kampsurfr
pgh pa.
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Joined: 02/13/2006
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well just was on my way home from 80 mile trip and got 3-miles from home and blew-out pass front tire on t.t.. no real problem it, handled till the tire started to peel. real problem came in changing the wheel. ran the back tire up on blocks but still wasn't high enough to get good tire on. thanks to {the all mighty} that we were close to home and my neibor was home. he brought my floor jack up and had changed in 30 mins. so down the road how do you address a flat on the trailer when going 60 and where or how would you jack up trailer?
05" 26' keystone w/ super slide
00 tahoe 5.3 reese d/cam
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LeeShearer
Royersford, PA
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Joined: 01/25/2006
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Had my first blowout on the PA turnpike monday. Good old properly inflated not overloaded Loadstar. I was going between 55 and 60. Didn't know it blew. Wish I could have thanked the person signaling for me to pull over.
2005 Fleetwood Resort EXT 25SB
1999 Chevy K3500 short bed dually
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker
OrangeCountyCalifornia
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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Your tire changing storage area should include:
Jack. Bigger is better here. Make sure that the jack can support the weight of your camper. Note: I have never liked the ideal of using a jack on my camper. If you are in traffic, Semi-Trucks are flying by at 60+ mph, the whole camper is rocking. I have a "TRAILER-AID". This is used on dual/triple axle campers. You drive up on it with your good tire and it lifts the camper up so that you can change the bad tire (with enough room to install the spare). I have included what it looks like. I keep mine in the back of my truck. It isn't that big and don't take much room, but I consider this a must. You can find them at just about any camper sales. They cost around $60.00, but trust me, it will pay for itself the first time you use it.
4 Way Lug Wrench. If you don't have one, get one. Some of these tires were installed by King Kong and you will need the leverage. Any parts place, Wally World, K-mart, Sears has them.
Gloves. If you have a blow out, the steel belts will tear your hands up, so gloves are a must.
Spare Tire tool. Most campers include a tool that you will need to lower the spare from it’s resting area.
Extras. Portable air compressor. Make sure that it has the capability of airing your tire to it’s max pressure.
First, make sure you thoroughly block up the tires on the side of the trailer opposite the one you're jacking--chock them so the trailer won't roll either way. Next, you must select a safe jack point. Never use an axle as a jack point! This can quickly goof up your trailer alignment, and possible affect handling, as well as tire wear. Check your owner manual for proper jack point, and lacking that information, use the trailer frame. (From low tech rving)
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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I've had many blow outs and have had the floor jack sink into the hot pavement also. Now I carry a large block of wood to drive up on. I have a four by ten block of wood just for this occasion. Some thing I also have done is go to a tire shop and they looked at the tires I had and they were marginal at best. Forest River put different sized tires on the TT and now I have larger and E rated tires, so I'm hoping I do not have any blow outs. I also have slowed down to 60 mph as most tires for TT are rated for 60 mph. look at the side walls of yours to see what yours are rated at.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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When raising the front tire by using the rear on blocks it is helpful to disconnect the tow vehicle after the rear tire is on the block then raise the tongue jack to get the tire off of the ground. The hitch actually keeps the front tires from raising.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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If you use enough blocks you can do it. I've never had a TT tire fail, but use Leveler Blocks to remove tire to grease bearings, etc, in driveway. We carry 20 blocks, which is more than enough, ten isn't.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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maxwell11
Hazel, KY
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Joined: 04/16/2008
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what brand of tire was it and how old, (dot tire code) was the tire.
Just interested, also was the tire a ST of some other type tire?
Sincerely,
Glad you guys were safe and did not tear up your trailer
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canoe on top
Denver, CO, US
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Joined: 07/21/2003
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I put a bottle jack under the spring pad. It is the load bearing point on the axle and the jack is pushing on the spring pad, not the axle unless you have flipped your axles then you are putting the jack against the axle but still under the load bearing point.
I know many manufacturers recommend putting the jack under the frame but the frame is pretty high and you often need a block to spread the force over a larger area on the frame. If you have an enclosed underbelly the frame may not be accessable.
If you are on reasonably level ground and the TT is attached to the TV you probably don't need to chock the wheels. Driving one tire up on a block to lift the other tire off the ground puts all the weight and a lot of stress on one tire. Some say you can damage a tire that way.
I've bent axles but not from jacking. I would not recommend jacking the axle anywhere but under the spring.
A flex bar, a short extension and a deep socket for the lug nuts. A four way lug wrench and a cheater bar can be handy if somebody used an impact wrench to tighten the lugs. If you don't need them for the TT, you might for the TV.
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JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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kampsurfr wrote:
just FYI it is recommended that you replace both tires on that side of the trailer... it only takes a very short distance of running over loaded to damage the cords in that tire... that tire was suddenly over loaded when the other one blew... not changing it could lead to a series of blow-outs...
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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Turbo Diesel Dude
Green Mountain, NC
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Joined: 01/10/2005
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I just call 1-800- "come and get me"
charles weidman
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