225/75R15 Goodyear Edurance ST have a load index of 117 (2833lbs) @ 80 psi. The Kodiak 261RBSL has 2 3500lbs axles giving you 1750lbs load rating per tire. Tire Weight / Tire Pressure = Load Capacity Pounds per PSI. i.e. 2833/80 = 35.41 lbs per psi. For your trailer 50 - 55 psi would be the recommended pressure. I run a G rated tire load index 129 (4079lbs) @ 110psi on my 5th. We run them @ 80 psi on our 5th or you will shake the trailer apart and wear the center of the tread out prematurely. In regards to sway, have you tried increasing the clamping force on the center part of you R3 Recurve weight distribution hitch. Camco recommends tightening this to suite each truck and trailer combo. Also the sway control on the R3 uses brake pad material so It requires adjusting from time to time to maintain adequate clamping force. Good job on upgrading the stock tires most O.E. trailer tires are horrible. Just hope the Goodyear Endurance ST tires are better than the Marathons. Happy travels.
Thank you, I was searching all over to make sure my math was correct, I have a 2019 Dutchmen Kodiak 287RKSL and just switch to 225/75R15 Goodyear Endurance. I was trying to figure out what PSI to run, 80 just seems to high for the low 5,700 dry weight I have. I might run 65 in case I do decide to load the camper up (water, and gear).
Real good choice on tires. The last thing you need is a blow out on your trailer. We thoroughly enjoy watching Abom Adventures. Thanks again for inviting us along.
Ordered these 5 of these exact tires today. Had my mind set on them, but your video sealed the deal. Paid $133 each. Didn't think that was too bad considering it is a year since your video. thanks for your input and well done.
I took your advice and went by and saw Kenny. Bought a set of tires for our Camper Trailer. I told them you sent me. Thanks for sharing your video. 12/31/21.
Had Goodyear Marathon trailer tires on my 24' race car trailer. I knew every Goodyear dealer within a 600 mile radius from replacing blown out trailer tires. Upgraded to 16" (6 lug) rims and Firestone truck tires, never had another problem. Age is your trailer tire enemy. Over 5 years old, you're playing Russian roulette
I upgraded from china bombs to the Goodyear endurance back 3 years ago. the best thing I ever did. it tows with less sway and less pulling resistance as well. USA made is very important to me and gives that piece of mind. happy travels
Just because they're goodyear, doesn't mean they're USA made. Goodyear makes a VERY small portion of their tires in the US. (If he read the factory code off the sidewall of the tire and they were made in the USA, I missed it.)
Smart move man. I used to be a tire guy 22 years ago and saw the carnage done to campers and trailers in general, when they blow. We had so many issues with trailer tires, we quit installing trailer tires. We'd just use normal LT truck tires, and cut the issues down dramatically.
I also did the research and am having GY's installed in a few days. I had the Chinese tires for 4 years with no problems and put about 14k on them. I feel more confident with the American tire. Thanks for the video!
I hope you had them balanced too, will make a difference. I just had a ST225-75R15 LRE tire made by Hercules, blow on me, minor damage. These were two years old. I had already installed an Endurance to replace the original 13 year old spare. I now have replaced all of the tires with Endurance. With a 16 inch rim, just go to a LIght Truck tire. That is what Airstream offers as an option on many models now. Also, you always want to make sure the valve stems are replaced with High Pressure stems, easy to determine they are high pressure stems by the brass section on them.
I’ve found that as temp goes up to need to lower your air pressure to avoid blow outs . When it’s 90 degrees or above I’d drop the pressure to compensate. Good upgrade and you should get better mpg .
The slight variation in pressure, caused by the temperature spread of 30°F in Florida (+/- 5 psi), is nowhere near enough to cause a blowout. Air pressure gauges are very inaccurate (I have several, and several are high quality, and they all have a spread of 8 psi), and if that were the case, everyone would be having blowouts just due to the gauge inaccuracies.
Nolan Draper when you run a lower than advised pressure, you are flexing the tire more which in turn causes friction and heat, that will lead to a blowout quicker than higher pressures. As Adam stated, the manufacturer already compensated for temp change at the rated weight.
I put some monitors on my valve stems. I love them. They give a warning if there's an excessive change in tire temperature or pressure. I don't have to manually check the pressures anymore, I just look at the readings on the monitor.
You refer to a problem with swaying on the highway. My experience is in the uk where caravans are very lightly constructed with not even a bumper to protect the plastic rear wall so they are not directly comparable with the heavily built trailers that you tow. The advice we are given is to always be careful with the maximum weight and also to ensure that all loads in the caravan are as close to the axle and as low as possible. The further away from the axle line that the weight is the more the pendulum effect which can make the sway get worse and can escalate to the point that you loose control of the rig. I appreciate that you are proud of the construction of your bumper upgrade with load carrier and cycle rack. This is all weight at the extreme end of the trailer where it can exert the maximum force for the actual weight carried. You have also talked of adding a generator to the front A frame and again this is as far from the axle as possible and might also amplify any sway that develops. Please don't take this as criticism of your plans or workmanship, just something to consider as part of the stability of your rig.
Airstream is moving to the Michelin LT Aegis CrossClimate tires which are 16" tires on their "Classic" models. See long long honeymoon's video about "Maypop" tires, Endurance are supposed to be better than the Marathons, but we've moved away from ST tires for now due to their issues. Hopefully we'll have as much good luck with the LT tires as LoLoHo has.
Hey, Great to see you do this! I was the one on instagram that you talked to about this. I told you about the twin cam sway control too. *(John B) I know you will be glad you did this.
Those are Great tires.Best money I ever spent on my camper. You may want to look into replacing those stock equalizers and shackles. I did the Dexter EZ Flex equalizers Heavy Duty shackle straps and wet bolts.. Major improvement in ride quality also.
After several years of blowing tires on a 28 ft Carrylite fithwheel, I discovered that the axels were out of alignment from the factory. This was found when I had the trailer raised 3” to better fit a 4X4 truck. I then put on 10 ply all steel Bridgestones on 16” wheels. The height increase also accommodated the larger tire. Southwest Wheel in Lubbock, TX did the work on the trailer.
