Regrets with 19.5" tires? Places you havent been able to go?

[Toximus]

I'm looking at purchasing a new truck and a medium size truck camper (likely a Lance 960).

• 75% of the miles will be hauling a 20' enclosed trailer with a rock crawler or UTV inside to camp and trails.
  
• 15% of the miles will be just the truck and camper on shorter road trips without the trailer.
  
• 10% of the miles will be around our house doing yard work or driving to town to grab car parts or lumber. I'm not too concerned about ride comfort for this since it's not a daily driver.
  

I need to make it to up mountains with dirt/gravel roads (think CO) to get to camp, park off the road at places like Glamis, and will be driving on highways and some back roads to my house through winter when it obviously can snow. After rain in the Spring and Fall I also don't want to get stuck on soft ground.

Does anyone else do similar travel with 19.5" tires? Instead of an F450 do you recommend a F350 or Ram 3500 with 17" tires?

[Kayteg1]

I've got 60,000 miles from Sailung (?) tires in 19.5" size.
That was on flatbed, who was used for 10,000 lb loads.

[Bedlam]

I just received a seven new 245/70r19.5 Toyo's to replace my 7 year old OEM tires. After 65k miles, the Continental's still have healthy tread but are being replaced due to age. I never had to use the spare, but it is also getting replaced.

[mbloof]

I switched over to 19.5's in 2014. While I don't drive on beaches or have been caught in the snow there are a number of options with mountain/snowflake available in the 19.5 sizes.

I like the peace of mind that my tires are not the 'weakest link' and I'll likely replace them due to age rather then wearing them out.


- Mark0.

[Bedlam]

19.5's have plenty of traction tread but do not have flotation. If you are in deep snow or soft sand, LT tires are better. I am on my second truck now with 19.5's and know the limitations but will not give up the durability and load carrying ability.

[Grit_dog]

jimh425 wrote:

specta wrote:

Toximus wrote:
do you recommend a F350 or Ram 3500 with 17" tires?

I think new F-250s and 350s come with 18" wheels.

That’s why I was thinking he’s trying to decide between a F350 DRW and F450 DRW.

Packers won so OP is probably indisposed for a while!

[jimh406]

specta wrote:

Toximus wrote:
do you recommend a F350 or Ram 3500 with 17" tires?

I think new F-250s and 350s come with 18" wheels.

That’s why I was thinking he’s trying to decide between a F350 DRW and F450 DRW.

[specta]

Toximus wrote:
do you recommend a F350 or Ram 3500 with 17" tires?

I think new F-250s and 350s come with 18" wheels.

[Kayteg1]

Sounds to me that you are trying to avoid DRW and do 19.5' wheel conversion + suspension reinforcement to make it working with camper and trailer.
I bought DRW and never had the dilemma, but I read that several members who spend big money on SRW suspension upgrades, eventually ended in buying DRW.
19.5 might be a help, but they are not substitute.

[jimh406]

I haven’t had any problems going where I want to go. But, you might want to go somewhere different.

F450s have 4.30 gears by default which will hurt your MPG compared to a F350. 19.5s can’t be aired down due to the type of beads they have. I bought a F450 because I wanted the tougher tires, better brakes, and better turning radius of the F450 and to future proof if I ever wanted a large fifth wheel.

It sounds like from your description, you’d be better off with a F350 DRW. You have much more options for tires with 17s, and like I said, you can air them down if needed.

[Grit_dog]

If your comparing to a F450, are you planning on a 350/3500 dually or srw ?
If dually, you have no need for 19.5s at all
If srw then makes sense as your rears will be at max with OEM tires and wheels