Frontend alignment for towing?
 

Just curious if and how you guys set your alignment for towing. Any tips, tricks, advice etc on how to set your alignment up better for towing?

Why would you change your alignment to be outside of spec for such a small percentage of a vehicle's use?

Because my trucks only job is pulling. If its moved out of my garage, its to go straight to the boat trailer or car trailer. Otherwise, it sits.

Also, specs for alignment are actually an acceptable range. As long as its within that range, its in spec.

I just roll with the factory spec. I would guess if your tongue weight is correct, your towing with the legal size truck for the load, and your not saggin too much in the rear of the truck from the tongue weight, because your springs or airbags are up to the task, then the vehicle should sit pretty close to level ( as in unloaded ) therefor shouldnt be any issues with front end alignment, as the truck stance remains normal.

i wouldnt change it

I understand there are acceptable ranges for the toe and camber to be in spec. You could try to simulate the tongue weight of what you tow by adding weight in the bed of the truck as far aft as you can get it and then put it on an alignment rack.

Exactly what I was getting at. Anyone done it?

Wondering if anyone had tried any extra toe in to make it track straighter with less steering input?

I wouldn't bother. I can't remember how much bigger you went on your new boat (thinkin you got a 29 or a 33) but that really isn't that much of a load for a 2500 or bigger truck.

We had an issue with our F550's losing front tires very quickly due to the outside of the tires losing tread withing 20,000 miles. They'd be completely bald and the insides were just fine. They spent 99% of their time payloaded to legal capacity (straight truck with flatbed and liftgate carrying IBC's and drums of chemicals).

We ended up loading the trucks to cap and having them do the alignment then versus having them aligned while unloaded. I dont know the specs or regs but it seemed to extend the life of the front tires dramatically. And yes, we were loaded and scaled legally.

I have been doing that for years. Can make a huge Diff in how something drives IF you have a good Alig. guy.
Not the cheapo kids at the tire shop. I do it on all My vehicles