When i replaced my Rainier trailer tires (AKA China bombs ) on my 23 ft. camper i also replaced the shackles and equalizer with the Dexter E Z flex system ...i feel much safer on the roads now !
I see they used an impact to put the lug nuts back on. You might want to check at home and just see if you can get one of them loose with whatever wrench you'd be using if you had a flat on the road. Last flat I changed, I had to go buy a piece of iron gas pipe from Lowes to slip over my 4-way just so I could break them loose.
I would also look at upgrading the springs on your trailer. With the new tires, getting the slop out of the hitch and heaver duty springs that trailer will be on rails.
As a new RVer, the tires are a concern. I recently bought a tire pressure monitor system and I carry my hydraulic jack with me. It's a single axle trailer. Good info.
Not sure where to post this, so will do it here. You had a video of when you went and saw the USS Alabama, some time back. My wife and I were in Mobile (and Pensacola) this week, so took the time to tour the boat. All I can say is Thank You for your video. Without the video, I would not have known about the Alabama. It's something that has to be seen to be appreciated. Thanks, again.
I know this video is older but check out transeagle I just purchased a set 225 75 15 .. 12 ply load rating F it is made in China but they hold like 3197 pounds each or close to it max 95 psi they look like mini semi tires
Something to consider as an experiment, take the trailer out onto the interstate before making a change to the hitch so you have a way to evaluate the changes. The old saying "don't make more than one change per experiment to be able to know what works or doesn't work".
Thanks for the great information. I bought a used 2017 Keystone Passport 23RB travel. While it is small at about 23-24' it came with "Trailer King" ST 225/75R15. They look pretty new and the previous owner said they had maybe less than 5k miles on them. Wife and I plan on heading out later this year for a few weeks and now I'm thinking I should go ahead and replace the existing tires just to be safe, etc. I need to confirm that the existing rims can take a D rated tire at 80 lb psi. I do run the existing tires at 65 lb psi and have a tpms system that has shown that the tires don't heat up much so far in the Indiana 80F summer weather we have had so far. Good idea for selling the used tires for $ to someone running a utility trailer, etc. Thanks again!
I ha e the Trailer King tires on my 2018 KZ trailer.... checked tires are us made. Mine are great no issues. Also run at 65psi. Have a Tpms also and have never lost air or overheated. Would buy again. You can check manufacture date and location with tire numbers on line or an app. Google it.
There’s 2 things I learnt about upgrading to 14 ply, you have to be sure that your rim is rated to handle the added air pressure. Also I was told that the weight of your trailer should be heavy enough to actually require 14 ply tires.
I used to work at Uniroyal- BFGoodrich here in Kitchener Ontario Canada and I have seen it all when it comes to tires. Most of the trailer tires blowing out is from under inflation. The tires build heat and end up exploding or burning up. Once a tire had heat on it, it is garbage and should be replaced. You should have gotten a 60 or 65 series tire with a short sidewall so you don't get flex that you get from a 75series tire. You can corner like a train with low profile sidewalls. Keep the tire at the max pressure setting to get long life out of them.
Good idea on the tire replacement. That hitch is pretty loose; you being a machinist is a plus on this one. Could you weld the bar up a bit? Then you could machine it for a tighter fit. Of course you could make a whole new hitch to fit but maybe best to work on what you have. I imagine you already have a plan for us to watch; looking forward to that on Abom 79! Greg
@@AbomAdventures My Mom and Dad pulled a 29' to stay in Florida from Ohio and back. Dad replaced the original tires to better suited types like you. They stayed from the day after election day (November) till April or May depending on our Ohio weather. Maybe you could come up to Ohio for winter and go home for summer...or maybe not! Enjoy your camper and the trips, Greg.
A great addition is putting shocks on both axles. Adding shocks will double the tire mileage and help keep the kitchen cabinets on the walls. Always balance them, same as a car. Good call on the new tires.
I wish they would use some tire soap when mounting the new tires. With out soap you are taking a chance of ripping the bead on the tires. Plus it will allow the tire to air up properly on the wheel.
Where was the torque stick on the impact gun, on tire installation, followed by a torque wrench check? Not trying to be keyboard hero, but correct torque is very important especially on cast wheels. Please check with a torque wrench.
I have seen a 1 year old Travel Trailer that left the dealer having 10 year old tires. Checking age if tires before going down the interstate is critical.
That's great that you buy USA made tires, However wouldn't a load range change to the next level be better as I did with my 88 prowler being a 30ft unit I went from a C load range to a D and handling sure improved
Was in Pensacola in 2004 working Hurricane Ivan and needed a 10 ply for my trailer and the old tire man scolded me for running the full 80 psi on my gooseneck and said that’s why I had so many blowouts. I started at that point of 65psi max and blowouts became rare. Now I run 14plies at 65psi also and have Zero and I mean zero blowouts on a triple axle with a 15k tractor that is pulled daily. That Pensacola tire man saved this Texan a ton of money and hassle over the last 16 years.
There will be people who disagree and claim you need to run full pressure at all times. They are in the least not accounting for air expansion. Have fun on the side of the road is all I got to say..
@@esad777 More "old school", "been doing it like that forever" BS. The pressure rating on the side of the tire is the MAX that you can put in the tire not the pressure you should be running. The manufacturer of the vehicle not the tire manufacturer determines what the correct pressure should be for that vehicle and tire location.
Dave in MD dang it must suck to go through life consulting manuals for everything you do and never learning from your dads, grandfathers, friends, or coworkers experiences. You are right that vehicle manufacturers do a really good job of testing to conclude proper psi for "most" conditions that your vehicle will encounter. Trailer manufacturers including Rvs all just put a full psi rating for the tires they install. Take note that even though 3/4 and 1 ton trucks come with 10plies they have recommended reduced pressures of 75 rear and 65 front. Depending on trailer load and road temperature you can build up a lot of heat and have to account, on your own, for reducing the chance for blowouts. I'm sure Dave you can find the technical manuals showing how to do the load vs road surface temperature and ply rating calculations to figure what that exact trailer air pressure should be at that moment on the road. Funny that you call my comment "bs" on a TH-cam channel based off on not only technical machining but also of machining knowledge that he is passing down to you, the viewer from his dad and grandfather.
