Gross Axle weight
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Back2PA
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one
grashley
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That is for one. It is probably a 4000# axle, but is derated because the cheap tires can only carry 3920 a pair, and they can not sell a camper with tire capacity less than axle capacity, so they derate the axles. You may want to upgrade the tires.
THanks for the info. I recently returned from a long trip (5600 miles) with the TT. One of the tires is badly worn now and this was the first real trip for the TT. I am taking it to a reputable tire dealer for his opinion before taking it back to the dealer (it is still under warranty). It looks like none of the tires were balanced properly since there are no weights on them.
grashley
Senior Member
You are likely correct. It is also possible you have a bent axle or it is out of alignment. Good idea going to the tire dealer FIRST!
Gary RV_Wizard
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Few if any RV trailers get their wheels balanced, at least not at the factory or as part of dealer prep. And the evidence suggests the factory assembly lines aren't all that careful about aligning the axles perfectly either.
Back2PA
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Gary RV_Wizard said:
Should they be balanced or is it unnecessary?
Balance......always balance! An unbalanced tire on a trailer does the same as in an auto. You are shortening tire life, and transmitting ?unnecessary? shock to the suspension and to the trailer structure. Could cause a frame weld failure, screws/bolts to loosen, etc. Unbalanced tires can do a lot of things.....none of them good!
Gary RV_Wizard
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"Always balance" is the safest approach. Theoretically no new tire should ever need balancing - they are supposed to be perfectly round with the weight evenly distributed. 8) Many of the better brands often are good, or at least come close. But no tire manufacturer makes perfect tires every time, and there is no way to predict whether the ones you get are perfect or not. You can put them on a balance machine to find out, but that's what it means to "balance a tire".
Imbalance causes the tire to bounce or hop up and down a bit. A small imbalance is negligible on a trailer, just vibrating the suspension a bit. A larger amount, however, begins to do what Membt describes.
Imbalance causes the tire to bounce or hop up and down a bit. A small imbalance is negligible on a trailer, just vibrating the suspension a bit. A larger amount, however, begins to do what Membt describes.
Back2PA
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Memtb said:
Presumed that was the case but thought perhaps things were different on a big heavy trailer
Lou Schneider
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The only difference is you don't ride in the trailer, so no one feels the vibration of an out of balance tire. It's still beating up your suspensiom, etc.
Trailer hubs are not machine balanced so adding weights around the rim may make any out of balance worse.
And trailer wheels are lug centered and are notorious for the tires bead seat not being concentric to the lugs. Adding weight also may make any out of balance worse.
Trailers leaf springs are only 26" long and act as a huge damper. This is one reason we don't see much in the way of OEM tires OOB complaints on new trailers.
The tire we see jumping up and down on a lightweight utility trailer going down the road more than likely has a tread delam issues and should be removed from the trailer before coming apart. More than likely this is what the dealer will find in the OP case.
With five trailers on the road with 28 tires on the ground at the same time for over eleven years and never had a tire balanced. These trailers had no reload runs so half the miles were empty runs back to the yard.
I watch my tires tread wear. If a tire shows odd wear patterns I look for suspension issues or a tire with a tread delam issue.
When we make a living on the road pulling these size trailers (non rv) with the same size trucks we learn from experience what works and what didn't work the best where tire/wheel/hubs/suspension issues are concerned.
info above is how I do it and not meant everyone should do as I do.
And trailer wheels are lug centered and are notorious for the tires bead seat not being concentric to the lugs. Adding weight also may make any out of balance worse.
Trailers leaf springs are only 26" long and act as a huge damper. This is one reason we don't see much in the way of OEM tires OOB complaints on new trailers.
The tire we see jumping up and down on a lightweight utility trailer going down the road more than likely has a tread delam issues and should be removed from the trailer before coming apart. More than likely this is what the dealer will find in the OP case.
With five trailers on the road with 28 tires on the ground at the same time for over eleven years and never had a tire balanced. These trailers had no reload runs so half the miles were empty runs back to the yard.
I watch my tires tread wear. If a tire shows odd wear patterns I look for suspension issues or a tire with a tread delam issue.
When we make a living on the road pulling these size trailers (non rv) with the same size trucks we learn from experience what works and what didn't work the best where tire/wheel/hubs/suspension issues are concerned.
info above is how I do it and not meant everyone should do as I do.
Hanr31
Senior Member
Trailer tires do NOT need to be balanced. In fact there is no reason to balance them, except to make the owner happy.
triplethreat
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Hanr3 said:
An out of balance tire/wheel is an out of balance tire/wheel....whether it's on a car, truck, trailer, motorcycle, whatever. And an out of balance tire/wheel will not wear as well as one that is balanced. Obviously the faster the tire turns, the more evident the out of balance issue becomes.
SI
sightseers
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I'm with Longhual ...
As an old CDL truck driver I've owned and towed many trailers over the last 40 years....... I've never had a trailer tire balanced.
As an old CDL truck driver I've owned and towed many trailers over the last 40 years....... I've never had a trailer tire balanced.
While a tire ?may be? perfectly balanced in it?s manufacture, there are other rotating components as well ( wheels, brake drums, etc). I?ll choose a balanced assembly every time....I?ll even add beads or liquid balance, as mud, snow, ice can/will change the balance of the rotating assembly!
Hanr31
Senior Member
xrated said:
Incorrect assumptions. Trailers have a different suspension then cars, trucks, motorcycles. Trailer tires also serve a completely different duty. Their job is different than a car, truck, motorcycle, tire. You are trying to compare apples to oranges. Trailer tire manufactures do not recommend balancing trailer tires. They will offer it, if the customer asks for it. Offered to appease the customer, not to improve the performance of the tires/wheels. These are the facts.
Trailer tires are only balanced to please the customer. There is no engineering reason to balance trailer tires.
SI
sightseers
Guest
sightseers said:
Come to think of it.....I don't remember ever having any of my truck tires balanced either ..... ???
it had a Chalmers rear suspension, straight axle front and I never felt any out of round or balance tire.
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