golf_bears
Rapid City, SD
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Have any of you used the Equal wheel balancing system for either your 5th wheel and or truck? I am considering it now for both the 5th wheel and truck but would like to hear from those folks who have already used the system.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Here's a link to their web site.
Equal System
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Bill1374
northern New York
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Can't help with the fifth but when we had a motor home, used Equal with the new tires. Was very happy with the results. This was on 22.5 tires.
Bill
2011 Hitchhiker Discover America 345RSE
2006 Dodge quadcab,dually 2 wheel drive
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Jim-Linda
Livingston, TX
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Instead of Equal (powder), I would consider ceramic beads. If you air up Equal with any moisture in the air supply, it will clump. You will have to break the tires down to install the beads, but I have good results.
Jim
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B.O. Plenty
Minnesota
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What's wrong with using the proven and probably less expensive method of conventional balancing with weights? A lot of people are trying these "miracle cure" wheel balancing methods to try and cure a problem that doesn't exist. It would be very interesting to spin up a wheel with these beads and other stuff and see what a good wheel dynamic wheel balancer would indicate as to whether they work or not...Just sayin.
B.O.
2011 Big Country 3250TS...2010 Ram CC Laramie 4wd Cummins
15k Super Glide, Firestone Ride Rite, TrailAir Tri-Glide
Michelin XPS Ribs. Just say no to Chinese tires.
Twin Cities Mn.
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Jim-Linda
Livingston, TX
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B.O., that was done after the beads were installed, did not need any weight on any wheel.
Jim
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bpounds
Whittier CA
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I would stick with weights, unless you have a balancing problem. For example, some of the oversize A/T or M/T tires are difficult to keep balanced. The beauty of balancing beads in that situation is that they are dynamic and as the tire changes, the beads compensate.
For most of us with stock trucks, you should be fine with wheel weights. What would be the goal of using beads if wheel weights will do the job?
I agree that if you go with an internal media balance, ceramic beads are what you want.
2006 F250 Diesel
2011 Keystone Cougar 278RKSWE Fiver
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golf_bears
Rapid City, SD
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Jim,
Thanks for the suggestion on the beads. Whose beads would you recommend and have you used them yourself?
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bpounds
Whittier CA
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Dyna-beads are the ones that I have bookmarked. Lots of reports from users that say these solved balancing problems. I have not used them, because I run reasonably sized tires. Haven't had problems losing balance, but these are what I would go with if I ever do.
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golf_bears
Rapid City, SD
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Thanks everyone for your input.
My 5th wheel is running on 17-1/2" and the F-450 is running on 19-1/2" tires.
Balancing shop said they would need to use up to 12ozs of weight on one of the truck tires. I thought that was pretty high so I started researching other solutions.
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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12 ounces of weight? I would be looking to replace the tire. You probably have an early tread separation that is not yet visible.
I use the dyna beads both in my 5th wheel and truck. Never have to rebalance the truck tires as a result. Most tires require rebalancing after 10,000 miles or so.
Trailer brake drums are not balanced. The dyna beads take care of this problem. The closer to balance a tire is the better. Less shaking of the contents of the trailer and easier on the suspension.
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