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RE: Tire Blown, My turn!
The D at max pressures will run cooler than the E at only 65 psi. The advantge of the E is lost in this case.
My actual data shows that's not true. Can you give me a link to who's claiming that? I'd like to see their data. I suspect they just made it up. Lot of that going around on the internet. Anyway, they're wrong.
Mr Pyrometer says sidewall temps are identical D vs E at 65 psi. When I was transitioning to E tires, there was a time when I had a mix of D & E tires on the trailer, all at 65 psi.
And for those who care, on my trailer temp ranges between 115 to 120 F, hotter on the sunlit side. My 11,000-lb truck tires run hotter, about 130 - 140. Interestingly in a strong side wind the downwind front tire runs another 20 degrees hotter, presumably from engine & radiator heat blowing that way.
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WAM
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08/07/09 02:26pm |
Towing
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RE: Tire Blown, My turn!
There is a down side by using only 65 psi in a 80 psi rated tire on a heavy trailer per the OP situation. If the OP uses only 65 psi in the 80 psi rated tires in his heavy trailer, it can cause tire overheating/carcass roll which can lead to handling problems including braking problems/loss of traction/etc.
I guess it depends on how heavy. The OP didn't say he was overloading his tires so I assumed he was within rating of his D tires. If he actually needs E tires I agree he should run max sidewall pressure. But if he has margin on load with his D's and just wants higher rated tires like I do, then pressures commensurate with his actual load will not cause "tire overheating/carcass roll which can lead to handling problems including braking problems/loss of traction/etc." Whether 65 psi, 80 psi or some other pressure is an appropriate minimum depends on the actual tire loading. And again, that's the function of an inflation/load chart. It probably can't hurt to run a little extra pressure over the chart value, but max pressure is only a requirement at high loading.
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WAM
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08/05/09 11:20pm |
Towing
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RE: Tire Blown, My turn!
We use max pressures in a trailer tire so using only 65 psi in a 80 psi E load range tire on your trailer isn't a good idea for several reasons. First and most important is its severally underinflated. Just as its not a good idea to install 110 psi rated tire and use only 80 psi. Both examples will have the tire running much hotter than at max sidewall pressures.
I don't think so. The recommendation to use max sidewall pressures assumes the tire is well matched to the actual load. If the load is significantly less than the tire rating, lower pressures can be used without stability and temperature issues. This is what a tire inflation/load table is for.
To take your position to the extreme: If I haul an empty 10,000 GVW car trailer down the road with reduced pressures, the tires will overheat? I don't think so.
Even though I could get by with D-rated tires, I run E's because I don't think there's a downside. But I run pressures between those two maximums, which means (by my logic) my pressure is more than suitable for my actual "D" load.
BTW, not to add data to opinion, but I use an infrared pyrometer gun throughout the trip to check tire and hub temperatures. If my practice resulted in high tire temperatures, I think I'd know.
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WAM
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08/05/09 01:35pm |
Towing
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RE: bed's
I need a new queen mattress. But it will have to pass thru an approx 36" square opening to get into the cabover. Will quality mattresses fold or roll that small?
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WAM
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07/25/09 02:54pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Jack troubleshooting
They are Atwood jacks. I haven't found the control center yet, but the control receiver is next to the camper door and inset into the cabinetry under the pantry (at floor level). Access to that area isn't obvious, but maybe if I emptied the adjacent cabinet below the sink and took out some screws, I could then remove the floorboard and get to the area from the side. But then I don't even know if anything is down there. Hopefully someone has already gone thru this and I won't have to try to reinvent the wheel.
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WAM
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07/03/09 05:26pm |
Truck Campers
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Jack troubleshooting
The front two camper jacks have quit on my Alpenlite 9-ft. Since they're out of business I'll need to troubleshoot from scratch.
These jacks plug into the camper exterior and use a wireless controller. Since the rears work, I assume the controller is good. I suspect a fuse, but there is nothing on the fuse block marked jacks. I only know of fuses in the power center under the step below the cabover. Are there other fuses somewhere? And I guess there must be relays somewhere. Anyone know how Alpenlite sets this system up?
Thanx, Bill
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WAM
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07/03/09 02:51pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: tip for battery water
I use the Flow-rite system. Works great, worth the investment.
Nice. Probably a tad pricier than the $5 or $6 bucks I've got invested.
