Car Trailer

[jclark5810]

Thanks for the info Bryce. Yeah i'm separating so this will be my last move for at least 2-3 years. After school I may have to move for a job relocation but i'll be footing the bill for that. I've decided to just pay cash for a used one. If the partial dity will pay for most of that i'll be happy. I just printed out some info on travel pay and I should be good. I'm just going to keep scouring craigslist and pounce when i see one.

 

[jclark5810]

Well I ended up buying an 18ft steel deck 10k GVWR trailer from a guy on Craigslist. Got it home, all looks pretty good. It's got a couple issues I need to adress, mainly minor. I want to do some work on the wiring and maybe even do a full LED conversion. I need to get a couple more rings installed but nothing real big. The only thing that concerns me is the tire wear. All the tires are showing wear on the outermost part of the tread. Is this sign of a bent axle, or a bearing issue?

 

[HBarlow]

I don't think wear on the outside edges of all four tires is an indication of bent axles or bearing issues.

It might be an indication that the trailer has been pulled empty or light a lot. Trailer axles are designed to bend slightly under full load and when they bend, they should cause the full surface of each tire to contact the pavement more or less equally. In an unloaded condition the outer edges of each tire might carry the weight and braking would wear the outer edges.

A good truck alignment shop could check alignment and align the axles by bending if you think it should be done before you pull it cross country. You should definitely clean and pack the wheel bearings and adjust the drum brakes before you pull it.

Be sure to check the DOT date code of the tires. Replace tires older than about four years unless the trailer has been stored inside and protected from the UV rays of the sun - even if the tires show 100% of original tread remaining. Replace them anyway if they are ChiComm WillPops. ChiComm tires come with a lifetime warranty that guarantees they will blow out and sling their tread.

 

[jclark5810]

Thank you very much Mr. Barlow, I appreciate your advice. As I was doing some more reading I came to the same conclusion on the tire wear. I remember the previous owner mentioning he towed a small race car with it, it was probably a lot lighter than the rating of that trailer. He mentioned that he'd tow long distances to the different races so i'm sure that explains the wear.



As far as rubber goes, what is a good brand these days? A buddy runs Interco tires on his trailer and said so far so good. Thanks again!

 

[HBarlow]

Anytime the subject of tires comes up I recommend Michelins. They are the best tire made for highway use and actually cheaper to use when the initial purchase cost is divided by miles of service before replacement is required. I have used nothing but Michelins on my trucks and my wife's car for years. I use Michelin XPS Rib all steel casing tires on my heavy fiver.

The next best tire and not as expensive to purchase is the BF Goodrich Commercial T/A. If your trailer uses 16" wheels/tires I would buy Michelin truck tires or XPS Ribs. If it uses 15" wheels/tires the solution is more limited and not as satisfactory. No tire manufacturer makes a truly quality LT tire for 15" wheels. I used an unorthodox solution on an Avion travel trailer. I replaced the sorry Goodyear Marathons with Michelin SUV tires. I pulled that trailer 60k miles with the Michelins including a trip to Alaska and they still looked good when I sold the trailer. The only problem with using SUV tires on a trailer is they are P tire not an LT tire and have soft sidewalls. If you strike curbs with them you'll likely damage a tire.

I've never heard of Interco tires. Probably a Chicomm or Korean WillPop brand. Look at the country of origin molded in the sidewall.

All tires are good until they blow out and tear the fender off a utility trailer and strand you alongside the highway on a weekend or late at night. I wouldn't buy them myself.

 

[jclark5810]

Thank you very much. I'll start checking the local tire shops for those models. Definitely don't want a Chicomm or WillPop:-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Joe,

SAM's Club or COSTCO is the preferred place to buy Michelins, BFG, or other quality tires. Their employees are salaried or hourly employees, not commissioned liars I mean sales people.

Beware of the guy behind the counter in the retail tire stores. They only lie when their mouths are open. Their goal is to sell the tires that pay them the highest commission. They will tell you any lie you'll believe.

 

[Mark31]

jckark, I agree with Uncle Harvey about Michelin being the best and the rest of the Michelin family (Goodrich and Uniroyal) being good , too. I would like to add one more for your consideration: Firestone Transforce tires are Canadian made (at least mine are) and as far as I know have a good reputation. They aren't so expensive, either. To me, once one passes this group of tires, things change "to let the buyer beware", for lack of a better phrase. Mark

 

[jclark5810]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have a Sam's card, I'll check them out first. Michelin has a $70 instant saving deal going on until the 5th of July.

 

[jclark5810]

So just a quick update. Bought a used trailer off of craigslist, checked the bearings and the lights and we hit the road. Never had any issues except for a minor hiccup. Tip of the cap to the boys at Mid Plains equipment in Kearney NE. Excellent guys and great support. Now that we're getting settled in it's time to shop for a riding mower and a pontoon haha.

 

[JayStraight]

Welcome to the south..... I'm down here in Greenville, SC! So do you still have the trailer?? I ask because I've got a friend looking for a car/Jeep hauler.

 

[jclark5810]

Thank you! I actually just sold it yesterday. I don't know why but TDR "updates" me to thread replies about two weeks late, maybe it was the new software. Anyway if I would have know I would've let you know. It was a nice trailer just way too low, rubbed on every driveway/entrance.

We like it here a lot, everything I imagined and more. California is a mental institution where the wards run the prison, it won't be long before it's sinks into it's own... well you get the idea.

 

[JLeake]

Jclark5810;

The first thing I would do is to replace the wiring... . Most trailers have the "scotch" crimp wire connectors, and they are ok for a year, and then they become a PITA. Solder all connections and use shrink wrap so that water will not cause shorts. A big nightmare is to realize in the dark when it is raining that your trailer lights do not work. Been there done that. If you have spring problems go to West Sacramento, Betts Springs, great place and the guys are really knowledgeable.

We haul a 28 foot enclosed race car trailer (three axle monster) alot. We broke a spring hanger heading to Redding. Ended up at Betts Springs, the guy knew by looking that the trailer had the wrong springs on it. We got all new ones and it works better than it ever did.

 

[jclark5810]

Thanks for the advice JLeake. I actually just sold it though, but will definitely do a rewire in the coming months when we buy a boat. I still have a lot of family in the Sacramento area, I'll pass on the word about Betts. Thank you.

 

[HBarlow]

Thank you! I actually just sold it yesterday. I don't know why but TDR "updates" me to thread replies about two weeks late, maybe it was the new software. Anyway if I would have know I would've let you know. It was a nice trailer just way too low, rubbed on every driveway/entrance.

We like it here a lot, everything I imagined and more. California is a mental institution where the wards run the prison, it won't be long before it's sinks into it's own... well you get the idea.

I've never lived in TN but have driven/ridden/rv'd through it many times. It is a beautiful state and fiscally sane. An old shipmate and his wife retired there a few years ago. He served his last two years overseas and they were free to settle wherever they chose. They studied their options for a year or two and decided to move to Knoxville. They love it there.