Tire Wear

[oldgrowth]

Not all Les Schwab’s are equal. If you can find a Les Schwab in an agricultural community, they will usually have heavier duty or can get heavier duty tires than the city stores.

Radial is not necessarily better in a trailer tire than a bias tire. The radial tire usually allows the trailer to sway more than a good bias trailer tire because of the flexing of their sidewall.
________
Dave

[tsturm]

[Sea Wolf]

Bob-

Just a passing thought about your overload situation:

If it can't be solved with heavier load bearing tires with your existing axles and rims, how about considering adding a third axle if the trailer frame will handle it?

I have a three axle trailer for my Sea Ray, and it works just fine on the highway, with the only drawback being the extra tire scrub when maneuvering in tight turns at parking lot speeds.

Joe.

[oldgrowth]

[thataway]

John,
I have considered the addition of a 3rd axel. Actaully it is not clear that there is overloading. The weights are within specs of the tires and axels--but at the upper limits. If I add an extra axel, it also means new custom fenders, as well as probably moving the current axels. I am not keen about drilling more holes in the Aluminum frame unless necessary. The axels are bolted.

We got 4 Radials ST tires and will see how it works. The trailer is only going to be driven 2 miles from storage to the ramp until next spring--when we will be taking it North. We are taking the tires "home"--(2300 miles away from where the trailer is currently) to see what the builder says. We have the certified weights and photos--and we will see what they say.

[Byrdman]

During my last trip cross country with Terry trailer talk came up. Interesting topic. To get better ride/tow and longer last from brake parts and tires, have all the wheels and tires ballanced, and watch to be sure the lugs are torqued properly and the same. Makes a lot of sense. Don't just twist them down till they and you make weird noises. Torque wrenches work.

From there, make sure once the rig is all hooked up, check to make sure the trailer frame is level front to rear. I could never achieve this with the original trailer that came with my TC24. From there, getting the axles in the correct spot for proper weight distribution, and check the axle alignment. Some one may have had the trailer set up wrong at one time, and just moved the axles as best they could right then and not alligned the axles, or not even taken the time for a simple measurment.

Then, keep the tires aired properly.

One of the neatest tools/toys I bought for my hauling days is a temp laser gizmo. No more dirty hands to "feel" if the tires, hubs are hot...I get instant digital temp readings in seconds. And, the cats love it too.

This trailer also has the "Super Lube" bearing lubrication system, and warns of mixing different "base complex" type greases. Factory used lithium basy type. A whole page insert in the "owners envelope" on this. Interesting read, and warns of over filling and excess coming out the back and getting on brake components and wearing them out prematurely.

I have about 5,000 miles on my trailer and no aparent tire wear at all....but one hub that will not hold the buddy bearing cover. It is going to the spare rack. I have a King KRT8600B3VR, triple axle.

Often trailers are after thoughts, and not looked at as 1/3 of a proper rig. Tow vehicle, boat, trailer. We often focus on the first two. Then, on this topic, take a look in your owners manual for your tow vehicle. I have just received an education on this. I have a 2005 Excursion, F250 Heavy Duty vehicle, with anything Mr. Ford makes for towing on it. Les Lampman and Roger Johnson & Terry Myers gave me an education on weight distribution packages. Now, in my trucks owners manuals, just like most of yours I would bet.... 6,000 pounds is a magic number.

I was shocked. No, I had not taken the time. My bad. Just when I thought I had been trailering and hauling all my boats... I was back in the first grade!! This, took me to why not to have manual surge brakes on a heavier rig. My trailer is electric over hydralic.

Good topic Bob, and I feel sure you will find your tire issue.

[journey on]

Just a thought. The E-Z loader trailer came with 15" wheels. Since our trailer and boat, sans fluids, weighed in at 8000# I would think that towing a C25 with 14" wheels is marginal. The load rating on those tires is 2200# ea, at about 70 psi. I put about 60 psi in, because the interstates are so chewed up, and I want a softer ride. After about 10,000 miles, no wear.

You might discuss that with the dealer, and see how much a change to 15" wheels costs: fenders, rims, etc. Or try Midnight Auto Supply, open all night.

Boris

[thataway]

I had questioned the 14" wheels when the trailer was delivered-and told they were plenty--it may well be an issue--espeically since the trailer builder and trailer are 2300 miles apart! The 15" tires I could find only would hold about 80 more lbs per tire--there may be some which are higher capacity. But I was told that to really get the capacity we needed to go to 16" wheels, as I have in the Tom Cat.

