HoosierDad
Indianapolis, In, USA
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We have a 2012 F-250 standard cab 6.2L, full 8' bed. Our trailer is a 2013 Cruiser CT29RLX travel trailer. I have sway bars on each side as well as 800 lb bars on each side for weight distribution.
Since we bought the trailer new in 2012, it has towed very easily and consistently. Last year the trailer towed perfectly with little sway or movement. Camping season start was delayed this year due to COVID-19 so I decided to replace the original equipment Continental tires with the same thing at 60,000 miles as they were starting to look bad even though I still had over 1/4" of tread. The tires were replaced and I then had the alignment done. I knew the right front was out because I had quite a bit of wear on the outside edge and the alignment printout showed it. I was running 65 PSI in the front tires and 75 PSI in the rear tires.
We hooked up the trailer for our first camping trip and got about 2 miles away from the house on a two lane highway and noticed that the front end felt it was on ice. Very light on the steering and each car passing in the other direction gave me a little wiggle. I was paying close attention and it seemed to do better when I was on a curve and had pressure on the steering wheel to make the curve. I then got on a 6 lane interstate and it seemed that the smallest thing such as grooves in the concrete were pushing me left and right. I had enough and turned around due the risk I felt that it posed to us as well as everyone else. The sway was bad enough twice in about 10 miles that I had to slowly apply the brakes to stop it.
Nothing has changed in the camper. No additional weight, nothing in any of the tanks. Sometimes I will carry water; however, having all that weight on the back end behind the axles brings sway on so I rarely do it.
On the trip back to the house, I pulled into a large parking lot and tightened the chain up by another link to put additional weight on the front end. It seemed to help a little but not much. I still felt every groove in the highway and it did not accomplish what I thought it would.
Without the trailer the front end does seem to have a little slop in it now that I am paying attention. It is usually going straight as again following a curve with some pressure on it seems to help somewhat.
I'm going to have to go to the alignment place because they are not answering the phone and are not returning my calls to make an appointment to have them check their alignment work as a starting point.
In the mean time, has anyone experienced or heard about anything similar? I wonder it is an alignment issue, new bad Continental tires, a front end linkage problem. etc..
Thanks for reading and any ideas you might send my way.
2004 F250, CC, Lariat, 4x4, 6.0L PSD, 3.72
2004 Coyote 23CT
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Me, Wife, 21 year old daughter(never), 15 year old son (less and less)
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bgum
South Louisiana
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You were running 65 and 75 but what is it now pressure wise?
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Old-Biscuit
Verde Valley
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bgum wrote:You were running 65 and 75 but what is it now pressure wise?
Exactly.....
Sounds like fronts have higher pressure
Check front and rear when cold
Rechecking that alignment is good idea especially since you now have 'slop'
Ball joints...have them checked
New tires do feel different when first used....after a few hundred miles the 'slickness' should be gone
Is it time for your medication or mine?
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Beverley&Ken
Tottenham,Ontario
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Same tire with the same tread pattern? same pressures, possible a 'new bad Continental tires,'
Does it handle the same without the trailer as it did before. Since you had the alignment done, start at there shop, maybe they can check the tires as well
Ken
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Could be as simple as air pressure issue!
Bud
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Ha, you jsut haven't felt new tires in 8 years and your old racing slicks weren't pickin up what the road was puttin down! Are they also a more aggressive tread? As that new tire feeling will be even more pronounced.
Unless of course the alignment messed with the caster and you're light on caster or have a little toe out going on after the alignment.
Most likely just that new tire feel. IMO
"Yes Sir, Oct 10 1888, Those poor school children froze to death in their tracks. They did not even find them until Spring. Especially hard hit were the ones who had to trek uphill to school both ways, with no shoes." -Bert A.
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MitchF150
Puyallup, WA
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It actually takes brand new tires to 'break in' in for a bit when they are brand new... Usually around 500 miles or so.
Just Google it and you'll find a bunch of info on it.
Good luck! Mitch
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ford truck guy
Pennsylvania
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Tread Flex... Thats what I think it is........ It COULD go away in up to 1000 miles.... Ive had it happen to me..
Me-Her-the kids
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BurbMan
Islip, Long Island
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MitchF150 wrote:It actually takes brand new tires to 'break in' in for a bit when they are brand new... Usually around 500 miles or so.
^^^This^^^
Completely normal. I wouldn't worry about the alignment or do anything until you have at least 1k miles on the new tires.
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Hannibal
Tampa Bay Area
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Yep. Tread squirm with new tires will wake you up! It’ll settle down as they wear in.
2020 F250 STX CC SB 7.3L 10spd 3.55 4x4
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ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
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