5th Wheel Tire Rotation?

[SLVRBLT]

Just bought a 1999, 30', 2 axle, 5th wheel (my first one) and even though it doesn't have many miles on it, I thought I would repack the bearings before I made a "maiden voyage" just to insure a trouble free trip.



I got to thinking that while packing the bearings should I rotate the tires? I don't mean rotate from side to side since they are radial and I think that's a no-no. Should I rotate them from front to back? This is probably a dumb question, but just wondering if this should be done? Thanks in advance for any information.



Dave

 

[Big John]

I not only rotate mine, I have them balanced every 2 years or 6 to 8,000 miles. Look to see if they have any weights on them. If not, they were probably never balanced. I have seen this many times on trailer tires. People seem to think they do not need balancing. I have even been told at tire stores that balancing them is a waste of time and money. This is simply wrong. Even wear on a trailer that goes as many miles as some of these do is critical to tire life.



My thoughts... ... ..... Big John

 

[HEYBOSS]

I don't know if there would be any advantages just rotating tires keeping them on the same side due to the fact that they have a close wheel base, unlike a car or truck, but it wouldn't hurt. I haven't rotated mine yet, but I will. You should definitely rotate side to side and that's where you get most advantages. It is perfectly ok to do it, in fact if you read your truck's manual, it recommends tire rotation at around every 6000 miles or so. Tire rotation, psi and balancing are most critical to tire life.

 

[5thram]

This one's simple. Examine the tires. Are they showing wear in different areas on the tread? If so, rotate them. If not, what's the use? If they were spin balanced, you can upset the applecart by rotating them. My . 02... . Henry

 

[Eric_77]

Originally posted by 5thram

This one's simple. Examine the tires. Are they showing wear in different areas on the tread? If so, rotate them. If not, what's the use? If they were spin balanced, you can upset the applecart by rotating them. My . 02... . Henry

Okay I agree witht the first part but the second part whew. They are balanced off the trailer independently of each other so there is no balance between tires.



I have two spares so I rotate one spare onto each side and move front to rear, rear to spare spare to front.



Check the PSI in your spares.

I helped a lady this weekend change a a tire on her husband's van. Guess what he had a flat spare. I happened to have my race trailer with me so I had an air compressor to fill up the flat spare.



Fill the tire up to the max pressure for rear tires. You can always drain some air out for use in the front.