@@aaronshaw8255 I sell auto parts for a living and before that I spent 20 years in the Navy working on Gas Turbine engines and Main Propulsion machinery. So yes I consult manuals. Most times peoples "experience" is just shit that didn't break yet. Every day I get people with "experience" that want compression fittings for brake lines because they "have been using them for years". Or tell me how they tested a alternator by disconnecting a battery on a running engine. So yes I say benefit from the knowledge of people who have made a career of a specialty. I don't know about you but I don't know everything but I try and know what I don't know and find out the info from someone or source that does.
We have a outdoors RV and the factory did put on those same tires that you upgraded to those Goodyear endurance tires and this company that built this trailer also builds the arctic fox they are a good tire
I absolutely agree with your decision to upgrade your stock tires. I had several bad experiences with stock trailer tires until I upgraded to light truck tires. On your sway issue, I suggest a "dual Cam" anti sway addition to your hitch. You have not shown your hitch much in your videos but it looks like it is a weight distribution hitch, and dual cam anti sway systems work well with them. My wife likes to drive our rig and she approves the dual cam anti-sway I put on the hitch. It was a white knuckle ride without it. Trailer on Adam!
@@AbomAdventures Sorry Adam, I must have skipped over that part of the video. I went back and watched it again. I have never seen a friction anti-sway setup like that before. (I am familiar with the flat plate types.) It looks very cool, appears to be a good design. But how does it work? Have you tried adjusting the tightness?
Aloha Abom, If you keep adding onto the back of the trailer, maybe, adding a third axle is in the future! 🤣 I agree with your thinking on this matter and I think you will see a difference on the road. Thanks for taking us along.
Curious... Is 80 psi your trailer manufactures recommended operating pressure? Or the tire manufactures 'never exceed' pressure limit? There's a difference. (In my experience whats moulded in the sidewall is the manufactures 'never exceed' limit... conveniently included there for hearing protection.[1]) However, I must admit I have zero trailer experience. 80 just seems excessive for some reason. [1] Hearing protection; as in 'will the defendant please rise'.)
We had a company come to our shop to have 19.5” wheels made for their Ford 4x4 so they can put lowboy tires with load range g and h rated tires because they were tearing up a set of regular lt tires in two weeks and sometimes a tire would only last one day because they were driving on shot rock and the rock would just penetrate right through the stock tires. Well the lowboy tires worked great but the driver was complaining because the ride was now beating him to death. Just a thought. It may beat the travel trailer to death as well causing issues with cabinetry to break and come apart. ??? Good luck.
Abom, advice is cheap, and you are a careful traveler. Why not inspect those bearings/races for abnormalities before taking off on that long adventure. Bearing/races that sit up for a while sometimes show a water line on the bottom face of the races. Its easy to spot and a whole lot easier to fix at home rather than, as Junior Brown sings, "Broke Down South of Dallas." Safe Travels, remember the most dangerous mile is the mile ahead.
My trailer was purchased with a service plan. It goes in twice a year to check things like the wheel hubs, roof, and other systems. Wheel bearings/hubs will be inspected before the long trip.
Hey Abom79! I look forward to seeing if it is sidewall flex or that extreme hitch slop that is causing the trailer sway! Thanks for the quality vid! Ride ride ride!
Hey Kevin Hornbuckle! The only dynamic forces applied to the trailer would be air turbulence, undulations in the road surface, chances in direction by the vehicle or acceleration and deceleration from the vehicle. The slop in the hitch or the flex in the tire sidewalls or a combination of the two might allow the dynamic forces to cause oscillation but might not cause the oscillation.
Eric M I guess I might be mis-using the term from an engineering standpoint. I was considering the slop in the receiver and the flex in the sidewalls to be dynamic because they don't occur when sitting still.
I look forward to seeing if it helps, and can’t help but think that’s it’s going be a big improvement. Many people are taking what I’m saying way beyond what’s actually going on, and then love to say “you’re reducing tongue weight” 😑 The trailer sway sounds bad when I say it, but it’s not the swaying that most people are thinking. It’s very slights. I can see it in my mirror, maybe 1-2 inches sometimes, not all the time. Wind plays a big role in pushing it around. I really think the tires are helping to contribute that. I also feel that loose hitch is also. Slight amounts of movements in that insert is moving the trailer around which will result to sway throughout the whole unit. It’s not bad, but I notice it. It’s not the dangerous swaying that people are thinking I’m referring to.
Hello, we just had 2 blow outs this weekend and wanted to check on your toughts abouth the tires after the travel west, we are planning the same trip for the summer. Thank you
Thanks for all the research and information. Are there any other brands that you can recommended? I was planning on buying these exact same tires but after recent developments with Goodyear I won't give them my money ever again. Thanks!
There are several brands that make 12 and 14 ply tires for 15” wheels now. Sucks they didn’t make them when you made this video. My 225 12 ply tires look very similar to your 14 ply tire.
Abom, what tires do you have on you truck? I hope you didn't make the same mistake I did when I bought my new one in 2018 and left the factory P (passenger) tires on it. I pulled my little 23' hybrid with my 2012 with no problems and at first with my 2018 I was all over the road. When I exhausted all of the things I could do to adjust the WDH I finally came to the conclusion that it was everything to do with the truck tires and nothing to do with the trailer. Off to the tire shop I went to get a set of BF Goodrich ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2s.
Do yourself a favor and also upgrade your suspension if it is stock. Especially the cheap shackles and bolts with the nylon shims they call bearings. We swapped out both axles from 4400 to 6000 lbs, slightly stiffer springs, and the MoreRyde SR 400 equalizers. There is also a wet bolt kit with grease fittings and much thicker shackles. It came with a cross bar which runs between the two equalizers. It got us much larger wheel bearings and went from 10” drums to 12” drums. BTW. Did you check your rims for handling 80 psi if that’s what your planning on running?
Go to South Sioux Falls Hardware while you are there and plan to spend a couple of hours. The store may have had some of the exhibits turned over to a specially built museum near by.
You need to add a tpms system on your trailer. Then you have a warning similar to what you have on your truck to let you know if you have a tire problem in the works while traveling.
My Dad worked in the tire business his entire life. From busting down tires and re-installing to Fleet manager. He always stressed to buy the the best tire you can find and spend a little extra to get a know brand like Goodyear, Michelin, BFG, etc... Your vehicle, trailer, etc... are all expensive, don’t put cheap crappy tires on them.
