Here's a new one. (tires)

[narcodog]

So last week I went to my favorite tire store in Bozeman, MT to get some new shoes for the rig. The tires I have are 60K miles or 36 months. I had 45K on so a warranty was do. They measured the tires and told me that the inside was worn about 3/64's more than the outside indicating that the rig was out of alignment. It was aligned after the last set was put on. Now here is the new one, the store owners son, not young, told me I should have the front end aligned with the the TC on and when driving without it it should be re-aligned as the camber will be off under both circumstances.
I normally put on 8K miles a year with the TC on and less with it off.

The question is have any of you ever heard of the necessity to have your truck re-aligned whether the TC is on or off.

Buy the way, they haggled which I knew they would so I ended up paying $500.00 for an $800.00 set of tires.

[Joe417]

I followed that advice last year. Chevy place had a new machine that could handle both truck and TC. I was their first customer on the new machine.

Long story short, it wore the tires much worse than previously.

Not sure why, whether machine problem or operator problem.

My brother has a Kodiak 5500 2 car hauler and said he always loads it with a heavy vehicle to get it aligned.

Just had ours re-aligned without the TC. It always did fair without the loaded alignment.

[KD4UPL]

When I had a utility tool body put on my new dually the front tires started wearing funny. I got it re-aligned and that took care of it. The guy at the shop said it was because of the additional weight on the back changing things up front and that any truck that had all that weight added to it should have the alignment re-done.
My TC hauling truck was also my work truck so when the camper wasn't on there a tool box body was so the truck was very rarely ever "empty".

[ticki2]

Many things can affect the front end alignment , not just weight on the front . If the rear is high , level or low . Overall squat compared to empty . Not knowing what criteria the OEM used to determine the specs , empty or loaded , makes it a guess . Right or wrong I chose to align loaded . Mostly have the TC on or some other significant load .

[Grit_dog]

It should not matter, as TC's generally don't affect the front axle weight significantly.
It makes zero difference on solid axle trucks and only a minute difference....maybe, on IFS trucks. Camber doesn't change perceptibly with only minimal static suspension movement.

Bottom line, no, it really doesn't matter if the camper is on or not.
What astounds me is you actually got a huge pro-ration on 45k mile tires that weren't even worn evenly.

[jaycocreek]

The question is have any of you ever heard of the necessity to have your truck re-aligned whether the TC is on or off.

Yes..It should be checked periodically..Many things can change it especially when doing back wash-boardy roads..

[Kayteg1]

That must depend on the camper.
My big unit takes 200-300lb off front axle, so when I load my behind, DW, 3 dogs and "some beer" inside the cab, that should even up.
Meaning my front axle -camper, or empty has the same load on it.

[newman_fulltime]

Its a very common thing to do

[Photomike]

It does make sense, just like aiming your headlights. But honestly who would if the camper is only part time on the truck.

[fpoole]

Yah, I got the same thing from Schwabs, OR...

I'm pulling to the Right and figured I knocked out of Alignment... They couldn't do it at that store as they advised and best to do it with the camper ON...

I guess it makes some sense as it's more weight, and I've always had a 'Lean to the Right' side which bugs me and the tires, were low, 60lbs s/b 90lbs (19.5) (working on the Air bags and compressor for tires)

Seemed to track a little better, so it might be just low air, if I'm lucky..

But YES, they recommended the camper on for alignment...

I'm full time so don't take camper off very much..