Tires (the weakest link)
Like every other truck camper owner, I am looking to increase the safe load carrying capacity of my truck (2012 Chevy 3500HD SRW). I get that you can't increase the payload, but I also know that 90% o...
Forum Discussion
Bedlam wrote:
It comes down to where you use your truck (do you need flotation) and how heavy you will be loaded. I was putting 8000 lbs on the SRW rear axle which stopped me from using LT or even the smaller 225/70r19.5 tires.
Practically speaking, if I have a 4000lb truck camper on my SRW, I am not going to be taking my truck anywhere too extreme.
I was really just looking for a solution that would let me keep my current wheels while increasing my safety factor on my tires, and avoiding the learning curve associated with commercial tires.
Alas, I am slowly caving to the idea of 19.5's. The more I think about it, committing to using a very niche tire (Kanati) is probably a bad idea long term. While I may not end up being a fan of the stiff ride or the cost of the 19.5's, the tire options are numerous.
I think I just needed some time to marinate on the investment. It helps that I found a freight forwarder that can get the wheel to AK for $350 (rather than $1200 FedEx).
I am still curious about the practical load limitations of OEM steel wheels. I would just hate to "experiment" with my family in the truck with me.
