what psi for towing teardrop camper?

my tire says 50 psi max cold on trailer tire. what psi should i tow with?

 

trailer manufacturer recommendation perhaps

 

Find the sweet spot, trial and error. Start with the manufacturer recommendations.

 

I tow a Tab 320S Boondock and keep the tires at 50psi.

 

There is a sticker on the drivers door with recommended pressure. It is right around 30PSI. The number on the tire is for when hauling the max weight the tire is rated for. The tires are rated for way more than your truck is rated for. 50 PSI would be about right for a 3/4 ton truck.

I tend to run my tires a little on the hard side so 32-35 PSI for me unloaded. If loaded heavy 38-40 PSI is plenty in a Tacoma. I don't know how much that trailer weighs, nor what the tongue weight would be but 35 PSI may well be enough.

 

Are you asking about the trailer's tires or the towing vehicle's tires?

 

Trailer tires are quite different from car/truck tires. They should be run at the max pressure stated on the sidewall. Under inflation will cause them to run hot and is the number one reason for catastrophic failure (blow out) of trailer tires. If your trailer tires say 50 psi max then run them at 50 psi. You should also check your trailer tire pressure frequently to avoid tire failure and possible accident.

 

My trailer has 285 70 17 E range KO2s and I have run them at 55, 65, and 75 psi cold. This is a full size E rated tire and is well within what BFG recommends on the sidewall. Your trailer tires are probably not full size truck tires. Off road I will air them down so the thing isn't bouncing all over the place. If you are concerned, go 5 lbs under the max cold psi rating and see how the tire performs. I would also invest in an infrared thermometer (little gun looking thing that shoots a laser and measures the temperature). Regularly check your trailer tire and wheel temps. Once you establish a baseline for summer, winter, whatever driving you will quickly know when you have a bearing issue or a stuck brake or something that isn't right that could cause a fire or catastrophic failure. The thermometers cost anywhere from 20 - 30 dollars for a decent one all the way up to hundreds for an accurate one. Just get the lower end one available at any major auto parts store and you'll be fine.

My $.02. I would run at or near max cold psi that your tires are rated for. Keep in mind as you drive and the tires heat up the air pressure will increase - this is okay. That is why the manufacturer says 50 psi cold... they factor in this temperature rise and account for it in the recommendation.

 

Keep in mind that vehicle and trailer tires are different. Trailer tires should be run at max psi. Vehicles even if used as trailer tires can be run at various psi.