Tires: TIRE PRESSURE FOR 1/2 PICKUP TRUCK, Tire Pressure

Question
SHOULD THE TIRE PRESSURE FOR A 98 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK WITH A REGULAR CAMPER SHELL, BE LOWER FOR THE REAR TIRES THAN THE FRONT TIRES. I DO NOT KNOW THE WEIGHT RATIO FOR THE FRONT END VS THE REAR END, BUT DODGES' WEIGHT ARE ABOUT 4,000 LBS. AND THIS IS A FAMILY USE TRUCK. THE LISTED TIRE PRESSURE IS 40 PSI, BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PRESSURE IS FOR AN EMPTY OR LOADED VEHICLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE BARRY, FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, FOR MY QUESTION.

Answer
Walter,

On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - that lists the original tire size and the proper pressure for that size.  The placard is usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box – but sometimes it is located in the trunk or on the fuel filler door.

This pressure is a fully loaded pressure - and that's the pressure you should use, since that is the worst case.

But you should contact Dodge and find out what the payload for your truck is.  Then weigh the truck - with and without the camper.  Compare the weight of the camper to the payload!  (BTW, the truck should be weigh with the camper fully loaded - everything you can possibly think you would put in there,)

Alternatively, your placard may list the GAWR's (Gross Axle Weight Rating) .  You should never ever exceed those values.  If you do, the truck will be overloaded and some component is likely to fail suddenly.  If you are exceeding those values, you need a bigger truck!