Trailer Tires

[Marty McDonough]

Danger Will Robinson

The reason most tandem trailers have load range C tires is because the axles are rated for 3500 lbs only, AS ARE THE WHEELS. This gives a loaded trailer a max payload of 7000 lbs, with the 500 or 600 pounds on the hitch as insurance.

Previous posts have pointed out that a loaded enclosed trailer is already overweight with just a car in it. Upgrading the tires will provide no load carrying weight increase, as the rating is for the axles and brakes. (You do have brakes, right?) The only way to get correct payload when buying an enclosed trailer over 18ft long is to have the axles upgraded to at least 4500lb, and even better, to 6000lbs. My 24' United Expresslines enclosed trailer weighs 5000lbs empty. (A/C, Roof Platform, Cabinets, etc.) I had it built with 6k axles for a 12k payload. These axles take 8 lug 16" wheels, and I run the same tire as is on my Dooley. They are Michelin load range E at 80psi, and last forever.

Check the wheels on your trailer. If they are 5 lug they have a limited weight range. It should be stamped on the back.

I have the above 24', and a 40' gooseneck Pace American with 3 6000lb axles. I have towed all over the US, had a few flats (cut down 2 tires on my dooley during construction in Ohio - now carry 2 spares - had to leave the trailer with a '63 Cvt and a '64 big tank fuelie in a roadside area overnite) but never anything due to overloading or wrong size tires.

Marty McDonough

[Joseph T.]

Re: Danger Will Robinson

Marty..my 24' has 3500 lb axles, five lug wheels and C rated ST Trailer tires...along with a weight distribution hitch. Does the job..but..

If I had to it over ..I would go for the stronger axles.

Joe

[mike cobine]

Re: Danger Will Robinson

These are common ploys by some trailer builders.

They put cheap passenger car tires on their open trialers to cut costs - often used tires. Then they offer new tires for an additional $200. Of course, they offer new passenger car tires, not trailer tires.

Cheap enclosed trailers for the hobbyists often use 3500 pound axles, as noted by several on here. However, the enclosed trailer often weighes between 2500 to 3500 empty. Add a 3500 pound car and you are full.

No coolers, no lawn chairs, no tool box, etc.

And they are on 7000 pounds worth of tires, meaning you are running the tires maxxed out the entire trip.

Now how long would any of you run your Corvette on a trip at 6000-6500 rpm? Yet you run your tires at full load?

Some states are very lax about selling trailers. Many do not require brakes. However, if you pass through another state with tougher laws, you do have to comply. In some states, running passenger car tires on a trailer is not a legal condition and deemed unsafe, so you could see your trailer parked until you get "safe" tires. Plus whatever fine they dish out.

Also, be sure your driver's license is correct for the weight load you are driving. For several years, Florida had downgraded their operator license (Class E) to 8000 GVWR. Technically, you could not drive a 3/4 ton Suburban or 3/4 ton pickup (8600 GVWR).

[Dick W.]

Re: Danger Will Robinson

NC and most states require a CDL if your gross combined weight is 10,001# and you are pulling a trailer. Most times they are lax about checking for license, but occassionally they will do a check. It is rather expensive if you do not have them.

It has been my experience with trailer tires that the "el cheapo" ST tires that you get on trailers have a very short carcass life. I purchase LT tires with a minimum of load rating D. I have one trailer, which is subject to very heavy loads, that I use G ratings. Also the useful life, of a radial tire that is subjected to highway speeds and heavy loading, is about 5 years. I believe that some of the tire and auto manufacturers have come out with this statement in the last year or so. I have NEVER had a carcass failure on a trailer tire that was less than five years old (and I have been towing since 1964). Have had numerous failures on tires that were 5 and over. One trailer had never had so much as a low pressure tire on blew three tires in six months. The tires were, but the date codes on the sidewall, almost six years old.

[Clare Carpenter]

What about axle failure?

We know what can happen when a tire fails and fortunately you have some redundancy built in four tires on the ground. I would imagine that a bearing failure could be worse but that an axle failure would be catastrophic. Has anyone seen first hand what happens when a trailer axle fails?

On a side note, I am surprised safety regulations aren't aggressively enforced given the potential for a serious accident that could involve multiple vehicles.