Weighed my rig

[Oregun]

Greetings all.
Here is a picture of my rig courtesy of google on I84 in the Columbia Gorge.

I have a 99 F350 2WD with V10 engine. The tires are almost 6 years
old. Currently Hankook 265/75/16E which have been good tires.
I don't put a lot of miles on the tires as I just use the truck for camping, hauling firewood and other hauling around town. I put about 3k miles per year tops. But its time to think about replacing them.
Recently weighed my rig on a camping trip and got
Front 3800
Rear 6500
Total 10300

GVWR on my truck is 9900
Front GAWR 4400
Rear GAWR 6830

When I take my daughter and her stuff camping with me the rear weight goes up right to the max. (6800)
How safe is my vehicle? Note: I carried the same camper on my 1990 F250HD for 15 years without mishap.

Looking for options on new tires to increase the safety margin.
I see that 285/75r16 tires can go up to 3750 lbs but I can't find out what my current rims can handle.

I am willing to go to 19.5/vision tires/wheels but what about brake upgrades and spare tire?
Suggestions anyone? Thanks for your inputs.

[Vinsil]

Great choice and I recently made the switch to 19.5's as well.

Awesome picture, never been there but it looks wonderful.

[Oregun]

Went camping on first trip with the 19.5's, they already handle better
with only 200 miles on them. Went to Trillium Lake near Mt. Hood.
They are shutting down the campground after this weekend for the winter.
Here is a picture from the dam.

[jimh406]

Nice looking tires. Congrats!

[Oregun]

Bought some used vision rims and new tires.
Here are two pictures..



Went with Cooper RM253 245/70/19.5 Load Range H tires.
So far I like them a lot, no noticeable difference in braking but these are heavy wheels/tires.
Was going to get the Hankook DH01 but the tire guy said he had problems getting them balanced. He hadn't had problems with the Coopers.
Tire guy said the tow truck owners buy these tires for the rears.
He put 91psi in them for driving empty and it seems ok. They max out at 120psi load of 4940 lbs.
Can't wait to try them out with camper.

Thanks for everyone's comments.
Happy Camping

[Oregun]

I think I will go with 19.5's. You persuaded me, I also want a bigger margin in case I get heavier camper. Anyone have recommendations on a good off the road tread 19.5? I go into the woods on logging roads empty and come out with about 4000 lbs of firewood. I've had Hankook Dynapro for last 6 years and they have been good tires and were reasonably priced so am tempted to go with the Hankook DH01 19.5's.

[Buzzcut1]

My 285s were less than one year old with less than 5k on them. But I was running them right at their weight limit with no margin for error. The 245/70R19.5s brought me up to 1500 pounds of rear axle tire load margin from 100 pounds of margin.

with my 19.5s

[Oregun]

Buzzcut1 wrote:
so your 2005 F350 is an SRW correct. same wheels and spec as my old 2003 F350. I went withthe 285s for more saftey, still had a camper that was near the rating of the 285s had a blow out and damage then went to 19.5s Best choice I ever made on a SRW for carrying a camper is the 19.5s. Upgraded to a dually this year but kept the SRW with the 19.5s too

Half right, it is a 1999 F350 SRW. How old were your 285 tires when you had a blowout? I am leaning towards getting 19.5's.
Don't really want a dually, have trouble running over curbs with a SRW when turning corners now. : )

[Buzzcut1]

so your 2005 F350 is an SRW correct. same wheels and spec as my old 2003 F350. I went withthe 285s for more saftey, still had a camper that was near the rating of the 285s had a blow out and damage then went to 19.5s Best choice I ever made on a SRW for carrying a camper is the 19.5s. Upgraded to a dually this year but kept the SRW with the 19.5s too

[Oregun]

lawrosa wrote:
That wheel is an OEM F81Z1007AA and they put them on the f550's.

I dont see an issue... I think they were the same width and all.

Whats the tire pressure on a 1999 f 550? I think they were an F rating

http://www.wheelsandcaps.com/p-20374-aluminum-alloy-wheel-rim-16x7-3407.aspx

I think the F550 used a 19.5 wheel not a 16". Found the ford specs
and it said 3415 lbs maximum for wheels but they may have been stating that with the tires. Interesting the wheel p/n is 3407 which is very close to the 3415 spec for the tires.

[Oregun]

billtex wrote:
I think the question is about upgrading his 6 yr old tires that are on the F350.

Don't know what tires were on the old F250...

Right you are my tires are getting closer to aging out and I wanted to investigate where I stood weight wise and what the options are for increasing the safety factor.

Some more history...
My first Camper was a beauty 1968 Royal Coachman by Teardrop, got that in 1976 and a new 1976 F250 ($5000) to carry it. Trucks were cheaper then.

[Oregun]

Grit dog wrote:
You had this camper on a F250 for 15 years and asking if it's safe to put on your F350 now?
Who did you ask 15 years ago on the web for approval and why would you think a 350 is t good for it now?

That was a long time ago.
I got the F250HD and camper in 1990 before I was on the internet, was the rv forum here then? Didn't have a community of other campers to discuss weight issues back then plus I was busy working. The dry weight of the camper is 2600 lbs.
It sagged a bit in back initially so I took it to a spring shop and they installed overloads which leveled it up. Don't remember what tires I ran back then but they were over 3k/tire Michelin.

15 years later I upgraded to F350 (2005) so I figured was better off.
Retired now and have more time so wanted to see how safe it was on the F350 and if I could carry a heavier camper in the future.
My camper is 1986 Western Wilderness and is getting old.(delaminating siding)

[billtex]

I think the question is about upgrading his 6 yr old tires that are on the F350.

Don't know what tires were on the old F250...

[mkirsch]

Grit dog wrote:
You had this camper on a F250 for 15 years and asking if it's safe to put on your F350 now?
Who did you ask 15 years ago on the web for approval and why would you think a 350 is t good for it now?

That's what I was wondering.

He apparently felt perfectly safe with the F250, and this "new" F350 has more capacity, AND the truck is loaded within ratings. I would think he'd feel MORE safe, not less safe.

[Grit_dog]

You had this camper on a F250 for 15 years and asking if it's safe to put on your F350 now?
Who did you ask 15 years ago on the web for approval and why would you think a 350 is t good for it now?