Boat trailer work

[Crusader]

As long as it is specified as a DOT trailer tire, you should be just fine with a once a year road trip.

Cool.....plus all the trips we plan on making to different jet boat events. Lol. I'd like to take her to Broken Bow one weekend next summer.

 

[blazeracer]

I was told basically what has been already said, the radials hold up better in the heat for long haul towing. My boat is somewhat heavy (3000 lbs including trailer) & on a single axle trailer so I wanted the best I could get. Was told on a tandem axle trailer the radial was not quite so crucial.

One thing I have read & heard is that trailer tires should be replaced every 3 years/5 years max no matter the mileage or treadwear. haven't heard an explanation as to why exactly that is though.

It's because trailers have a much stiffer suspension than cars the tires are very prone to abuse. The tire hits a pot hole, a majority of the car's weight is held by the suspension for a moment. Not so on trailers. Also, trailers tires spend a lot of time parked in the same spot, so the ones facing the sun get dry rotted sidewalls fairly quick compared to your car that moves around a lot. A combinations of these things all contribute to trailer tires taking a beating.

 

[Last Mohecian]

The trailer tires probably were R's then looking at the explaination.

I'm sure you are right.  It's been a while since I sold tires.  The metric ID got kinda mashed up in my brain since then. 

 

[Crusader]

[Also, trailers tires spend a lot of time parked in the same spot, so the ones facing the sun get dry rotted sidewalls fairly quick compared to your car that moves around a lot. A combinations of these things all contribute to trailer tires taking a beating.

When I looked at the dry rot on the old tires, I could see exactly where this boat sat in one spot for a very very long time. There was a spot on each tire where the dry rot was worse than the rest of the tire. I don't think that happens just by sitting two or three months, I think that happens during idle periods of a year or more. Strange.

 

[blazeracer]

When I looked at the dry rot on the old tires, I could see exactly where this boat sat in one spot for a very very long time. There was a spot on each tire where the dry rot was worse than the rest of the tire. I don't think that happens just by sitting two or three months, I think that happens during idle periods of a year or more. Strange.

Yeah, in that case you are probably right. But like my boat, although I use it often, it always gets parked in the same spot in the diveway. The left side tires see the sun all day and the right side tires never see the sun. After a couple of years of that my left side tires will be dry rotted and the right sides will still be like new, and you're not supposed to change direction on radial tires so moving them left to right is out, or in my case... It.

 

[Last Mohecian]

When I looked at the dry rot on the old tires, I could see exactly where this boat sat in one spot for a very very long time. There was a spot on each tire where the dry rot was worse than the rest of the tire. I don't think that happens just by sitting two or three months, I think that happens during idle periods of a year or more. Strange.

Yeah, in that case you are probably right. But like my boat, although I use it often, it always gets parked in the same spot in the diveway. The left side tires see the sun all day and the right side tires never see the sun. After a couple of years of that my left side tires will be dry rotted and the right sides will still be like new, and you're not supposed to change direction on radial tires so moving them left to right is out, or in my case... It.

You can rotate radials side to side.  That is an old wives tale.  The only time you would not want to switch sides is if it is a directional tread pattern.  Check the owners manual in your vehicle.  I know my 07 avalanche shows a cross pattern rotation.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireRotation.dos

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=43&

 

[Crusader]

The left side tires see the sun all day and the right side tires never see the sun. After a couple of years of that my left side tires will be dry rotted and the right sides will still be like new, and you're not supposed to change direction on radial tires so moving them left to right is out, or in my case... It.

James, just get some wheel covers and your sun drying problems are solved.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Pc-TIRE-WHEEL-COVERS-Car-Truck-Trailer-RV-Camper-SUV-/220704147149?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3362fe06cd

 

[neverenuf]

I was told basically what has been already said, the radials hold up better in the heat for long haul towing. My boat is somewhat heavy (3000 lbs including trailer) & on a single axle trailer so I wanted the best I could get. Was told on a tandem axle trailer the radial was not quite so crucial.

One thing I have read & heard is that trailer tires should be replaced every 3 years/5 years max no matter the mileage or treadwear. haven't heard an explanation as to why exactly that is though.

Because of dry rot

 

[Devilman]

Because of dry rot

I got ya. Mine were cracked all to hell on the sidewalls, but when its stored its indoors out of the sun.. :huh: I just wondered why they'd do that while all the other vehicles I have that sit outside all the time, tires on them are fine... I was wondering if it were maybe a Carlisle thing. Weird...

 

[KONA77]

RIGHT WEIRD.....  it's called trailer tires,  my goose neck did it,  but had no problems from the boat trailer..... i guess i pull my boat more than others...  i don't know  crazy.gif

 

[Sharkbit]

you guys got me to thinking...(never a good thing) I need to get a spare mount figured out. My spare does me no good sitting in the garage.

 

[Crusader]

Should be pretty easy to bolt onto your trailer.

 

[Last Mohecian]

you guys got me to thinking...(never a good thing) I need to get a spare mount figured out. My spare does me no good sitting in the garage.

I like the idea of welding another spindle on somewhere and used a spare hub with bearing and all to mount the spare.  That way you have all the parts if you have a bearing go out on the road.

 

[CorDog009]

you guys got me to thinking...(never a good thing) I need to get a spare mount figured out. My spare does me no good sitting in the garage.

I like the idea of welding another spindle on somewhere and used a spare hub with bearing and all to mount the spare.  That way you have all the parts if you have a bearing go out on the road.

That's a pretty good idea. You can probably get a used spindle for free of an axle and maybe mount it up at the front of the trailer or on a drop down mount under the bow. I have a spare tire but want to find some different rims..maybe some 20's if I can find a good deal on some  :smile17:

 

[Devilman]

Yep, got tired of having to remember to throw the spare into the truck when we went somewhere. Made a mount out of channel iron, hold the tire laying down, up under the bow of the boat, right behind the winch. May have some pics on the work computer I can post in the a.m.

 

[blazeracer]

you guys got me to thinking...(never a good thing) I need to get a spare mount figured out. My spare does me no good sitting in the garage.

I need to do that too. My spare is in the fridge shop. Not even sure if it still has air in it.

 

[WAFOBABY]

Yea I need to go find that place your are talking about James thats pretty good deal for 14" I have low profile on my trailer and HATE them.  That why I took my Dad tires off his ski boat there for a while. 

 

[blazeracer]

Yea I need to go find that place your are talking about James thats pretty good deal for 14" I have low profile on my trailer and HATE them.  That why I took my Dad tires off his ski boat there for a while.

It's about 100 feet away from my shop on Grisham Dr. in Rowlett, straight across 66 from the Home Depot.

 

[Crusader]

UPS ground tracking states that the new trailer tires will be here tomorrow, 12/8/2010 Wednesday. Wow, I ordered them Sunday afternoon and they're going to be here that quick.....cool.

I'll probably have the tires mounted this week and then go out to the storage area and start working on the new bearings. I might just go and pull the boat home with me Saturday night and replace the bearings at the house.

 

[Last Mohecian]

UPS ground tracking states that the new trailer tires will be here tomorrow, 12/8/2010 Wednesday. Wow, I ordered them Sunday afternoon and they're going to be here that quick.....cool.

I'll probably have the tires mounted this week and then go out to the storage area and start working on the new bearings. I might just go and pull the boat home with me Saturday night and replace the bearings at the house.

Hopefully your trailer is not like mine.  It had metric seals.  They were almost impossible to find local.  Let me know if they end up being metric and I'll dig the info out for the place I got mine.  If they are standard any auto parts or ever Tractor Supply will have the bearings and seals.