Gravel road tire pressure?

[Darkstar]

I'll drop to 35 or so and then if things aren't better more from there. 35 for me is a good spot. I try to keep the Staun set to 35 but I always move them around like a spaz

[rltilley]

My van weighs about 9,600 lbs and I go down to 30 psi if I’ll be on dirt for a while. I’m on 33” E rated KO2’s.

[happycampingcouple]

Thanks for all the input! I cant wait to get on some gravel this spring!!

[KDB]

I run around 35# when trailing. Im 10k# when loaded, however so i try to keep my tires a bit on the higher side.

[E-350]

quick side question: where can typically weigh your van? You just pull up a truck weighing station and ask friendly?!

I'm the Bay Area, CA. So if anyone knows a place around...

[Turbo]

Originally Posted by E-350

quick side question: where can typically weigh your van? You just pull up a truck weighing station and ask friendly?!

I'm the Bay Area, CA. So if anyone knows a place around...

Basically yes. This is a pretty solid rundown. https://learntorv.com/weigh-rv/

[motovan_mn]

Originally Posted by E-350

quick side question: where can typically weigh your van? You just pull up a truck weighing station and ask friendly?!

I'm the Bay Area, CA. So if anyone knows a place around...

Yep. Download the CAT scale app and make sure to have a credit card saved to your profile BEFORE you pull up to the scale and there is a line of trucks waiting behind you. Definitely not speaking from personal experience...

[arctictraveller]

Near my house there is a state owned truck scale near the lumber mill. Where there is no operator in attendance, they turn the scale readout so it can be seen when your parked on the scale. Depending on how you pull in, you can weigh the front, rear, or each wheel individually. Unlike a Cat scale though, you don't get a printed receipt. Additionally, our local waste transfer facility charges by the ton, so they weigh you when you pull in and again when you leave and they are happy to give you your ending weight...

[ShuttlePilot]

I used to over engineer the air down pressure to manage my anxiety about airing down a heavy vehicle. After doing it a bunch of times over the years I go straight to 30 psi first. Then lower if needed for sand or really bad washboard. If there is a lot of sidewall abuse happening on the tires from rocks I'll keep it up at 30. I believe in getting out and walking around my vehicle more often than most people. This is yet another reason I lost all my friends with Jeeps and Toyotas as they are always in a hurry and hate it when I keep getting out. What I'm looking for is how much sidewall hits are the tires really taking, sometimes I think the trail is "just beating us up captain" and I get out and there isn't hardly a scuff on a tire, and I could air down more and sometimes the opposite happens. Same with temperature, if I know I'm real low (relatively) at say, 23 psi I'll put my hand on the sidewalls to see how hot they are, especially if the trail has opened up and I'm now going faster. If it's uncomfortable to keep my hand on the tire I'll air up some. I think I've only done this once.

My numbers for comparison.
Just under 10,000 lbs total weight
Not sure on the per axle weight.
285/75-16" General Grabbers on 2005 SMB issue aluminum rims

-Eric

[geoffff]

My rule of thumb is ⅔ highway pressure




then ⅓ for dry soft sand