I agree with the endurance choice: have a set on my car hauler and on my tow Dolly. But, guy, A 14 ply tire would be hell on that trailer: its over engineering! The sidewalls 14 plies would have no give and you would feel the wind and the road more. The endurance is a great tire. I never run them past 25K though as a new tire is cheaper than a blowout or an accident. Nice video!
I have the Goodyear Endurance tires on my trailer. They have been excellent. I do have a question for you. I have them aired up to the 80#. I keep hearing that I should never inflate up to what the manufacturer has stated become they get hot and will blow. Your thoughts on this would really be appreciated. Thanks.
Generally, the PSI listed on the tire is considered a cold PSI. They expect them to increase in temperature and therefore pressure will slightly increase so it's okay. Keep in mind that most tires fail due to being underinflated. A tire run at max pressure will not generate as much heat as a tire run 10 or 15lbs low. If you do choose to run it a little lower, I wouldn't run it any lower than 5lbs below max cold pressure. Hope this helps.
I run the g rated indurance tires and at 80 to to 82 psi and travel anywhere from 65to 80 mph mostly 75 to 80 for passing and very short periods with no issues run emm they will handle it! Pressure less than about 78 psi will cause flexing when turning and actually increase heat buildup during interstate speed causing blowouts.
There's a book written by another bunch of TH-camrs called "Truck Nuts." Searching for it on Amazon will give you some interesting results to say the least but search in books. TFL Truck crew wrote it. They have really good info on towing.
I own a 2019 287RKSL Dutchmen Kodiak Ultra Lite and haven't even own it for two months but I'm replacing the tires ASAP. I rather just sell the OEM tire or put them back on once I trade the trailer in a few years. I've seen enough to understand Keystone/Thor use the cheapest tires they can find. My last Jayco jay feather came with Goodyear endurance and didn't have one problem over two years so it's a peace of mind. I rather pay now to prevent blowout damage and safety of my family. I did switch from an 8ply to 10ply for thicker sidewall, I have steel wheels but one upgrade at a time. Any problems with your Dutchmen so far or things to look out for?
Balancing the wheel Front coned, not ideal, the wheel is centered on the axle by the rear of the wheel, the front only holds the cap on and isn't necessarily centered, back coning or finger plates is the best.
Adam, what was the ply rating of the *old* tires? They sure did look flimsy. C or D? Those 10 ply tires will do you well, for sure. Also, what is the weight of your trailer? My old 26' trailer (no slide out) runs on 14" tires ... no problems so far, but I do have to admit that running a set of 10 ply tires might make me feel a little better.
the number of Japanese cars that drive on the road that you followed is enormous ... there are much less in France I am french ^^ you did well to put in US tires, safety is the first priority (Google traduction )
The Hercules makes a 901 15” tire in 12 ply now. They must have listened to you. Ordered me a set of 16” ones for my equipment trailer. Thank you for your advice.
I got the Goodyear endurance tire for my 10,000 lb RV , fixing the hitch will cut down on I sway. I was able to move up to a 2 1/2” shank no more spacer what a difference .
I think your referring to what kids these days call twerking. They usually don't do it on wheels or other auto parts. If you are talking about lug nuts that hold a wheel on, then you could try twerking it down. It''s preferred to torque them to spec with a torque wrench. Some places may try to sell you a twerk wrench, but I'd steer clear of those locations.
225/75R15 Goodyear Edurance ST have a load index of 117 (2833lbs) @ 80 psi. The Kodiak 261RBSL has 2 3500lbs axles giving you 1750lbs load rating per tire. Tire Weight / Tire Pressure = Load Capacity Pounds per PSI. i.e. 2833/80 = 35.41 lbs per psi. For your trailer 50 - 55 psi would be the recommended pressure. I run a G rated tire load index 129 (4079lbs) @ 110psi on my 5th. We run them @ 80 psi on our 5th or you will shake the trailer apart and wear the center of the tread out prematurely. In regards to sway, have you tried increasing the clamping force on the center part of you R3 Recurve weight distribution hitch. Camco recommends tightening this to suite each truck and trailer combo. Also the sway control on the R3 uses brake pad material so It requires adjusting from time to time to maintain adequate clamping force. Good job on upgrading the stock tires most O.E. trailer tires are horrible. Just hope the Goodyear Endurance ST tires are better than the Marathons. Happy travels.
Thank you, I was searching all over to make sure my math was correct, I have a 2019 Dutchmen Kodiak 287RKSL and just switch to 225/75R15 Goodyear Endurance. I was trying to figure out what PSI to run, 80 just seems to high for the low 5,700 dry weight I have. I might run 65 in case I do decide to load the camper up (water, and gear).
Real good choice on tires. The last thing you need is a blow out on your trailer. We thoroughly enjoy watching Abom Adventures. Thanks again for inviting us along.
Thanks Walter
Ordered these 5 of these exact tires today. Had my mind set on them, but your video sealed the deal. Paid $133 each. Didn't think that was too bad considering it is a year since your video. thanks for your input and well done.
putting some sun covers on the tires when you are not using it is a good plan as well, help keep the rot away
I took your advice and went by and saw Kenny. Bought a set of tires for our Camper Trailer. I told them you sent me. Thanks for sharing your video. 12/31/21.
I'll bet that slop in the hitch contributes a TON to your trailer sway.
Had Goodyear Marathon trailer tires on my 24' race car trailer. I knew every Goodyear dealer within a 600 mile radius from replacing blown out trailer tires. Upgraded to 16" (6 lug) rims and Firestone truck tires, never had another problem.
Age is your trailer tire enemy. Over 5 years old, you're playing Russian roulette
I upgraded from china bombs to the Goodyear endurance back 3 years ago. the best thing I ever did. it tows with less sway and less pulling resistance as well. USA made is very important to me and gives that piece of mind. happy travels
Just because they're goodyear, doesn't mean they're USA made. Goodyear makes a VERY small portion of their tires in the US. (If he read the factory code off the sidewall of the tire and they were made in the USA, I missed it.)
All Goodyear Endurance tires are made in the USA, but not all Goodyear tires are.
