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RE: Another Tire Question (Sorry)
quote:
Hey Jim,
I am simply puting the various options out there -- If you think my mind is made up -- then find me an LT235/85R/16 that will carry more than 3042 lbs (other than a $320 GY G-rated, plus new wheels to carry the 110 PSI).
If I am going to buy new tires, why would I put the same load carry capacity back on that is there now. I have 5960 lbs on one side of the camper. Two tires at 3042 is 6084 and or 122 pounds before it exceeds the tire limits.
======================================================================
You ask why put a tire back on with the same load capacity. Simple answer just as many experienced folks have been trying to tell you is you will get much better tire reliability from the 3042 lb capacity LT than any ST rated tire regardless of its capacity. If any brand ST tire had a good reputation of doing its job, as any usa brand LT will, then there wouldn't be many bad posts regarding ST tire problem on our heavier trailers. This web is full of ST related problems just as NHTSA web is full of ST related trailer tire problems. Not many problems reported from using usa made LT's "on a trailer".
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/10/08 06:07am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Oregon..support for pulling trailer behind 5th wheel
(snip)
Sorry Harry, I am asking for anyone in Oregon that is for the idea
to step forward. Not really looking for those opposed in Ca.
LOL, sounds like you have a bunch of flat earth folks up there.
In OK we have double towed long time before the term RV started being used. Double towing with a 5er has been popular since the early '70s when the first 5ers started showing up at campgrounds. In '05 the state made ball to ball double towing legal. We have lots of big COE lakes, mostly eastern OK, and we also have lots of tripple towing with the summer lake traffic. Zero problems.
Good luck on your Op and maybe certain posters won't hijack or get your thread closed.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 06:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Curt Mfg. or Pull Rite
the larger capacity Curts are popular with commecial haulers. Either brand will work as advertized.
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 06:27pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Another Tire Question (Sorry)
your asking for advise now listen to folks with experience and their saying forget the ST tire. They do have a higher weight carring capacity than a LT but what good are they if the reliability isn't there. They are simply not reliable with those kind of weights and interstate speeds. Thats one reason many of our higher end heavy trailers (including RV's)come with LT tires or are a upgrade option. Kodiak5er points are right on especially for large trailers.
If your axles are just 6k then a good USA made LT 235/85-16 E that is recommended for trailer use, will fit nicely in that weight range. By the way I have 5 different brands of LT tires on trucks and various trailer and they all are made in the USA.
You sound like your mind is alredy made up on your orig question. All I can say is many of us have been there and learned the hard way there are better tires for a heavy trailer than a ST tire. Good luck on your choice,
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 06:16pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: My 6.0L gasser doesn't seem to be up for the task
another point on big tires. As you found out big tires are a power killer especially with a smallblock engine. Its not just the tires diameter but the tires weight is another part of being a power killer at normal towing rpm's. Unsprung weight which can be bigger tires/heavier wheels or any heavier than stock componet the engine has to operate, are power robbers. Even heavier lift parts are part of the problem.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 07:05am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tire Wear Pattern-Tandem Axle TT (Pic's) Where to look next
as others say bent axle stubs or the axle itself at that end is bent will cause tire wear pattern as you show. No big deal for a big rig trailer shop to get your trailers axles back in alignment. BUT with the way the spring mounts are engineered to the main frame rail puts all the tires side scruffing stress on the welds. This type set up may not stay in alignment. Spring mounts or spring hangers that have a heavy plate welded to each side of the frame rails make a stronger system. I certainly would have plates added which will eliminate farther cracking issues in the area we see.
Balancing traier tires isn't necessary but if it makes the operator feel good it won't hurt. Several reasons the industry (not just RV's) doesn't balance tires. But thats another topic and doesn't fix your problem.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 06:01am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Flying J
if you choose to not use FlyingJ thats your option/opinion. I don't see any reason not to use them nor did you give a good reason not to. This lets all not use a certain product "because I don't like them......add your own reason" sounds like the class A forum and in particular the DP folks.
The Flying J near me is very clean/has some very helpful gas island jockies/very friendly and professional folks inside. Are all Flying J truck stops the same. No. Just as other major trucks stops have their good or bad facilities.
