tire sizes

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I was off a little on the 12.22/5s if they are 7400 a tire than 13320lbs on that axle would be 90% of max.

I regularly put 12000lbs on 11.22/5s, the next size down, on the steers on my Peterbuilt. They have always preformed flawlessly.

I recently had a discussion with Jon about the preferable cost and availability of the 11.22/5s combined with my current axle weights. When tire time comes I might very well size down thus being able to rotate out dated tires over to the truck before dry rot sets in.

I don't mention this to convince you to do this but to give you more confidence in your 12,22/5s.

I have 2 sets of shocks up front but have not experimented there yet. Prevo Parts in Elgin carry them and have a prt#.

Many have upgraded to kona shocks. Harry really spoke highly of the switch.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Greg, If your steer axle is at 13000# go back to 12.00 tires. Cheaper, and more than adequate.

You may check to see if you have the "Mae West" air bags. Prevost parts should be able to give you the trade part numbers from which an internet search will give you the dimensions. When the axles were close to their limits weightwise some front ends were slow to raise or would not raise so Prevost came up with different air bags with a larger diameter. That did the trick. If my memory is correct the four shocks came into being as a retrofit around the same time and it was to deal with rebound on heavy front ends. If I am correct you are OK on your front end weight and if you do anything have the larger air bags installed (if they are not already) when you need to replace air bags.

In the FWIW category, if your air bags have about an 8" lifting diameter (I am guessing here) it will take about 125 to 130 PSI to lift your front end. This is a guess because I do not know your unsprung weight. By increasing the air bags by only 1" diameter it drops the air pressure required to around 100 PSI. Don't take these numbers to the bank, they are guesses and only serve to illustrate how a small increase in the air bag diameter has a significant effect on the pressure required to support the coach.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Very sensable advice Jon. Bigger bags new 12.22/5s and one set of Konis.

There are quite a few of the early 90's stuff that falls into the same catagory.

[gmcbuffalo]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Greg