New Truck and Tires advice

[StylinLP38]

Well, I own a 2017 Outdoor RV 20" Creekside trailer with no slide outs. At the scale it weights 4750 lbs. I took it from Phx AZ to Santa Monica camp group once and twice for a month each to the Rock Mountains. Was using my 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 liter. I can get up to 75mph (I usually stay at 65mph) but drop to 45mph going up 7% grades and 8 MPG. The entire trip I averaged 9 mpg.

Now I want a truck. I real truck and I might even upgrade my trailer to a 25' model too someday. So I got my choices narrowed down to

2018 Chevy Silverado High Country 6.2 liter
but it comes with 22" drives and Brigdestone Dueler A/T TH-s
285/45 22" rated at 2337 lbs

2019 RAM 1500 Laredo with 5.7 HEMI
It comes with 20" tires Bridgetone 275/55 20"
rated at 2561 lbs

Both tire choices plain suck. On my Jeep Grand Cherokee I bought new Cooper Adventure A/T 18" tires that are 8 ply and rated over 3000.

What size tires should I have the dealership change those existing tires to? Those that come with those models sure are not towing tires.
I was thinking of the Cooper Discover A/T 3 rated at 2892 lbs but that is still not a LT tire...On the Chevy should I have them put on 20" rims instead and get a better tire? I read on here that 55 height of a tire does not have enough side wall and has a stiff ride.

[Grit_dog]

StylinLP38 wrote:
Okay I finally bought a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup truck with a 5.7 Hemi engine and 8 speed I've been driving around town last 2 days I'm averaging 16 miles per gallon I can't wait to try it Towing. It.came with 18" rims and passenger tires. I need to get a tonodiella cover firnthe bed on sale somewhere

Very nice truck!
It will be a night and day dofference from the GJC towing. AND you got the 5th gen! Now you're stylin!
P tires are fine for your little trailer. Air em up in back and use them up.

[brulaz]

StylinLP38 wrote:

...
Today I have appt to test the 2018 Chevy High Country 6.2l with its 22" tires. It sucks that it's payload is 1333 on the door sticker but I can probably gain 50 lbs when I sell those 22" tires. My current trailer is under 5000 lbs loaded up.
...

Yes, 1333# payload is rather low for an Outdoors RV trailer. They typically have high tongue weights when loaded, often over 15% like mine.

Another example: the 20FQ (4400# dry, 6200# GVWR) is reported to run over 1000# TW. http://www.irv2.com/forums/f282/20fq-questions-399182.html

[StylinLP38]

Okay I finally bought a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup truck with a 5.7 Hemi engine and 8 speed I've been driving around town last 2 days I'm averaging 16 miles per gallon I can't wait to try it Towing. It.came with 18" rims and passenger tires. I need to get a tonodiella cover firnthe bed on sale somewhere

[bartlettj]

Well, I went from 9 mpg with a 5.3L Tahoe to 12.4mpg with a 2500HD Duramax, but the diesel and 6 speed transmission instead of 4 speed probably did it, I wouldn't expect the same difference with a gasser. The diesel with a turbo and exhaust brake makes mountain driving so much more relaxed.

[parker_rowe]

ib516 wrote:
Just for an FYI, I pull a 17' hybrid that weighs 3500 lbs loaded with a 5.7L Hemi and I get 9 to 10 mpg.
I used to have a 37' 5er that weighed 12,000 lbs and pulled it with a 6.4L Hemi in a Ram 2500 that got 7-9 mpg. A 5.9L Cummins before that with that same 5er, 9-11 mpg.

Point is, no matter what you trade up to, for a tow vehicle, you're not going to improve mpg a lot. You might get a big upgrade in towing power, but the mpg won't change much.

The tires that come on those trucks will do the job for you without any modifications needed.

Yep...I tow a 6500lb GVWR camper with a 20+ year old half ton Suburban and I get....wait for it...7-9mpg. Hand calculated.

No magic pill for gas mileage when towing a huge brick through the air at 60mph.