The trailer was not quite level (about an inch down in front, with my excursion, but is level with my son's explorer--he has 17" wheels, I have 16" wheels on the truck). The new tires and wheels are balanced and torqued. No problem with the bearings--and I also have been using a lasser therometer for about 3 years--allways the tires and bearings have been cool--less than 100 degrees, even in the desert traveling.

How many of the CD 25's have trailers with 15" wheels--and what is your capacity?

(My CD 22 had 13" wheels, and no problems).

Thanks

[journey on]

Well, Bob, I've been to the Chula Vista marine swap meet this morning. Sold everything at 6 am out of the truck: Avon inflatable & life raft, CQR anchor, Baja funnel, etc. Out of there by 8 am, no longer a true cruiser. Then I planted a new tangerine to replace the one the gophers got. Now I finally read your post, and made a special trip DOWN to the boat and UP to the house. Since we live on a 30 deg hill, you owe me one.

From the tire sidewall:

Goodyear Trailer Radials
ST225-75-15
Load capacity: 2540@ 65 psi (cold)

I submit that's >10,000 lbs gross capacity, less the tongue weight. In my case ~800 lbs, and don't ask. They should do it for a C-25.

Boris

[thataway]

Boris,
Drop by the house, and I'll buy you a cold one! Thanks!!

Congratulations of selling all of the "Stuff". Interesting. I had asked origionally about Good Year Marathon trailer tires and told it would be $900 moreo--no credit for the standard tires....now I wonder if they could have been the 15" with this capacity!

Edit: after reading the "opinions" of GoodYear Marathons--I wonder if this is really a good tire--lots of negatives. The 15" D range does have the 2450 capacity--most of the other 15" tires are 1860 # load rating. The conversion would not be cheap--about $1500--vs $350 to buy a set of 4 new radials in the 14" size as I just did. I suspect there are relitatively few boaters who trailer 5000 miles a year. On the other hand we put about 12,000 miles on the 22 with no problems.

Thanks again--and probably this is the way to go, if it is possiable...I may take the trailer to Pacific Trailer in Dec when I am out and get their opinion. At this time I am pressed for time--and the trialer will only be taken 2 miles from storage to the ramp in the mean time.

Regards,

Bob

[journey on]

Well, Bob, UCLA is trying to prove it's worse than Notre Dame, and USC is trying to give the game to Stanford, so I'll calm by continuing this conversation.

First, I read in some post on C-Brats that the Goodyear Marathon were the only way to go, the person had tried another brand, and had to switch back. Never-the-less, I have 2 ea sets of them; one on the travel trailer and one on the boat trailer, for a total of 8. Both sets came with the trailers. Not a bit of trouble in the last 10 years for the travel part, and so far not a bit of trouble in 2 years for the boat. Probably around 10K miles on each. Both sit in the sun all day (i.e., I don't cover them.)

Second, I also looked at the 225-15 Bridgestones on the 1/2 ton: 1875 lbs ea. They're Desert Duelers, whatever that means, certainly not a truck tyre.. Any load range D 225-15 should have a rating around 2000 lbs.

Since you already have new tyres, the only point to this conversation, if if anybody buys a C-25, they'll insist on 15" wheels. Good luck with your new tyres.

Boris

[thataway]

Boris,
Thanks--we will see what happens with the new tires. Ironically, I had ordered the "Best" and the "next to best" came in the next day...so I went with the ones which were there.

[Byrdman]

Brigner/C-Pearl: Go out in your driveway and see what size tires are on your trailer under your newly waxed shinnnnnnny boat. That is if you can move after shinning for a couple of days.

Bob: Looking forward to seeing you and Marie again soon at the Gulf Gathering.

I will be in the area the week prior. Be carefule when you pass Bill & Brenda. His new pace maker has a 3 speed.

Byrdman

[thataway]

We know all about multi speed pacemakers--Marie has had hers since 1980--that is a series since then....and crossed several oceans with the pacemakers.

If Marie gets too fiesty, I have the tools and turn the pacemaker down....

[JSalvamoser]

I had to go to a frame and axel shop on my new pacific trailer It was more1 year before I began to see bad ware on back to tires 300 plus ok now J Salvamoser