Took my pickup into the local mom and pop shop for a once over and see if they could diagnose my loose steering. Their verdict was ball joints are shot. Trucks has 135k mi and no telling if they’ve ever been changed. After doing some reading it sounds like dodges have a spec for allowable up and down play. You can see how much these move from the wear mark. Does this look out of spec? 

1 hour ago, dripley said:

Though a lady hit me in Iowa,  no DT there, and I did not bring the tire home. DT replaced for free anyway on my word. 

They are here now

I havent had any problems with my 3rd gen aluminium 17s I've had them on for about 50k

 

Tires are rated at 3195 gives me roughly 2k of tongue weight since truck weighs 10k. 

I havent ever axled out the goosekneck  but put load over trailer axles when possible 

 

Even if I have truck tires running over 3195 on acasion I dont think it's a issue. 

 

Actually I'm running 60psi wich puts them under the 3195 rating and they're still fine.

 

I tow a fair amount but not super heavy. 10k sometimes 15.