Changing Casita to 15-inch wheels - Fiberglass RV
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Old 11-29-2015, 12:41 PM   #1
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Name: Ed
Trailer: Casita
Oklahoma
Posts: 3
Changing Casita to 15-inch wheels

Are there any downsides to switching to 15-inch wheels and tires on my
Casita with a high lift axle? I have not heard of any downside to doing this.

Any suggestion on where to buy wheels at the best price?

Ed
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Old 11-29-2015, 01:16 PM   #2
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Name: kootenai girl
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300
British Columbia
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Hi Ed
There are numerous threads on the Casita forums regarding this and many people have changed over. I seem to recall occasionally on some of the older Casitas there may not be enough room but think that was rare.
Good luck, let us know how you make out.

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Old 11-29-2015, 03:19 PM   #3
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Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
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I raised my Bigfoot a total of 5 inches and really like the result. I do get more wind resistance so I'm guessing I use a little more fuel and getting in or out of the trailer is a bigger step.
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Old 11-29-2015, 04:06 PM   #4
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Name: Ian
Trailer: 1974 Boler 1300 - 2014 Escape 19'
Alberta
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I changed to 15" wheels on my Casita and I only see positives. A little more ground clearance and higher load rating. There are no problems since yours has the high lift axle, only those with standard axles reported some rubbing.
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Old 11-29-2015, 04:20 PM   #5
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Don't all new Casitas now come with 15" wheels?
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Old 11-29-2015, 05:38 PM   #6
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Name: Eric, aka Permit Bob
Trailer: Oliver Legacy Elite II - Hull#68
New Mexico
Posts: 8
Ditto all the above.

When I still owned a 17' Casita w/ high rise axle, I had no problem switching over.

Additionally, when making the switch, consider a wider tire, load range "E" rated, new rims and use Light Truck tires rather than Trailer Tires (you get a better ride).
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Old 11-29-2015, 06:13 PM   #7
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Let's see. Tire companies have research and design departments and build Light Truck tires for use on light trucks, and build Special Trailer tires for use on trailers. Why would they do that?
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Old 11-30-2015, 10:21 AM   #8
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Name: Brent
Trailer: Casita
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Supposedly trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls to control sway
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Old 11-30-2015, 11:02 AM   #9
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Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
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We have 15" Load rated D tires on our Casita with the high rise axle .The 15" ST tires have a load rating of 2520 lbs each , more than enough for a trailer rated for 3500 lbs. There is no logical reason to go to E rated tires and rims IMHO . There are no clearance issues with the 15" tires.
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Old 11-30-2015, 11:55 AM   #10
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
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Yes, some time in the last two years, Casita went to 15" tires on all their trailers.
I converted my '94 16' to 15" tires several years ago, after I put on a high rise axle. The added height enabled modernizing the waste plumbing as an added benefit.

Walt
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Old 11-30-2015, 06:39 PM   #11
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Name: Bobby
Trailer: Trillium 4500, Casita f/d ,1987 boler voyageur,1988bigfoot5er
Ontario
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What is all this about high lift axels and 15 inch tires?
My Casita seems to be just fine with regular axels 14 "trailer tires.
And I don't need an extra step or pop crate to climb in.
Towed it from Ontario to Florida and California , no problem!!
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Old 11-30-2015, 08:11 PM   #12
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Tennessee
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ALL the trailer tires widely today are made in CHINA and/or the far East. Yes that includes the Goodyear Marathon trailer tires.

Good friend of mine is the Motorsports director for one of the major brand manufacturers. Publicly he will tell you to use trailer tires. Privately he says use light truck tires. If you were to look at the many of the lighter race trailers (show car etc) to whom they sponsor and provide tires they ALL have light truck tires on their trailers. It's all a liability issue when it comes to what they recommend versus what are used since it's owners decision what to run not the tire supplier.

I run high quality light truck tires on my trailers. Enclosed, Open and 2 car trailers along with RV trailers. Better selection, better quality tires and higher quality American made manufacturers if that's your bag. Last new 2 car triple axle trailer I purchased had Goodyear's. 3 of the 6 tires blew out on the first 600 mile trip from Nashville to Dallas with only 1 car on the trailer. Fortunately had a spare and torsion axles. Removed the tires from the middle axle and drove on. Bought 7 new Firestone Destination LE truck tires in Dallas to replace the Goodyear Marathon tires. Goodyear bought all 7 tires back and full price if and only if I would sign an release of liability. I did, they paid me and off I went into the Sunset. Now have over 20K miles on the Firestone Destination LE tires with no problems and still more that 1/2 tread with NO cord separations.

Light truck tires are the only way to go!
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Old 11-30-2015, 08:47 PM   #13
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Kirk View Post
What is all this about high lift axels and 15 inch tires?
My Casita seems to be just fine with regular axels 14 "trailer tires.
And I don't need an extra step or pop crate to climb in.
Towed it from Ontario to Florida and California , no problem!!
Okay. This'll have to be somewhat hypothetical, since I don't know the true failure rate, but consider this.
Suppose the failure rate of a particular tire was 50%. Not something you'd buy if you knew that, right?
Yet 25% of those using two of those tires would be able to give a report just like yours.
I've had 3 blowouts in the past 7 years, the most recent on a 14" load C Marathon less than two years old.
And regarding the high lift axles, I do a fair amount of off-road camping so those axles are really necessary.

Walt
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