@@xenonram 15:07 - Tires are clearly made in USA and the DOT code shows they were manufactured literally 4 weeks ago at end of January.
Smart move man. I used to be a tire guy 22 years ago and saw the carnage done to campers and trailers in general, when they blow. We had so many issues with trailer tires, we quit installing trailer tires. We'd just use normal LT truck tires, and cut the issues down dramatically.
Every time you post a video I want to go tinker with the old motor home sitting the yard. Maybe one day soon :) Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.
I also did the research and am having GY's installed in a few days. I had the Chinese tires for 4 years with no problems and put about 14k on them. I feel more confident with the American tire. Thanks for the video!
I had a blowout on my fifth wheel camper, put 14 ply tires on it.piece of mind,well worth the cost.
That’s the best choice if you can swing them
I hope you had them balanced too, will make a difference. I just had a ST225-75R15 LRE tire made by Hercules, blow on me, minor damage. These were two years old. I had already installed an Endurance to replace the original 13 year old spare. I now have replaced all of the tires with Endurance. With a 16 inch rim, just go to a LIght Truck tire. That is what Airstream offers as an option on many models now. Also, you always want to make sure the valve stems are replaced with High Pressure stems, easy to determine they are high pressure stems by the brass section on them.
good to know
Main thing I have found to not having blow outs is keeping a close eye on maintaining maximum tire pressure. Never run under inflated.
Precisely this. Never under-inflated.
I have run our factory Castle Rock tires for 5 years, and am updating to Goodyear Endurances next week. I will sleep easier now, lol
I’ve found that as temp goes up to need to lower your air pressure to avoid blow outs . When it’s 90 degrees or above I’d drop the pressure to compensate. Good upgrade and you should get better mpg .
The PSI cold rating is made to compensate for pressure build up once in use. I’ll stick to the manufacturers recommendations on air pressure.
The slight variation in pressure, caused by the temperature spread of 30°F in Florida (+/- 5 psi), is nowhere near enough to cause a blowout. Air pressure gauges are very inaccurate (I have several, and several are high quality, and they all have a spread of 8 psi), and if that were the case, everyone would be having blowouts just due to the gauge inaccuracies.
Nolan Draper when you run a lower than advised pressure, you are flexing the tire more which in turn causes friction and heat, that will lead to a blowout quicker than higher pressures. As Adam stated, the manufacturer already compensated for temp change at the rated weight.
I put some monitors on my valve stems. I love them. They give a warning if there's an excessive change in tire temperature or pressure. I don't have to manually check the pressures anymore, I just look at the readings on the monitor.
You refer to a problem with swaying on the highway. My experience is in the uk where caravans are very lightly constructed with not even a bumper to protect the plastic rear wall so they are not directly comparable with the heavily built trailers that you tow. The advice we are given is to always be careful with the maximum weight and also to ensure that all loads in the caravan are as close to the axle and as low as possible. The further away from the axle line that the weight is the more the pendulum effect which can make the sway get worse and can escalate to the point that you loose control of the rig.
I appreciate that you are proud of the construction of your bumper upgrade with load carrier and cycle rack. This is all weight at the extreme end of the trailer where it can exert the maximum force for the actual weight carried. You have also talked of adding a generator to the front A frame and again this is as far from the axle as possible and might also amplify any sway that develops.
Please don't take this as criticism of your plans or workmanship, just something to consider as part of the stability of your rig.
Airstream is moving to the Michelin LT Aegis CrossClimate tires which are 16" tires on their "Classic" models. See long long honeymoon's video about "Maypop" tires, Endurance are supposed to be better than the Marathons, but we've moved away from ST tires for now due to their issues. Hopefully we'll have as much good luck with the LT tires as LoLoHo has.
Hey, Great to see you do this! I was the one on instagram that you talked to about this. I told you about the twin cam sway control too. *(John B) I know you will be glad you did this.
Those are Great tires.Best money I ever spent on my camper. You may want to look into replacing those stock equalizers and shackles. I did the Dexter EZ Flex equalizers Heavy Duty shackle straps and wet bolts.. Major improvement in ride quality also.
Definitely a worthy upgrade 👍. Thanks for sharing Adam
Definitely!
After several years of blowing tires on a 28 ft Carrylite fithwheel, I discovered that the axels were out of alignment from the factory. This was found when I had the trailer raised 3” to better fit a 4X4 truck. I then put on 10 ply all steel Bridgestones on 16” wheels. The height increase also accommodated the larger tire. Southwest Wheel in Lubbock, TX did the work on the trailer.
Clayton Parks how can be fixed this problem?
When i replaced my Rainier trailer tires (AKA China bombs ) on my 23 ft. camper i also replaced the shackles and equalizer with the Dexter E Z flex system ...i feel much safer on the roads now !
I see they used an impact to put the lug nuts back on. You might want to check at home and just see if you can get one of them loose with whatever wrench you'd be using if you had a flat on the road. Last flat I changed, I had to go buy a piece of iron gas pipe from Lowes to slip over my 4-way just so I could break them loose.
I would also look at upgrading the springs on your trailer. With the new tires, getting the slop out of the hitch and heaver duty springs that trailer will be on rails.
As a new RVer, the tires are a concern. I recently bought a tire pressure monitor system and I carry my hydraulic jack with me. It's a single axle trailer. Good info.
Not sure where to post this, so will do it here. You had a video of when you went and saw the USS Alabama, some time back.
My wife and I were in Mobile (and Pensacola) this week, so took the time to tour the boat. All I can say is Thank You for your video. Without the video, I would not have known about the Alabama.
It's something that has to be seen to be appreciated.
Thanks, again.
Very cool!
I know this video is older but check out transeagle I just purchased a set 225 75 15 .. 12 ply load rating F it is made in China but they hold like 3197 pounds each or close to it max 95 psi they look like mini semi tires
I’m going with Transeagle 225/75r15 14 ply
Something to consider as an experiment, take the trailer out onto the interstate before making a change to the hitch so you have a way to evaluate the changes. The old saying "don't make more than one change per experiment to be able to know what works or doesn't work".
Thanks for the great information. I bought a used 2017 Keystone Passport 23RB travel. While it is small at about 23-24' it came with "Trailer King" ST 225/75R15. They look pretty new and the previous owner said they had maybe less than 5k miles on them.