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 05:39am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: air brakes
hmmm, did you ever wonder why GM makes the exhaust brake a option on their 4500/5500 trucks with the DMAX/A. I have the Jacobs EB in my Dodge and have had no trouble in over 115k miles. Wouldn't drive a diesel without a EB. I would look at the Pacbrake PRXB. It has more braking hp in the 1400-1800 rpm range than other EB's. Grade braking features require lots of rpm's.
A EB along with a grade braking feature makes for a really nice set up for slowing down heavy loads. A EB will last as long as the engine. Bigger disc brakes last as long as the next brake job. Bigger brakes that are effective require larger diameter wheels.
By the way the EB has around 180 hp for braking vs just 115-120 hp for the grade braking feature on the Allison and other big auto's behind our diesels.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 05:19am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Do you lubericate your 5th wheel hitch
as skidood says I use a dry lube spray. However I did completly disassemble my new hitch and lightly lube all the hitch head working parts with red grease. The slider parts get the dry lube as they are exposed to more dirt issues. That was in '03 and the hitch head and slider still work great. I tried the white lithium spray but that attracted to much dirt or wood debree or hay or whatever else that was blowing around in the bed of the truck.
I haven't found a teflon lube disc but I do use the nylon lube disc.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/09/08 04:56am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rear end sagging to much
Hey guys I have a 96 F-250 4x4 4 door short bed Diesel. I have a 08 Montana 5ver that weighs just under 12K lbs empty. When pulling, the rear end of the truck sags way to much for my liking. The truck could take some more weight but not much more and it makes for a rough ride. I am looking to pick the rear end up. I have been told to add a leave spring, add air bags etc...Just wondering what you guys experience was with lifting the rear end. What did you do and why? If you put airbags would you tell me the brand and price and satisfaction? I need to do something somewhat soon. Thanks for you're time!
Jon
looks like a straight forward question on what help he wanted/needed and we have some making a fed case of his GVWR which by the way can be uprated in his home state of TX. Which leads to GVWR which job doesn't carry payload/pin weight weight. That's the the job for GAWR's and tire caps. Why not give him help instead of personnel theories on loading a truck.
Looks like you made your decision on the way to help your sag problem.
Don't let the weight police get you down as there is lots of info on this web on how to help your/our problems. I notice some folks tell/ask the WP not to post or get the thread locked which is the best way to keep the WP from hijacking your topic. Good luck
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/08/08 02:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: POLL: Weather Protection for RVs
my trailer shed is open about 32" off the ground for air circulation on the sides. The 14' tall doors go to the ground as does the rear wall. The '97 5er still looks new with no yellowing of the decals/filon/plastic covers or fading. The sun will ruineth all things in time as we usually keep a RV for years.
Even my tractor and its implements and their trailers set in a shed.
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JIMNLIN
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10/07/08 10:32am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Check out these Dyno numbers - 08 Diesels
dyno numbers ?? Nice to look at a chart and see what a particular engine puts out at WOT but is meaningless on the road pulling for a living 24/7 or even just a weekend RVer. Look around at some of our commercial haulers webs and see what the "serious" LDT size truck operators prefere as far as engine drivetrain preference and long term reliability with less maintenance. Hook up max axle loads at legal or uprated GVWR for a combined max load and wonder where all that wot power is at normal all day long towing rpm's.
What type dyno was used ?? Inertia or load ?? What gear was each vehicle run in ?? Manual or auto ? What elevation/outside temps and engine temps ?? All affect dyno numbers.
Stopped at a dyno days in CO and was interseting watching how the dyno operator could run his program with a particular truck (gear selection/ambient and engine temps/etc) and get different numbers from that same truck, especially a auto tranny truck. The manuals seemed to be more consistant in power output in the stock classes.
Brand bashing needs to be left for high schoolers as we can go to any Dodge/Ford/GM diesel web and all have had their own auto tranny problems with certain trannies over the years.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/07/08 06:04am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Question on resealing seams
(snip)
What the heck is a jack on the roof :h, that one threw me for a double loop. My jacks are either on the frame to stabilize the trailer or on the tongue so I have no idea what you are talking about or your concerns with these screws.
