Recommended Tire Pressure

[Turbo-TA]

I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab dually with a Duramax. I have purchased a 2003 Lance 1161 camper that weighs 3900LBS. I presently have 60LBS in all the tires. What should the proper tire pressure be, considering the heavy camper that I am hauling?

[Diesel Dragon]

Hi Turbo TA,
You can check on the drivers door or door jamb for the sticker applied by the factory that tells you the recommended air pressure for your front and rear tires. It's usually pretty high so that way the tires will be able to support your GVWR, but the ride is usually a little harsh. I think it's 65 psi front, and 70 psi rear. But check your sticker to make sure. :cool:
Good luck, Diesel Dragon

[dmaxster]

The formula I use is as follows...

axle weight / number of tires X max air pressure / weight rating of tires used = tire pressure needed

example 5000 lbs axle weight / 2 tires X 80 psi max air / 3042 rating of tire = 65.7 PSI needed.........

my truck stock has 2700 rear axle weight.....so it calls for 35.5 PSI but I run 58 in it to cover for anything I would put in the box.....you can use what you want.....but softer tire pressure indeed helps ride.....but yet I can have 4400 lbs on rear.....

I have used this and haven't had a problem yet.....knock on wood .....dmaxster....hope this helps. :D :D

[SPICER]

Turbo-TA,
Mine is a 2500HD. The front takes 55 and the back 80psi. HOWEVER, 80 psi is way too much in my opinion when running empty. It will only bald the center of the tire faster. (Think about it, the back is much lighter than the front. When empty, more pressure in the back doesn't make sense.) Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I run 55 in all the tires when empty. A dually is a different animal, but I would think the principle remains the same. 3900 lbs is peanuts for your truck. I would think it would be a harsh ride with max psi in the rear.....SPICER

[Rick T]

If your 2002 came with load range D tires as did my 2001 I would consider upgrading to load range E which can be run at 80 psi when you are maxed out (which you will be with that camper). If I'm not mistaken the D range tires are rated to 65 psi and carry a commensurately lower load rating.

The wheels represent a bit of a fly in the ointment as they are probably rated to only 65 psi, as well. My personal feeling is that I would rather run the risk of overtaxing the wheels than severely overload a tire in case of rear tire failure.

[Lone Eagle]

Rick, I wasn't aware that the 3500 has lower rated tire than the 2500. I would bet that the six tires on the 3500 will carry the GVW also. Wheels should not be a problem unless you go to a lot bigger tire.

Turbo, I would start with the rear tires at max. If you put a lot of miles on hauling the camper, watch for tire wear.
Later! Lone Eagle

[Cardiac]

Turbo-TA
I load a 2001 Lance 1140 on my 2001 ex cab 3500 then put on the 48" hitch extension to pull the boat with. The book calls for 65PSI in the rear and I run 70PSI in the front. We run 75MPH all across Colorado and with 30,000 miles on the tires thay have worn nice and flat. When we are not traveling I drop to 55PSI all around. Hope you put on Firtstone Ride-rite air bags and a Hellwig Anti-sway bar and a set of Rancho 9000
adjustable shocks, becouse you will need them, especialy in a cross wind.

[jcummins]

A couple of you have posted that you have more psi in the front tires than the back, yet have more weight on the rear. Why is that? I've always done just the opposite.

[jcummins]

I may have thought of the reason why. Are you doing this because of DRW? I have SRW.

[jcummins]

I may have thought of the reason why. Are you doing this because of DRW? I have SRW.

[Cardiac]

Remember that with 3500 and 65PSI in the back and 70PSI in the front that we are talking about 1 ton truck, 4 rear tires 2 times the load capacity. smile.gif

[LanceW]

good advice I've seen on here before is to take one of those orange carpenter's crayons and make a stripe across the tread on all six tires. run it a little, and you will be able to see where it is wearing first, and adjust your air accordingly.

[Redhawk]

There was a thread not too long ago about the load rating on the stock trucks. The 2001 3500 was supposed to come with load range "E", but quite a few came with "D" range instead. I think I remember that some of those people were able to get new "E" range tire upgrades. I ran out to look at my tires but they turned out to be "E", so I forgot about it.

[xwing]

I put new tires on the rear of my 01 2500HD D/A longbed last year; towed trailer to Texas and back to WI with tires at 75psi all around. Left the tires there over winter etc driving around, and the center wear on the rears is more than the edges; the 75psi unloaded driving mostly is too much. I decreased the rears to 60psi now. The new stock-brand rears have worn faster than the originals, I think.

The fronts are originals (never rotated) and have 38,000 miles with still a reasonably good amount of tread left, though they seem to wear the outside edges more than the inside, like it could use a touch of negative camber. Maybe I'm cornering too fast too often; and the rears wear faster maybe due to a little extra HP smile.gif

[sonofagun]

jcummins,

Weigh your truck, front, rear and total. Then add the camper and do it again. The front of the truck wieghs more empty than does the rear. Use Dmaxter's formula to determine how much air you need. You have to know what you are carrying in/on your truck. Be sure the camper is loaded for a trip before weighing the truck with in on.

Empty I run my 2500 tires at 45 in front and 50 in back (with a 43 gal. aux fuel tank that sometimes adds 450lbs to the rear weight). the tires have worn well and I should get good mileage all in all. I run 75 in front and 80 in the back when I pull my 12500lb 5th wheel.

Good luck,
Bob