4x4crazy
Folsom, CA
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Joined: 12/07/2004
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Okay, we just ventured out into buying a travel trailer late last year and after sitting all winter I am about to take it out again this year. The tires seem a little low which is expected ater sitting for 10 months or so. What tire pressure do I put in them? Is there a sticker like on a car door that tells this? Do I just use 35 psi like most vehicles?
For any reference, its a 2000 Kit Espree 26' trailer, tandem axle and is about 5000lbs empty.
2000 Kit Espree 26'
rear bunks/front queen
5000#dry/7700GVWR
2005 Dodge Ram 1500
4x4 Quad Cab, Off Road Package
Hemi, 3.92 gears, airram intake, superchips, gibson exhaust
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Crane Man
TN
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Joined: 06/19/2008
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Look on the side of the tire. There should be a max air pressure.
It is best to gauge tires cold.
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RVnRobin
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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Just for reference, I pull a Komfort GVWR 10,500, weighs 9,800 fully loaded, with a Dodge 2500 diesel. The tire pressure I carry is the max marked on the trailer tires. I like the stiffness of the tires at max pressure because it helps limit tire side-to-side roll when I meet other rigs, and when they pass me since I tend to drive 50-60 mph. I will be the first to admit I am old enough to remember bias ply tires rated at 10 ply and I liked the stiffness they provided. Since bias ply is nearly impossible to find, radials at max pressure is the closest I can get to similar control. I also carry max pressure on my tow vehicle tires.
RVnRobin, DW, and the cat.
The cat thinks she is the boss!
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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Joined: 05/05/2005
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There are 3 ways to answer this question.
1. Simple & half-baked, but it won't be too little air pressure. Put in the max pressure noted on the tires.
2. Simple and 3/4 baked. Use the GVWR & tire placard that's on the left front corner of the exterior of the TT. If it's gone, or it's an old TT or if you can't read it, then this doesn't work well.
3. The BEST way, period. Start by weighing the TT fully loaded. Then go to the tire manufacturers web site and find their tire pressure chart. If you can't find the website or chart for your brand, then use one from the Goodyear, Michelin or Toyo sites. Find your tire size on the chart and move to the right till you find the weight that tire will support in X PSI column. That is the MINIMUM tire pressure you should use for the weight that tire is carrying. Many of us add 10-20% as a safety margin, BUT do not exceed the maximum pressure of either the tire or the wheel (rim). Ever.
Always check tire pressure when the tires are cold. That means COLD. As in overnight and not in the sun. Never let air out of a hot tire.
BTW, 35 PSI is guaranteed to be way too low for any RV I've ever seen.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
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JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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use max sidewall pressures for storing and traveling down the highway. Heat is the number one killer for tires and using less than max for a trailer will have the tires running hotter. Using trucks door tag pressures for trailers is apples vs oranges. Two different operating circumstances.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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I always air mine up to the maximum pressure as stated on the sidewall of the tire. The reason for this is that they run cooler that way and most trailer manufacturers put tires on that are JUST adequate for the weight of the trailer with very little, if any, excess capacity. That means that the tires should be aired up to the maximum to safely carry the load. I have never had a tire related problem in all my years of trailering (knock on a BIG piece of wood! )
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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BarneyS wrote:I always air mine up to the maximum pressure as stated on the sidewall of the tire. The reason for this is that they run cooler that way and most trailer manufacturers put tires on that are JUST adequate for the weight of the trailer with very little, if any, excess capacity. That means that the tires should be aired up to the maximum to safely carry the load. I have never had a tire related problem in all my years of trailering (knock on a BIG piece of wood! )
Barney
While I agree that most trailers are equipped with barely adequate tires & wheels, there are exceptions. Our Arctic Fox carries 2170# per tire on the front axle and 1860# per tire on the rear axle. The 235/80-16 LR'E' tires are rated to carry 3500# @ 80 PSI. That's a 60% margin on the front and 88% margin on the rear tires. By lowering the pressure to 65 PSI (max for a LR 'D' tire) I reduced the load capacity to 3000#, but still maintain very large margins of 38% & 60% and soften the ride of the trailer slightly.
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4x4crazy
Folsom, CA
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Joined: 12/07/2004
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thanks guys, I will look at both the sidewalls and the plaque on the left side. I forgot about that thing. FOr safety I will just run off the sidewall pressure. I appreciate the advice.
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Extenter
Cambridge Ont
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Joined: 05/05/2007
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4x4crazy wrote:thanks guys, I will look at both the sidewalls and the plaque on the left side. I forgot about that thing. FOr safety I will just run off the sidewall pressure. I appreciate the advice.
Beware of the details given on the plaque.on my trailer the tires had been changed to a different rating, the plaque stated 32 PSI, the new ones required 50 PSI.
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RaymondT
Abbotsford, B.C., Canada
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Joined: 07/06/2008
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My 2008 Starstream decal lists the same 50psi max that is found on the sidewalls of the Duro's. Then consider that the same axles and tires are used on most of their models where the dry weight varies by thousands of pounds from the lightest to the heaviest trailer. So much for pressure tables.
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