words.

I hope you will come back often and contribute. It is always good to have someone mix up the discussion, introduce a different perspective. Then stay in there and not run away. We need more like you. My advice, keep the paint brush in the back pocket.

b

jimh425 wrote:
I suspect people are adding 19.5s to NOT push their luck.

Perhaps if you think that tires are all that make the difference. They are certainly the weakest link, but the fact is that the other parts of a 1 ton pickup are well-matched to E rated tires.

Installing 19.5" tires doesn't fix the underlying problem that the truck, and therefore its axles, springs, bearings, steering, etc., are probably significantly overloaded.

If all it took were airbags and G or H rated tires, there'd be no such thing as a DRW 1 ton; a SRW 1 ton with H rated tires has more than enough capacity to significantly exceed the GVWR of a 1 ton DRW with E rated tires without overloading or even stressing the G or H rated tires.

It takes a lot longer to see the wear and damage caused by overloading components that take a lot more time to fail than a set of tires, but it doesn't mean that they're not loaded beyond their design limits.

twodownzero wrote:
I agree that truck camper people tend to push their luck--many far beyond what I would do. Those people, especially, ought to have 19.5 on their 1 ton trucks.

I suspect people are adding 19.5s to NOT push their luck. I know I did on my SRW. Stock worked. Modified made it better.

DRWs can be overloaded, too. There are many examples here if you look. But let's not forget those who are over by what they carry or what they tow or simply by not using enough air pressure.

twodownzero wrote:
... I agree that truck camper people tend to push their luck--many far beyond what I would do. Those people, especially, ought to have 19.5 on their 1 ton trucks.

I do agree that saying more > saying less, but sometimes keeping it short is > explaining oneself.

It could be luck, or then it could be they are simply using their equipment and making modifications to make it work even better. I think each of us are entitled to our own comfort level. It appears from your post, you are very conservative on this subject. I think many truck camper people are very conservative and many are not. Overall, I think they are open minded enough to see what works and what does not. Some develop their beliefs on experience, some through research and some base it on sales information. I really do not think they base it on luck. If "truck camper people tend to push their luck", I would expect to see them lined up on the highways broke down. I do not see this to be true.

I have been on this Forum for about ten years. I would expect to see a lot of disappointed people based on your "truck camper people tend to push their luck" comment.

Wayne

bka0721 wrote:
I had been racing cars for over 20 years, grading compounds, working with Ford on their performance vehicles development you certainly have and had my attention with tires, their compositions and handling. But, Truck Camper people tend to push the limits in how and where they use their rigs. For the most part, they do it safely and come home safe, albeit a few scratches along their camper sides. I hope you continue to post here, but understand that there is a wealth of experience and users out there that are happy to share their experiences and knowledge. I hope you do too, albeit with less paint on your brush and more substance.

b

I agree that truck camper people tend to push their luck--many far beyond what I would do. Those people, especially, ought to have 19.5 on their 1 ton trucks.

I do agree that saying more > saying less, but sometimes keeping it short is > explaining oneself.

Dressage...I am impressed! Sorry about the rodeo joke! I like watching! Yeah your up where I am with my boat in tow at 17800.

pjay9 it all depends on how many dressage horses are in the trailer. The combined rig can weigh between 17000 and 19000 pounds and is 50 feet long