Wife and I plan on heading out later this year for a few weeks and now I'm thinking I should go ahead and replace the existing tires just to be safe, etc. I need to confirm that the existing rims can take a D rated tire at 80 lb psi. I do run the existing tires at 65 lb psi and have a tpms system that has shown that the tires don't heat up much so far in the Indiana 80F summer weather we have had so far.
Good idea for selling the used tires for $ to someone running a utility trailer, etc. Thanks again!
I ha e the Trailer King tires on my 2018 KZ trailer.... checked tires are us made. Mine are great no issues. Also run at 65psi. Have a Tpms also and have never lost air or overheated. Would buy again. You can check manufacture date and location with tire numbers on line or an app. Google it.
There’s 2 things I learnt about upgrading to 14 ply, you have to be sure that your rim is rated to handle the added air pressure. Also I was told that the weight of your trailer should be heavy enough to actually require 14 ply tires.
Please do the video on the hitch slop. I would be real interested to see what you come up with. Thanks!
I used to work at Uniroyal- BFGoodrich here in Kitchener Ontario Canada and I have seen it all when it comes to tires.
Most of the trailer tires blowing out is from under inflation. The tires build heat and end up exploding or burning up. Once a tire had heat on it, it is garbage and should be replaced.
You should have gotten a 60 or 65 series tire with a short sidewall so you don't get flex that you get from a 75series tire. You can corner like a train with low profile sidewalls. Keep the tire at the max pressure setting to get long life out of them.
Good idea on the tire replacement. That hitch is pretty loose; you being a machinist is a plus on this one. Could you weld the bar up a bit? Then you could machine it for a tighter fit. Of course you could make a whole new hitch to fit but maybe best to work on what you have. I imagine you already have a plan for us to watch; looking forward to that on Abom 79! Greg
My plan is to modify it to fit my class 5 hitch, plus take out the slop in the holes the adjustable bracket is mounted in.
@@AbomAdventures My Mom and Dad pulled a 29' to stay in Florida from Ohio and back. Dad replaced the original tires to better suited types like you. They stayed from the day after election day (November) till April or May depending on our Ohio weather. Maybe you could come up to Ohio for winter and go home for summer...or maybe not! Enjoy your camper and the trips, Greg.
Wise move for safety. You can't over-emphasize that this upgrade is preventative.
I'm glad they balanced them. Slot of places don't because they are trailer tires.
Didn't actually balance them. Those are lug centric wheels. Can't be properly balanced with a spin-on cone.
There is one that that you should never scrimp on when it comes to any type of vehicle... and thats tyres. Good job! 👍🏻
A great addition is putting shocks on both axles. Adding shocks will double the tire mileage and help keep the kitchen cabinets on the walls. Always balance them, same as a car. Good call on the new tires.
I wish they would use some tire soap when mounting the new tires. With out soap you are taking a chance of ripping the bead on the tires. Plus it will allow the tire to air up properly on the wheel.
They did use it, I watched them.
@@AbomAdventures
OK Adam I guess I missed that on the video.
Where was the torque stick on the impact gun, on tire installation, followed by a torque wrench check? Not trying to be keyboard hero, but correct torque is very important especially on cast wheels. Please check with a torque wrench.
I knew that one was coming!
@@AbomAdventures It was 4 ugga duggas, perfect torque by my count
I have seen a 1 year old Travel Trailer that left the dealer having 10 year old tires. Checking age if tires before going down the interstate is critical.
That's great that you buy USA made tires, However wouldn't a load range change to the next level be better as I did with my 88 prowler being a 30ft unit I went from a C load range to a D and handling sure improved
Was in Pensacola in 2004 working Hurricane Ivan and needed a 10 ply for my trailer and the old tire man scolded me for running the full 80 psi on my gooseneck and said that’s why I had so many blowouts. I started at that point of 65psi max and blowouts became rare. Now I run 14plies at 65psi also and have Zero and I mean zero blowouts on a triple axle with a 15k tractor that is pulled daily. That Pensacola tire man saved this Texan a ton of money and hassle over the last 16 years.
There will be people who disagree and claim you need to run full pressure at all times. They are in the least not accounting for air expansion. Have fun on the side of the road is all I got to say..
@@esad777 More "old school", "been doing it like that forever" BS. The pressure rating on the side of the tire is the MAX that you can put in the tire not the pressure you should be running. The manufacturer of the vehicle not the tire manufacturer determines what the correct pressure should be for that vehicle and tire location.
Dave in MD dang it must suck to go through life consulting manuals for everything you do and never learning from your dads, grandfathers, friends, or coworkers experiences. You are right that vehicle manufacturers do a really good job of testing to conclude proper psi for "most" conditions that your vehicle will encounter. Trailer manufacturers including Rvs all just put a full psi rating for the tires they install. Take note that even though 3/4 and 1 ton trucks come with 10plies they have recommended reduced pressures of 75 rear and 65 front. Depending on trailer load and road temperature you can build up a lot of heat and have to account, on your own, for reducing the chance for blowouts. I'm sure Dave you can find the technical manuals showing how to do the load vs road surface temperature and ply rating calculations to figure what that exact trailer air pressure should be at that moment on the road. Funny that you call my comment "bs" on a TH-cam channel based off on not only technical machining but also of machining knowledge that he is passing down to you, the viewer from his dad and grandfather.
@@aaronshaw8255 I sell auto parts for a living and before that I spent 20 years in the Navy working on Gas Turbine engines and Main Propulsion machinery. So yes I consult manuals. Most times peoples "experience" is just shit that didn't break yet. Every day I get people with "experience" that want compression fittings for brake lines because they "have been using them for years". Or tell me how they tested a alternator by disconnecting a battery on a running engine. So yes I say benefit from the knowledge of people who have made a career of a specialty. I don't know about you but I don't know everything but I try and know what I don't know and find out the info from someone or source that does.
We have a outdoors RV and the factory did put on those same tires that you upgraded to those Goodyear endurance tires and this company that built this trailer also builds the arctic fox they are a good tire
I absolutely agree with your decision to upgrade your stock tires. I had several bad experiences with stock trailer tires until I upgraded to light truck tires. On your sway issue, I suggest a "dual Cam" anti sway addition to your hitch. You have not shown your hitch much in your videos but it looks like it is a weight distribution hitch, and dual cam anti sway systems work well with them. My wife likes to drive our rig and she approves the dual cam anti-sway I put on the hitch. It was a white knuckle ride without it. Trailer on Adam!
