Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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Our camping companions are looking very seriously at this trailer but have a question. The unit comes with 13" tires, which may be a dealbreaker. They want 14" minimum, as most of the similar competition comes with 14". I am assuming that 14" will not simply fit, however there is a 2" lift kit available for that trailer. Will 14" wheels and tires fit with the lift kit? Has anyone here done this?
The other unit being considered is the Starcraft Antigua 195CK which has a very similar floor plan. (but has 14" wheels and tires)
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker
OrangeCountyCalifornia
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Are these new at a dealers? He would be able to upfit the 14" tires and install the lift kit for a slight fee if it continues to be an issue....but I'm wondering why 14" over 13" tires? A dealbreaker to me is a no name cheap junk exploding tire vs a good name brand tire from a reputable company....yes? And Starcraft is a partner of Jayco...which means Jayco manages Starcraft. Same quality and service.
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Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker wrote:Are these new at a dealers? He would be able to upfit the 14" tires and install the lift kit for a slight fee if it continues to be an issue....but I'm wondering why 14" over 13" tires? A dealbreaker to me is a no name cheap junk exploding tire vs a good name brand tire from a reputable company....yes? And Starcraft is a partner of Jayco...which means Jayco manages Starcraft. Same quality and service.
Yes, Both new at dealers. Many miles and not always the best terrain make for the desire for 14" or larger. They are moving up from one of those Fleetwood "Evolution" PUPS. It had 15" all weather tires on it. For some a color is a dealbreaker, you have your own "dealbreaker' reasons. For them 13" tires and rims are. Both units seem to be decent quality in general. Unfortunately there are no Jayco dealers anywhere near here. There is a Starcraft dealer not too far away.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Just curious about why the obsession with 14" tires? Jayco has been building some pretty good trailers for many years so they DO know what works and what doesn't. My 25 foot Coachmen had 13" tires and it followed me for over 40,000 miles (many of them on NFS roads and other back country locations) without any tire problems. For what it's worth: I'd be very surprised if an extra half inch of height would cause any real PROBLEM is he just MUST have 14s to make him happy though. Once again, I doubt if Jayco would build a trailer with less than a half inch clearance. Good luck / Skip
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Rookiecamper
Northeastern, PA
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My trailer has 13" tires. I replaced them due to age last summer before our 2200 mile trip from PA to Disney and back. I had absolutely no problem with them. Remember that they are not drive tires or steering tires like on a car or truck. They are just along for the ride. I tend to think that the carrying capacity is more important than 1" of extra diameter....but, as you said earlier, everyone has different wants and expectations. Given a choice, I'd prefer 14" or 15" tires, but I've been just fine with what is on mine.
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CamperMan07
Hartford, WI
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We purchased a Jayco 19 last year. I thought we might have a problem with the lower stance, but we have had no issues. I park it on a slab in my driveway and it has a pretty steep incline to get it up there. I thought I might have some issues, but did not. I also parked it in some not so level campgrounds and still did not have a problem. Hope it helps.
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Car Guy
Just outside Madison, WI - America's Dairyland
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I'm with Todd -
Covered a lot of ground (various terrain) the last 3 years - no issues on 13's
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Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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You know, you all are probably absolutely correct about the 13" working just fine. And although I have no real experience with Jayco, they do have a decent reputation and have been around quite a while. There are certainly a lot of happy owners here on RV net, but since they are not as common here on the north west coast, I have to rely on your experiences. It does make one wonder though.. Why does everyone else use 14" or larger? It would seem that they roll a greater distance per revolution and therefore have less heat buildup and wear. (not to mention turning a slower RPM) It would appear to be simply a cost issue.
Both the Anituga and the Jayco seem to be pretty well built though, and the floor plans are almost identical. It may simply come down to price and availability.
Hey some guys put 20"s on their trucks and cars. I don't necessarily understand that either!
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Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
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Unlike automobiles where wheel size is usually a styling feature, 14" wheels and tires are used because they can carry more weight! As in 400 more pounds per tire.
Here's a comparison of 13", 14", and 15" ST tires as commonly fitted on campers. These are the nearly universal "6-ply rating" or "load range C" tires.
Multiply the weight ratings by 4 for the 4 wheels.Quote:Size P.R. O.D. (INCH) S.W. (INCH) Inflate (PSI) Load (LBS) Rim (INCH)
ST175/80R13 6 24.0 7.1 50 1360 5
ST205/75R14 6 26.6 8.1 50 1760 5.5
ST205/75R15 6 27.1 8.6 50 1870 5.5
Four 13" tires will support 5440 pounds of axle (about a 6000 pound trailer as the tongue supports some too). Four 14" tires can support just over 7000 pounds of axle weight.
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Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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Well, our friends just called and they just bought the Starcraft Antigua 195CK. Dual axles with 14" wheels and tires. Seems like a quality unit with a nice roomy floor plan and I think it will serve them well. I am going to help him install a WD hitch and sway control as well as 2 6V batteries.
Let's go camping!
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