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WAM
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05/14/09 07:57pm |
Truck Campers
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tip for battery water
Maybe some of you have the same problem. I have two coach batteries in a side compartment. After putting in the largest batteries that would fit, I found it hard to check the water level, let alone fill them. I only have a couple inches overhead space and it's a lot of trouble to disconnect the wires so I can slide the batteries out.
So I built a water level "gauge". Took a 12" piece of 1/4" plastic tubing and wrapped tape around it an inch from one end. I insert the taped end into the fill hole while blowing gently on the other. As soon as hose touches liquid you can hear the bubbling. If the tape has receded below the top surface, it needs water. I hang the tube ends down so the one or two drops of electrolyte will drop on the ground, not on my paint. And also insures they don't gravitate towards the mouthpiece end.
To add water I place a gallon of distilled on my bathroom countertop. I submerse a 5-ft piece of the same tubing into the bottle and tape it so it won't move, and run the hose out the window to the battery compartment directly below. Ten inches from the bottom end I have an inline plastic shut-off valve. I suck on the hose to start a siphon and then close the valve. I can now gravity-feed water to the batteries through that 2 inch opening. And of course use my gauge to check my progress.
I had to come up with something quick and easy because I run solar charging and they keep the batteries up daily. That plus living in the desert, my batteries go thru a lot of water. Nearly a gallon each a year. But as long as I tend to the water level, they seem to have high capacity and long life, so I won't fix what's not broke.
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WAM
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05/14/09 06:21pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
That's interesting about recommending unneeded max pressures. Used to be the emphasis was on using the proper pressure and all the major tire companies published load vs pressure tables. They certainly never believed then you should just inflate to max.
As far as "underinflation" leading to sidewall flex, I don't think so. My E-ranges at 60 psi surely flex less than a C-range maxed out at 50 (for same load).
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WAM
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02/14/09 09:47am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
I'm not showing a Wrangler HT LR-D in my 225/75-15 size (@TireRack). There are a couple Pirelli Scorpions XL-rated in that size. Many XL-rated (better than C) tires if I increase to 235/75-15.
But I have three trailers and a pretty good investment in Maxxis 225/75-15 E-rated. I only run them at 60 psi because as you say, 80 psi is overkill. If I stay with 15's, I'd like to stay with 225's for commonality and interchangeability purposes.
My tire source dropped Maxxis so I was looking for alternatives. I think they boil down to 225/75-15 XL LT's or give up and go to 16's. But I did just today find another decent priced source for Maxxis so my need is less urgent.
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WAM
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02/13/09 08:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
Actually I might be able to put 6-lug hubs on my current axles, but I need to disassemble to get the bearing numbers.
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WAM
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02/13/09 01:36pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Maxxis tire source
Bingo. No they didn't have them, but they can get them and the price is right. Thanx for the suggestion.
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WAM
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02/13/09 01:34pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
They have only 6 and 8 lug 16's.
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WAM
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02/13/09 01:23pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
You are correct -- thanx. Unfortunately the Rangers I've looked up come with 15's. And the aftermarket 16" fitments seem to typically be 8" wide. But I've only started looking. Something will probably come up.
I did locate the mother of all OE wheel sites: transwheel.com
I've now found hundreds of 16" 5-lug wheels, but unfortunately the backspace isn't listed, and the company doesn't know. Still, it gives the marque and model so I should be able to figure it out.
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WAM
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02/13/09 11:57am |
Travel Trailers
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16" wheel to fit 5x4.5 hub?
16's on 3500 lb axles may be overkill but I'm done buying chinese trailer tires and their like. I'll buy 15" LT's if I have to, but I'd sure like to run XPS Ribs. Can anyone source 16" rims to fit 5-lug hubs? Seems like they're either very rare or non-existent.
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WAM
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02/13/09 10:50am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Maxxis tire source
You're right...just checked their site. But their prices are outrageous. On the order of 50% higher than I was paying Unser.
May be time to get serious about upgrading to 16s. If I'm going to pay big bucks I'd rather kick in a little more and get XPS Ribs which will probably last the life of the trailer. I think what stopped me last time was finding 5-lug 16" rims. But I'll bet they're available.
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WAM
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02/12/09 05:58pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Don't be a lurker pop ups?
x2
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WAM
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02/12/09 12:52pm |
Around the Campfire
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Maxxis tire source
Been buying 10-plys from Unser tire but they're out and their distributor has dropped the line. Anyone have a good internet source for these tires? I'm in a small town, so I'll need them shipped to me.
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WAM
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02/12/09 12:51pm |
Travel Trailers
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