My hitch system has the anti-sway built into it. I shown how it works on a past video.
@@AbomAdventures Sorry Adam, I must have skipped over that part of the video. I went back and watched it again. I have never seen a friction anti-sway setup like that before. (I am familiar with the flat plate types.) It looks very cool, appears to be a good design. But how does it work? Have you tried adjusting the tightness?
Aloha Abom, If you keep adding onto the back of the trailer, maybe, adding a third axle is in the future! 🤣 I agree with your thinking on this matter and I think you will see a difference on the road. Thanks for taking us along.
Looks like a lot better tires for the camper!
Those old tires are almost the same size as the ones on my Ford Ranger. Have a great week Adam
Late to the party, but if you spot some Jeep TJ (2003-2006) Wrangler Rubicon wheels on Marketplace, they are 16" and all TJ bolt patterns are 5 x 4.5.
Have you thought of putting a tire pressure monitor system on your trailer ? I am doing research for my trailer now
Yea I’ve been looking at the different system available. Seems like either $65 or $400
thanks for the video Adam, love the RV videos. Have you ever thought of installing MORryde Suspension System?
Hey brother that slop in the hitch will sway that trailer hard that’s a must fix good luck ty
Wouldn't suggest going over 70 to 75 with any travel trailer at any time regardless of tire
I've been pulling campers for over 40 years. Over 70 you're asking for trouble(nothing to do with your tires). Don't do it Adam!
Curious... Is 80 psi your trailer manufactures recommended operating pressure? Or the tire manufactures 'never exceed' pressure limit? There's a difference. (In my experience whats moulded in the sidewall is the manufactures 'never exceed' limit... conveniently included there for hearing protection.[1]) However, I must admit I have zero trailer experience. 80 just seems excessive for some reason.
[1] Hearing protection; as in 'will the defendant please rise'.)
Notice in the pictures and video I shared, the tires say “inflate to 80 psi”. That’s what it’s engineered to be inflated to as cold temp.
We had a company come to our shop to have 19.5” wheels made for their Ford 4x4 so they can put lowboy tires with load range g and h rated tires because they were tearing up a set of regular lt tires in two weeks and sometimes a tire would only last one day because they were driving on shot rock and the rock would just penetrate right through the stock tires. Well the lowboy tires worked great but the driver was complaining because the ride was now beating him to death. Just a thought. It may beat the travel trailer to death as well causing issues with cabinetry to break and come apart. ??? Good luck.
Abom, advice is cheap, and you are a careful traveler. Why not inspect those bearings/races for abnormalities before taking off on that long adventure. Bearing/races that sit up for a while sometimes show a water line on the bottom face of the races. Its easy to spot and a whole lot easier to fix at home rather than, as Junior Brown sings, "Broke Down South of Dallas."
Safe Travels, remember the most dangerous mile is the mile ahead.
My trailer was purchased with a service plan. It goes in twice a year to check things like the wheel hubs, roof, and other systems. Wheel bearings/hubs will be inspected before the long trip.
Hey Abom79! I look forward to seeing if it is sidewall flex or that extreme hitch slop that is causing the trailer sway! Thanks for the quality vid! Ride ride ride!
Eric M Not "or" but "and". The two dynamic forces multiply to create more sway than the two added together would.
Hey Kevin Hornbuckle! The only dynamic forces applied to the trailer would be air turbulence, undulations in the road surface, chances in direction by the vehicle or acceleration and deceleration from the vehicle. The slop in the hitch or the flex in the tire sidewalls or a combination of the two might allow the dynamic forces to cause oscillation but might not cause the oscillation.
Eric M I guess I might be mis-using the term from an engineering standpoint. I was considering the slop in the receiver and the flex in the sidewalls to be dynamic because they don't occur when sitting still.
Hey Kevin Hornbuckle! I agree that it's possible both issues could be contributing to the oscillations.
I look forward to seeing if it helps, and can’t help but think that’s it’s going be a big improvement. Many people are taking what I’m saying way beyond what’s actually going on, and then love to say “you’re reducing tongue weight” 😑 The trailer sway sounds bad when I say it, but it’s not the swaying that most people are thinking. It’s very slights. I can see it in my mirror, maybe 1-2 inches sometimes, not all the time. Wind plays a big role in pushing it around. I really think the tires are helping to contribute that. I also feel that loose hitch is also. Slight amounts of movements in that insert is moving the trailer around which will result to sway throughout the whole unit. It’s not bad, but I notice it. It’s not the dangerous swaying that people are thinking I’m referring to.
The whole idea of an ST tire is that it should have strong sidewalls. Somewhat surprised how flimsy the stock tire seemed. :-)
Great Upgrade on tires!
Hello, we just had 2 blow outs this weekend and wanted to check on your toughts abouth the tires after the travel west, we are planning the same trip for the summer. Thank you
Thanks for all the research and information. Are there any other brands that you can recommended? I was planning on buying these exact same tires but after recent developments with Goodyear I won't give them my money ever again. Thanks!
I have been told by many that the Maxxis trailer tire is a top choice.
There are several brands that make 12 and 14 ply tires for 15” wheels now. Sucks they didn’t make them when you made this video. My 225 12 ply tires look very similar to your 14 ply tire.
Abom, what tires do you have on you truck? I hope you didn't make the same mistake I did when I bought my new one in 2018 and left the factory P (passenger) tires on it. I pulled my little 23' hybrid with my 2012 with no problems and at first with my 2018 I was all over the road. When I exhausted all of the things I could do to adjust the WDH I finally came to the conclusion that it was everything to do with the truck tires and nothing to do with the trailer. Off to the tire shop I went to get a set of BF Goodrich ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2s.
My father always told me never cheap out on tires or brakes
I went to a pull your own part junk yard. Every car in there with front end damage had bald tires.
Thanks for the video A&A.