OP: I bet you'll have a much nicer towing experience with either of those trucks, even with the stock tires.

[Grit_dog]

Fair enough. And yeah the 22s May be a little closer to pavement pounder tires, but IMO, potholes and bridge expansions etc are just as detrimental as that rock on a trail. Maybe moreso, because you’re not likely to be doing 60-70mph on a dirt road or trail, but you’re guaranteed to be going that fast down the highway.

[ksss]

Grit dog wrote:
^ How many vehicles you have with 20s or bigger?
Yes super low profile can be detrimental for impact protection, but it's simply not an issue on say 45 series or higher tires unles you go around taggin curbs at high speed.
Have 2 cars with 35 and 40 series tires. One of which had a couple bent rims when we bought it. Had the rims straightened and was a bit concerned about what you're saying, but almos 100k daily driven miles later, rims are still true.

I have one a 2016 GMC 1500 SLT (and my Camaro which doesn't count at least to me). I have not had an issue, probably because it is my wife's and doesn't leave pavement. I just look at the low profile and know that it could be an issue. It is likely just my view on it, but I would not have such a low profile tire on a pickup that left the asphalt. Even camping, we do primarily dispersed camping, that means forest service roads, I just don't like the rim so close to the road.

[Grit_dog]

^ How many vehicles you have with 20s or bigger?
Yes super low profile can be detrimental for impact protection, but it's simply not an issue on say 45 series or higher tires unles you go around taggin curbs at high speed.
Have 2 cars with 35 and 40 series tires. One of which had a couple bent rims when we bought it. Had the rims straightened and was a bit concerned about what you're saying, but almos 100k daily driven miles later, rims are still true.

[ksss]

Grit dog wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
Have the dealer put the tires and wheels you want as part of the deal. Or no deal. Watch how quick they scramble. They do it all the time

True story probably. A resourceful salesman will find a way to give you cheaper downgraded wheels for the same price all day long.
But since the 22s will actually be stiffer and more stable for towing, I can’t imagine why one would want to do that unless you didn’t like the appearance.

I prefer having a taller tire wall. Those 22"s are stiff but zero impact protection for the rim, when you get stuck you scratch the heck out of the wheels. Very few choice in aggressive tires in those sizes. That is why I like 18"s.

[Grit_dog]

Ron3rd wrote:
Have the dealer put the tires and wheels you want as part of the deal. Or no deal. Watch how quick they scramble. They do it all the time

True story probably. A resourceful salesman will find a way to give you cheaper downgraded wheels for the same price all day long.
But since the 20s or 22s will actually be stiffer and more stable for towing, I can’t imagine why one would want to do that unless you didn’t like the appearance.

[Ron3rd]

Have the dealer put the tires and wheels you want as part of the deal. Or no deal. Watch how quick they scramble. They do it all the time

[StylinLP38]

Yes, $700 round trip plus I drove about 100 miles around Denver area for a few weeks. I used a Fuel Buddy app to log all my gas fillups. I spent alot more in gas on the way up there beccause I kept it at 4000 RPM. On the way back I made sure never to go over 3200 RPM. Saved me an entire tank of gas on the way back.

I have a really nice Reese Steadi-FLex anti-sway and weight distribution hitch. My Jeep is perfectly level. WIthout it it sags bad.

[Ranger_Smith]

StylinLP38 wrote:
Well, I want to be able to afford to make my 1 month Denver CO trip twice a year. It's not feasable in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. $700 just.for gas is too much at $3 per gallon average. Last year the trip was $500 at the $2 average price.

Also, 7% grades were not fun. I don't like to drop below 55 mph on a 75 mph highway

Arizona to Colorado $700 for just gas. I can go from South Florida to Mass for less than that?? That must be round trip??

[StylinLP38]

Well, I want to be able to afford to make my 1 month Denver CO trip twice a year. It's not feasable in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. $700 just.for gas is too much at $3 per gallon average. Last year the trip was $500 at the $2 average price.

Also, 7% grades were not fun. I don't like to drop below 55 mph on a 75 mph highway