I have a stock 2002 Ram 1500, running 20" tires, trailer towing package ( I believe) Haven't had it that long but it seems to have a nagging handling issue. At highway speeds, when I cross a bump, the truck wants to "crab" or studder a bit sideways, or if cornering slightly, the bump will cause the truck to really jump to the side some. Someone suggested that maybe the tire pressure could cause this. The stock tires have a max inflation of 44#, but the door sticker says 36# . I checked all 4 and they were at: 50#, 50#, 46# and 43#. I dropped all of them to just under 40# and will see if that makes a difference. I wondered if maybe something in the suspension could cause this issue. On a recent trip, I was loaded also and it still crabbed some.

Any ideas out there? It's a bit scary having the truck tossed around like this.

 

If the max is 44 and recommended is 36, at 50 or more you were waaaaaay overinflated. could have caused the center of the treads to bulge and thus giving you poor grip. get them all back down to 36-40 and it should make a difference. otherwise, it could be one of the shocks is frozen.

 

I have the same issue. Ironically, my truck is a 2002 as well, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. IMHO, the issue comes down to tire pressure AND the fact that Dodge has some hefty 1/2 ton suspension on their trucks.

In order to provide a suspension with a weight carrying capacity of any value, you need to add heavy springs, or at least springs that won;t allow the vehicle to level out, by justputting your groceries in the bed.

The down side to that, is that when the vehicle is empty, it has a rigid ride, and will have a tendency to"hop" or bounce when it hits bumps hard enough to make the suspension vault....

My truck has 17" tires on it, and does the same thing. I run them at 38 psi, and it still does it. If I put weight in the back (300 lbs or more) the problem is dampened greatly, and with my trailer on the back, it doesn't do it at all.

FWIW: Any truck that I've ever owned that had a decent weight-carrying suspension did thesame thing. Lower your tire pressure and just be aware of it. Make sure all your shocks are in good working order, since they and your tires are your only damper against suspension movement or handling. I'm willing to bet a better-then-stock set of shocks will make a large percentage of it go away.....

 

Axle wrap... caused by not enough weight in the rear end and too tight of a suspension. You need the "tightness" of the suspension so you don't bottom out when you put whatever in the back of your truck. This is a common issue in all pickup trucks, higher the weight capasity, and longer the bed, more of a problem. Ladder racks have been used to diminish this effect, by using geometry and the frame of the truck to basically push the rear axle into the ground. I think that summit racing was selling these for like $200 or something, look around, you will find them. Pretty popular with the lifted trucks.

 

ever had a car with low profile tires? they those also chatter across railroad, bumps, etc. I have a 04 with 20" and my best friend has a 03 and we both chatter across the same places on the road. I am running at 40psi for better gas mileage and know where on the road to left off the gas for the bumps now. Also it scares the girlfriend where she dont ask to drive the truck anymore which is a plus . I guess the 17" rims are better handling and ride for bumps, which makes sence.

 

Thanks all of you for the information-it all makes sence..I did notice a little less crabbing when the back had a sofa and loveseat in it-maybe 300#s of wt in the back. I'll see if the drop in tire pressure from 50# down to 38# or so helps too.

 

I have the tow package and 20's and had the same problem.

I dropped the pressure to 31lbs (after much experimentation) and it got a lot better. And the wear on the tires is more even. It was wearing the center of the tire more than the rest, before.

 

put a few sand bags in the back and itll help out the ride alot

 

if you have not done it already, get your alignment done. i know trucks are typically squirrely over bumps, but when your alignment is out the jounce gets really bad car or truck.

 

I see you all dropped the tire pressure and I can understand this but what did it do to your fuel consumption?