I purchased this truck a couple of years ago to carry a slide in camper. It is not driven daily. When the camper is not on this truck, it rides extremely rough compared to my previous 1/2 ton trucks. I feel every bump in the road. The recommended tire pressure is 45 lbs in the front and 75lbs in the rear. I have 285 X16 E rated tires. The ride is better with the camper on.

My questions are:
1. Will reducing the air pressure 5 -10 (or more) improve the ride when the camper is not on the truck?
2. Will it affect the already low (12.5mpg) gas mileage?
3. Will reducing the pressure have any other adverse effect on the vehicle or the tires?
Thanx in advance for your advice.

 

Think about it for a minute.

The front is spec'ed for a lower tire pressure than the rear. But when the truck is empty, the front of the truck is heavier than the rear.

The rear tire pressure recommendation assumes a truck loaded to the rear gross axle weight rating. If you don't have that much weight on it, you don't need that much air in it.

I run 60 front and rear on mine. The tires actually wear better, because the tire is contacting the road more evenly. It probably gets a little less fuel mileage, because more tire touching the road means more friction, etc. But, you should also have a little better traction for the same reason.

 

What engine? With the front tire pressure recommendation, I'm assuming V8 gas.

You will get better fuel economy running higher pressure. The down side is rougher ride. Also, it is a heavier duty truck and will ride rougher than a 1/2 ton. The 285 e rated tires are also probably stiffer in the side wall that the typical light truck tire.

My truck rides smoother with a few hundred pounds in the bed or with a 5th wheel hooked up. It is just the nature of the heavier duty truck.

 

The engine is a 5.4 V8 gas and I have to have the E rated tires for the load carrying capability.

....and it does ride a lot smoother with a load. I am just trying to see if I can smooth it when there is no load. What got me to thinking about this is that a relative just purchased a 1 ton chevy and it rides a lot smoother than my F250. I dont like chevys and have no intention of purchasing one. I just want the F250 to not be so rough.

Thnx

 

Several hundred pounds of stuff in the bed would smooth out the ride some and probably not effect mileage. That might be an option.