modexi

I have a 2014 F150 SCREW EB 2wd and a 2015 Keystone Hideout 260LHS trailer (~5100lb dry, ~640lb tongue). Usually a few hundred pounds of junk (generator, air compressor, tools) in the bed.

I currently have 275/65r18SL General Grabber AT2 tires on my truck, and pull with a Camco Elite WDH with two friction sway bars.

I pulled it on the first long trip (300mi) a couple days ago, and noted bad sway issues in 10-15mph crosswinds, causing me to slow to 50-55mph for over a hundred miles. I adjusted the hitch once we arrived, and drove 70mi with it today in a similar crosswind, this time able to pull at the goal speed of 65mph.

I still feel a lot of squirming and the rear tires squish a lot when the trailer is loaded, even when aired to 40PSI. I know that the load ratings are safe, but everywhere I've read and everyone I've talked to seems to indicate that moving to an E rated tire would help.

I'm also interested in going with a slightly milder, while still AT tread of some kind. I prefer the more aggressive look and do take my truck on quite a few dirt/logging roads, but nothing more severe than that.

Currently I'm looking at the Firestone Destination A/T 275/65/18E tires. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

raisin

I'm in the same deal. I have '14 scab with p rated 18" tired aired to 40 psi towing '24 6K trailer. I also have '99 F250ld (F150) that towed it solid, no sway. The '14 has some sway on interstates. I use WDH and one sway bar.

I mostly use truck for towing, no daily driving. So next spring I will start with Rancho RS9000 adjustable rear shocks. Rear sway bar and Michelin M/S 2 load range E tires. Most of this is from recent trailer life mag.

I may tow thousands of miles in a year so I prefer a solid platform. Thats what I had in the '99 F250 light Duty.

modexi

I'm very close to picking up a set of four Firestone Destination A/T tires tomorrow in LT275/65R18. Still doing my research.

If they don't do the trick alone, I'll add a set of Airbags once I get the TV and TT home, about 300 miles away. We'll be heading that way Tuesday or Wednesday.

raisin

Let us know how it comes out, good luck..

smokeywren

For the unaware, the '97 thru '99 F-250 LD was really an F-150 with the HD Payload pkg. LT 245/75R16 Load Range E tires on 7-lug wheels were standard. So was heavier-duty suspension that resulted in 1,200 pounds increase GVWR (7,700 vs 6,500 for the SuperCab 4x4)


Do not confuse the F-250 LD with the real '97 F-250 Heavy Duty or '99 F-250 Super Duty. No such thing as a '98 Heavy Duty or Super Duty pickup, but there were '98 F-250 LDs.

Ford realized the marketing blunder after only three model years of the mis-named F-250 LD, and returned to the name of F-150 with HD Payload pkg for the Y2K model year. The F-150 with HD Payload pkg is still available today in the 2015 models, although with XLT or better trim, it no longer has 7-lug wheels.

DieselDawg

I went with E-Rated on my truck and pull a 2015 Jayco White Hawk 29REKS...~7200#s. truck is 4x4 and lifted...E-rated a must IMO. Run the fronts at 45psi and the rears at 55psi...WD Hitch plus one Friction Control arm...pulls great so far.

pibi

BF Goodridge has some 265-65-18's E rated. They will keep the truck to the original settings.

smokeywren

Close, but no cigar. OP's F-150 is a 4x2, so it came with P265/60R18. 4x4s came with P265/65/R18. 3.8% different "settings" for speedo, odo, and trip meter.

pibi

You are right. It'll be the closer of all. They don't make E rated 265-60-18's .

acadianbob

Are you running P-metric tires right now? I wasn't sure from the discussion.

Anyway, consider a C rated LT tire. E rated may be overkill; added weight, reduced fuel economy, worse ride, E rating not required to handle payload.

I'm towing a 5,500 lb RV trailer with C rated LT's. No sway issues at all. And yes, the do ride rougher than P-metrics. But you can reduce to 40 PSI when unloaded and then the ride is OK IMO.