Larry
roof jacks, laymans terms for roof fixtures. I've worked mobilehome/RV assembly lines and had my own part time RV/mobilehome repair specializing in exterior/frame repair. The concern is the cloth with the eternabond that covers the screws just makes it that much harder to remove. Just small things we learn to make a repair job easier or less difficult if it ever has to be redone or repaired at a later date.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/06/08 06:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing laws
towing laws ? As others say see your own state DPS/DOT for your regs on mirrows. See this for all states states dps. Good luck on your search.
jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/06/08 07:03am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Diesel Newbie - Inspecting Oil
oil doesn't turn black immediatly on all Cummins egines. My '03 305/555 HO HPCR engine doesn't turn black till around 4500 miles towing max axle/GCWR loads or around 6500 miles non towing. But, yes it will normally turn black at some point as any diesel engine will.
I've never heard of a oil change place doing a oil analysis but others may have some input. I send my own oil samples about once every 3-4 oil changes which isn't very often.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/06/08 06:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Question on resealing seams
small cracks in the sealent doesn't mean it will leak as the sealent is the second line of defense against water leaks. My '97 5er has hairline cracks in a few places and if they get bigger I will add Dicor as I have in other places. There are other good self leveling sealents out here forresealing "WHEN NEEDED". One problem Eternabond can create is getting through the cloth to the screw heads if the roof jack ever needs to be replaced. If your paying someone to do the work no problem but if your the one changing the jack you will use the correct product for sealing the next time.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/06/08 06:12am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Opinion on 5th wheel trailers
(snip)
I am totally retired now so I have to work around others schedules to make a trip. My schedule is open most of the time. I tend to keep it that way if at all possible.
You seem to know that I used to haul rv's, horse trailers, etc. Yeah, the truck may want to stop at the weigh scales. It obviously has been there a few times over the last few years. I have been thru the toll house in Big Cabin a few times also. I tried to avoid I-44 as much as I possibly could. I don't like that toll section.
LOL, yeah a open schedule is the best part of retirement. 'course the wife honey do's and their long term memory of projects she wanted 5 years ago can mess my schedule up.
We get some good arguments going on door tag numbers, mostly on the tow vehicle forum, and I've used some of the "determining weights" stickies you are familiar with from on the old HSH web and from other haulers webs. Lots of weights theories on this web.
When our toll roads were built they were supposed to pay for themselves and then turned over to the state for free roads. It ain't happened yet as the first was built in '55 (Turner on I-44 from Tulsa to OKC). These two have paid for building several other and probably will never be a free road. Old Route 66 parallels I-44 and trucking and Rv'ers pulling trailers has really increased the last several years.
Keep the lite schedule .............
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/06/08 05:39am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Maxxis (D) vs. Carlisle (E) vs. Marathon (C)
I would install a 225/75-15 D load range 8 ply rated at the minimum for a 28' 5th wheel if its the one in your picture. C load range are just 6 ply rated tire. If your trailer wheels are 80 psi rated the E load range 10 ply rated makes a better trailer tire if your unit is 9000-10000+ GVWR. A ST trailer tire needs all the extra capacity you can install if you have a heavy 5er.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/05/08 05:55pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Purchased a fifth wheel. Need help selecting tow vehicle.
check out thedieselplace.com as its a all GM DMAX web with pages of answers to your question. The newest version don't quite get the mpg's that the older Dmax get. Be specific when asking/searching for mpg's. A 2500 2wd std cab with the ZF 6 speed manual is lighter and will generally get better mpg's than a 2500 4wd crew cab auto with lots of heavy options. A used Dmax may be a better idea.
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/05/08 05:37pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Opinion on 5th wheel trailers
I took the plunge and bought the Big Country 3250TS. We took delivery on Tue and so far it is all we expected. We are trying to get loaded up and take a trip next weekend.
(snip)
congrats on the new BC. Kind of hard hauling making a living then on your days off pulling the 5er on long trips, I'd bet. Will your old truck bypass the scale house or will it want to stop ?
We've sure enjoyed our RVs with the slower pace with no schedules to keep.
Enjoy it.................
Jim
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JIMNLIN
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10/04/08 11:00am |
Fifth-Wheels
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