So I have a 2006 Bigfoot 25c9.4 that I carry on a 2005 ford f350 srw truck. The tag on the bigfoot says that it weighs 2400lbs (or there about) and I figure I've got about 1000lbs in the camper. The truck is equipped with firestone air bags and an aftermarket sway bar and seems to handle the weight just fine. However, I have toyo 35x12.5x20 mt's mounted on my stock 20" wheels, and they are only rated at 3200lbs (the tires, not sure about the wheels which are the stock ford harley wheels). I knew the camper caused me to exceed the truck's gvwr and the rear gawr, but I wasn't too concerned because I figured I was only exceeding the rating by a marginal amount; however, I finally scaled the truck this past weekend and the total weight was 13,400lbs and the rear axle weighed 8,400lbs. I was shocked to see that I had my rear tires overloaded by 1 ton. Obviously this is not acceptable so I am now looking to replace my wheels and tires. I really like the Toyo Mt's and noticed that if I go to a 285/75r18 in the same tire, the weight rating goes up to 4,080lb per tire. I would still be over, but I would be much closer. I am however having trouble finding an 18" wheel that is rated for a similar capacity. I know that I could also go the 19.5" route, but I'd really like a tire that is capable off road as I do like to go off the beaten path at times. So, any opinions on the 18" wheels with toyo mt tires vs 19.5's? Are there any decent looking 19.5 wheels out there? Sorry for the long post!

So much for the camper weighing 2400#, huh?In my opinion, the one area where it is BAD to exceed capacity is tires.One thing to keep in mind is that when you go around curves you are temporarily transferring more weight to the outside tire. And if that tire is already overloaded........Have you gone to the Rickson website?

RE : OEM hub centric steel wheels vs. aftermarket wheels. Talk to commercial truck tire professionals before you spend your money.People that i know that run 19.5's have a second set of wheels/tires to run short term on the beach. Shouldn't air down a 19.5.

I've looked at both the Rickson website and the Vision website and it doesn't appear that I have a lot of options - and the few that I do have are not very appealing. So why should you not air down a 19.5? Swapping out wheels & tires to drive on the beach does not sound very appealing to me.

shabr66 wrote:I've looked at both the Rickson website and the Vision website and it doesn't appear that I have a lot of options - and the few that I do have are not very appealing. So why should you not air down a 19.5? Swapping out wheels & tires to drive on the beach does not sound very appealing to me.The 19.5 commericals do not have a bead like a lt tire. Air it down and it could pop off the rim. When the poster stated about another set of wheels what they do is when going to the beach they install that set of tires at home and go to the beach. When they are traveling elsewhere and not the beach they leave on the 19.5.Wow that Bigfoot is really heavy. My 10 2 CDSE Northern Lite is 3000# dry and that is the weight it was when it left the factory (the factory weighs every camper before it leaves and put a tag inside telling what the weight is). So when I'm loaded I'm right at 3700 to 4000# depending where we are going as to how heavy we are loaded. So I'm over my F350 GVWR by about max of 600#. I do run the 19.5 even though I could probably run my standard 18" on mine and be fine.

The bead on a 19.5 will not hold under 50 PSI due to the stiff sidewall. I have aired mine down to 50 PSI to cross soft sand/ash mix but kept speeds bellow 25 mph.

Reality Check - Camper Weight | Good Sam Community

jimh406
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2013
The pic you posted is similar to what we see in WA for a beach. As long as you are careful, 19.5s should be fine. My signature picture is from a beach as well.

The problem with not going 19.5s is that the non-19.5 rims aren't rated high enough even though the tires might be. As far as decent looking goes, rims are pretty personal, but I like my Visions ok. The best are probably from Rickson.

To get by, you could reduce what you carry and or pull a small trailer when you feel like you need lots of stuff and get buy with E tires/wheels.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Aug 28, 2013
But you're STILL overloading the wheels and tires with the 18's... I personally wouldn't want to spend all that time and money and not have the problem 100% completely fixed...

Unless you can dump about 300lbs of weight...
shabr66
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
I may be underestimating how much weight I've added to the bigfoot. I have 5 group 31 agm batteries, solar, and I added the A/C unit as well.

I think I may continue looking for an 18" wheel that is rated at least as high as the toyo mt 285/75r18's (4080lbs) and just go that route. I don't want to have a second set of wheels and tires that I have to switch out when I go on certain trips.
Bedlam
Moderator
Aug 27, 2013
The bead on a 19.5 will not hold under 50 PSI due to the stiff sidewall. I have aired mine down to 50 PSI to cross soft sand/ash mix but kept speeds bellow 25 mph.
Butch50
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
shabr66 wrote:
I've looked at both the Rickson website and the Vision website and it doesn't appear that I have a lot of options - and the few that I do have are not very appealing.

So why should you not air down a 19.5? Swapping out wheels & tires to drive on the beach does not sound very appealing to me.

The 19.5 commericals do not have a bead like a lt tire. Air it down and it could pop off the rim. When the poster stated about another set of wheels what they do is when going to the beach they install that set of tires at home and go to the beach. When they are traveling elsewhere and not the beach they leave on the 19.5.

Wow that Bigfoot is really heavy. My 10 2 CDSE Northern Lite is 3000# dry and that is the weight it was when it left the factory (the factory weighs every camper before it leaves and put a tag inside telling what the weight is). So when I'm loaded I'm right at 3700 to 4000# depending where we are going as to how heavy we are loaded. So I'm over my F350 GVWR by about max of 600#. I do run the 19.5 even though I could probably run my standard 18" on mine and be fine.
shabr66
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
I've looked at both the Rickson website and the Vision website and it doesn't appear that I have a lot of options - and the few that I do have are not very appealing.

So why should you not air down a 19.5? Swapping out wheels & tires to drive on the beach does not sound very appealing to me.
bobndot
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2013
RE : OEM hub centric steel wheels vs. aftermarket wheels. Talk to commercial truck tire professionals before you spend your money.

People that i know that run 19.5's have a second set of wheels/tires to run short term on the beach. Shouldn't air down a 19.5.
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
So much for the camper weighing 2400#, huh?

In my opinion, the one area where it is BAD to exceed capacity is tires.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you go around curves you are temporarily transferring more weight to the outside tire. And if that tire is already overloaded........

Have you gone to the Rickson website?

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