Do yourself a favor and also upgrade your suspension if it is stock. Especially the cheap shackles and bolts with the nylon shims they call bearings. We swapped out both axles from 4400 to 6000 lbs, slightly stiffer springs, and the MoreRyde SR 400 equalizers. There is also a wet bolt kit with grease fittings and much thicker shackles. It came with a cross bar which runs between the two equalizers. It got us much larger wheel bearings and went from 10” drums to 12” drums. BTW. Did you check your rims for handling 80 psi if that’s what your planning on running?
Thank you for your video I will use the same tire for my trailer .
Go to South Sioux Falls Hardware while you are there and plan to spend a couple of hours. The store may have had some of the exhibits turned over to a specially built museum near by.
You need to add a tpms system on your trailer. Then you have a warning similar to what you have on your truck to let you know if you have a tire problem in the works while traveling.
My Dad worked in the tire business his entire life. From busting down tires and re-installing to Fleet manager. He always stressed to buy the the best tire you can find and spend a little extra to get a know brand like Goodyear, Michelin, BFG, etc... Your vehicle, trailer, etc... are all expensive, don’t put cheap crappy tires on them.
I agree with the endurance choice: have a set on my car hauler and on my tow Dolly. But, guy, A 14 ply tire would be hell on that trailer: its over engineering! The sidewalls 14 plies would have no give and you would feel the wind and the road more. The endurance is a great tire. I never run them past 25K though as a new tire is cheaper than a blowout or an accident. Nice video!
Great informational video Adam! 👍👍
Most important thing with any tire is to maintain the pressure. A low tire generates heat. Heat kills tires.
Adam,Another thing that will save tires are covers when they are just sitting in between use.The sun does a number on the rubber.
Already on order
I have the Goodyear Endurance tires on my trailer. They have been excellent. I do have a question for you. I have them aired up to the 80#. I keep hearing that I should never inflate up to what the manufacturer has stated become they get hot and will blow. Your thoughts on this would really be appreciated. Thanks.
Generally, the PSI listed on the tire is considered a cold PSI. They expect them to increase in temperature and therefore pressure will slightly increase so it's okay. Keep in mind that most tires fail due to being underinflated. A tire run at max pressure will not generate as much heat as a tire run 10 or 15lbs low. If you do choose to run it a little lower, I wouldn't run it any lower than 5lbs below max cold pressure. Hope this helps.
Dewy Russ thanks! Really appreciate the response.
No, manufacturers psi rate is right, its on cold 80psi, the manufacturer takes heating up in the factor
I run the g rated indurance tires and at 80 to to 82 psi and travel anywhere from 65to 80 mph mostly 75 to 80 for passing and very short periods with no issues run emm they will handle it! Pressure less than about 78 psi will cause flexing when turning and actually increase heat buildup during interstate speed causing blowouts.
There's a book written by another bunch of TH-camrs called "Truck Nuts." Searching for it on Amazon will give you some interesting results to say the least but search in books. TFL Truck crew wrote it. They have really good info on towing.
Bought mine at discount tire , was like a stock car pit stop they had both sides off the ground with 4 jacks , was there less than an hour.
Great job very informative
I own a 2019 287RKSL Dutchmen Kodiak Ultra Lite and haven't even own it for two months but I'm replacing the tires ASAP. I rather just sell the OEM tire or put them back on once I trade the trailer in a few years. I've seen enough to understand Keystone/Thor use the cheapest tires they can find. My last Jayco jay feather came with Goodyear endurance and didn't have one problem over two years so it's a peace of mind. I rather pay now to prevent blowout damage and safety of my family. I did switch from an 8ply to 10ply for thicker sidewall, I have steel wheels but one upgrade at a time. Any problems with your Dutchmen so far or things to look out for?
What is all of that stuff hanging off your rear bumper? Hope it’s not heavy as it will have an effect on your handling
Balancing the wheel Front coned, not ideal, the wheel is centered on the axle by the rear of the wheel, the front only holds the cap on and isn't necessarily centered, back coning or finger plates is the best.
Adam, what was the ply rating of the *old* tires? They sure did look flimsy. C or D? Those 10 ply tires will do you well, for sure. Also, what is the weight of your trailer? My old 26' trailer (no slide out) runs on 14" tires ... no problems so far, but I do have to admit that running a set of 10 ply tires might make me feel a little better.
the number of Japanese cars that drive on the road that you followed is enormous ... there are much less in France
I am french ^^
you did well to put in US tires, safety is the first priority
(Google traduction )
doing the same tire upgrade this year,how do you like the Recurve 3 WD hitch been looking at that as a replacement setup
GOODYEAR G614 TIRES TOP OF THE LINE. What I've used for the last 2 TT that I've had. About 370 a tire though. but top of the line is expensive.
The Hercules makes a 901 15” tire in 12 ply now. They must have listened to you.
Ordered me a set of 16” ones for my equipment trailer. Thank you for your advice.
I tried looking up the specs on their website but they don’t give much. I’d be interested in hearing from folks who have used them.
Thanks for sharing! Great information!
Nice tires.
But why are they putting in normal air instead of Nitrogen??????
You made an error in your description (Show More) for the tire size... :-)
I got the Goodyear endurance tire for my 10,000 lb RV , fixing the hitch will cut down on I sway. I was able to move up to a 2 1/2” shank no more spacer what a difference .
Looks like ya made a good choice, those other tires were mighty cheap and scary!
Appreciate the information we are from molino and purchased it from carpenters also. Hope to one day camp at the same site and share some cooking
Very cool! Hope you get to enjoy yours as we have been ours.
Adam did you look for wear . warranty .and did you look for warranty with road hazard that will cover you all over the country . good luck
Nothing like some new meat on the rims.
Have you found the 14ply 15inch tires?
14 ply tires may rattle the roof apart.
Looks good What about Torking the wheels ??
I think your referring to what kids these days call twerking. They usually don't do it on wheels or other auto parts. If you are talking about lug nuts that hold a wheel on, then you could try twerking it down. It''s preferred to torque them to spec with a torque wrench. Some places may try to sell you a twerk wrench, but I'd steer clear of those locations.
did they fill your new tires with nitrogen ?? ..i saw the green valve caps .
Hola amigo Abom um dia ainda compro um trailer igual a esse pé muito show de mais viajar em alto estilo!Agora sim ta bem de pneu!