Raising trailer to change flat tire.

[RustyJC]

Let's see, I have the following provisions for changing a flat on the 5ver:



1. A hydraulic bottle jack to be used under the spring plate at the offending wheel.



2. A plastic ramp made for this purpose - pull the adjacent good tire up on it.



3. A 12VDC 160 psi air compressor in case the spare is low.



4. Most importantly, a cellular phone and Good Sam ERS.



Guess which one I'd use first?



Rusty

 

[Mingoglia]

Matt,



The Carlisle trailer tires are radials.



All,



My trailer tires are currently 225/75/15. Does anyone have an idea what size tire that would translate to if I were to go to the tow masters? Bias Ply are sized differently, aren't they? Also, what disadvantages are there to bias ply as opposed to a radial?

 

[BV]

Has anyone used the Kwik Lift® Trailer Jack



Holds Up To 2 Tons! This durable jack is made of high strength, rust proof, die-cast aluminum. Capable of lifting trailers that have wheels to 16" and round or square drop axles?



I have seen them in

Overtons and wondered how safe they really are.

 

[Matt42]

Bias Tire Sizes & Disadvantages

Originally posted by Mingoglia

Matt,





My trailer tires are currently 225/75/15. Does anyone have an idea what size tire that would translate to if I were to go to the tow masters? Bias Ply are sized differently, aren't they? Also, what disadvantages are there to bias ply as opposed to a radial?

Approximate Tire Size Equivalence:

205/75R15 = F78/15

215/75R15 = G78/15

225/75R15 = H78/15



The equivalence is not exact, and the load range (B, C or D) must also be accounted for. But you can find either size designation in radial or bias ply. When an "R" appears in the tire size, it's a radial. Check this link for Cheng Shin--Towmaster tires in those sizes:

http://www.gbctires.com/trailer tires.html



Disadvantages that I can think of right off are:

--reduced tread life. Bad if you tow A LOT. Most travel trailer die thru ozone damage or sitting in one place too long.

--lower heat buildup resistance. Maybe yes, maybe no. Garbage radials don't seem to do any better. (I worked at an independent tire store during the Firestone 500 "troubles. ") The best radial tires have mold lines that cross the tread, not run doen the center circumference. I have NEVER seen travel trailer service tires made in the segmented matrix molds that cause the lines to cross the tread. But look at a new Michelin tire, or a new good commercial 18 wheeler truck/trailer radial.

--flat spotting. Most bias ply trailer tires seem to have nylon plies. Once a nylon tire has set in one place for a while, it will form a flat spot until it rounds out again through rolling. That's not normally a problem unless the trailer sits on the tires for months on end. And it's bad for radials also. Your trailer owners manual, if thorough, will *strongly urge* that you get the weight off the tires if the trailer is to sit in place extensively.



Advantages, possibly cynical ones, include:

++ lower initial price, and less investment lost when they eventually disintegrate.

++ no belt to come partly off and tear apart the side of your travel trailer as it flaps apart.



The tires I use on my employer's 6,000 pound gravel testing trailer are commercial Michelin XPS Rib in 9. 50R16. 5. Through a cosmic mistake, they were the low bid seven years ago. They have been excellent in terribly hard use. They have steel belts and steel cord sidewalls, and they're regoovable! Sadly, they're not available in our travel trailer sizes.

 

[DRR-24V]

Bias Plys

I am no tire man, but I can tell you the Bias Plys are stiffer in the sidewall and I can't tell that they ride any worse than Radials. Those Towmasters and NanKangs are good tires. Keep the pressure at the Max.

 

[Mingoglia]

Does anyone know if any manufacturer makes a tire that has a load range higher than a range D that fits on a 15" rim?

 

[DRR-24V]

Don't Think So

I looked everywhere and Load Range D was the max without going to 16" wheels.

 

[dewdo]

Good Sam Emergency Road Service requires you to have a servicable spare, be it off your truck (providing it will fit your trailer) or for the trailer.



Two times I got stuck with my 94 2500 and Good Sam sent a tow truck to pull me out. One time they delivered 5 gallons of diesel when I was nearly out crossing a remote stretch of MT.



I can't say enough good things about the service. I have had to call on them so much I keep thinking they will cancel me, but I have had them for about 8 years and the price is up just slightly.



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[Matt42]

15 inch and load range D

Load Range D, formerly known as eight ply or eight ply rating, is as hefty as you can get in a 15 inch wheel. And those aren't really common. The reason for that is that the wheels themselves aren't capable of handling the weight loads and air pressure that a load range E tire can produce.



If your 15's have a six-lug bolt pattern, it is possible to find 16 inch wheels that will bolt up. Unfortunately, the axles that they bolt to won't be up to the extra weight.

 

[Mingoglia]

I'm in the market for a trailer tire that has a weight rating of atleast 8,500lbs/each, is solid rubber so I don't have to check the air pressure, and is a direct replacement for the load range D Carlisle 225/75/15 tires I have now. I don't care what my current rim is rated for. I'm not having a problem tacoing (dunno if that's a word) my rim, I'm having problem turning my tires into grated cheese.



Seriousely, I'm getting quite pisssed off now. I probably have 2,000 miles on the tires that came with my new trailer and I've lost 2 already. Sure glad my dual wheel tow vehicle is incredibly stable under these circumstances. Didn't even twitch. Oh yeah, I'm sure glad that I had ZERO damage on my trailer!!! I'm surprised.



I know I've said this before, but I'm the most anal person about air pressure and I've never hit a curb with any one of my RV trailer tires. I'm so bad (good) about air pressure that I check it in the early morning before the trip so it isn't subject to the Arizona sun beating down on one side of the trailer and throwing off the pressure.



Finally, I think Weekend Warrior has a problem with their tire specification. If you take the total GVWR of the trailer (which most of us get close if not slightly over) and divide it by the 4 tires and subtract the tongue weight I'm quite heavy but well within the limit of my load range D tires... Right? Not exactly, I would guess that I'm overweight on one side. Afterall, what's the chances that all the weight is perfectly equal? Think of it this way... My FS2600 has the microwave, stove, pantry (which is ALWAYS full), freezer/refrigerator, generator, and most of the 36gal fuel tank for the generator all on the drivers side!!! This has to throw off the balance and probably overweight the left side. I wonder if this is why the two tires I've lost have been on the left side... ? Hmmmm...



Does anyone know if the truck scales measure side to side weight?



Thanks for letting me vent.



Mike

 

[GLASMITHS]

I just went through a good blowout AND a flat on the same day These are Goodyear G159 Load range G, 110psi cold.



Received a check Friday from Ins Co for 987. 00 for the damage



The ramps from Camping world probably will work for most; but I have the Dexter Torkflex (no springs) so had to put a small jack under the wheel thing for the last 3 inches. They are pricey too.



If you want ramps, go to griotsgarage.com. Non-skid Vehicle Ramps, item #96910, 12000k. I used mine for the first time today they are great, and won't scoot on concrete. They also lift a little higher than the ramps from Camping world, and you get 2 for the price of one; and can be used for car/truck ramps.