Size does matter (with tires)

[floyd]

Floyd ,y thoughts exactly... about the axle. It's 27 years old unless it's been replaced and if it hasn't it probably should be. Changing tire size is only a band aid.

Actually, after much time on the phone with Dexter Axle's techs, and reading everything I could find on the subject,plus personal experience, I am of the opinion that more servicable axles are replaced than than worn out or broken ones.
I guess that everyone should convert to bolt-on axle attachment, then simply replace the whole unit[tires,brakes and axle] every five years. Then drop off all the take-offs at my house!

It's funny, but my first set of tires lasted 5 years from purchase [6 from manufacture] without any sign of age or cracking, yet my new tires had one crack beyond use while under warranty and was replaced by the tire shop. I say check everything, replace the bad stuff, keep the good, and use the calendar to remember family and friends on their birthdays and anniveraries.
This has worked well for me, my last problem was a bearing failure on a borrowed trailer over thirty years ago.

Of course,as you seem to say, new stuff is usually more reliable than old!

[Roy in TO]

I guess that everyone should convert to bolt-on axle attachment

The way I see it, using the bolt on brackets is a built in insurance policy. $40-50 now may save me or someone else $300+ CDN (today's prices) that it costs to cut off and weld a new axle on.

If you are buying a new trailer today in the $13-25K range what is another $50? Or if you are replacing an axle, in the grand scheme of things it's not all that much more.

[Roy in TO]

I am of the opinion that more servicable axles are replaced than than worn out or broken ones.

Can you explain that one please? Most of the torsion axles are not servicable when the rubber has reached the end of a lifespan. What makes the axle servicable or not servicable?

[Loren G. Hedahl]

When I bought our Scamp, about fifteen years ago, it came with steel wheels and bias ply tires of the size B-78-13, thoroughly cracked and worn on the outside edges.

Awhile later I came across some mag wheels off a Fiat, I think, at a yard sale with tires in much better shape of the size p205-70x13. They lasted until a couple of years ago when one threw its tread and another developed a lump near Crescent City, California. The largest size I could find locally was p185-80x13 that would fit.

They are still on, but we have used the Scamp for several cross country trips and are showing a lot of wear.

I'm not sure what I'll do now, but I would like to go to a six lug 15 inch wheel/tire combination that would match my pickup tow vehicle within reason.

[Michel, Bouchard]

Weird you have mentionned 165 and 185, on mine, I have ST 175-80/R13, they fit well, and they are available everywhere, cheap.

Regards

[Randy Bishop]

When I blew a tire on my 77 Scamp in Kansas a few years back I had to knock off the bearing buddy in order to remove the tire, really gave me a fit getting it off and the spare on..But as soon as I got home I done what someone else suggesteg I took tin snips and cut the finders out bigger and you really couldn't tell I had done it..But it really made a difference I could then go to a bigger tire that gave me a little more ground clearance......

[E Dyck]

I recently replaced the axle on my recently purchased trillium. The axle had no suspension left and the frame was cracked as it had become the suspension. Sometimes you have to replace them.

I purchased an axle from dexter and added brackets to my frame to make it bolt on. I also added the ability to add a 3" lift if necessary.

There are benifts to a larger tire as well, if you drive rough roads it will tow much smoother and have less rolling resistance. I do a lot of backcountry camping with a lot of logging road travel. Mine came with 165s that are done, I can't decide whether to go with a 175 as trillium does now a days or go a little bigger on a bigger rim? In my case bigger is better!

[Bob H]

Here an update... it seems the first place I called ended up being the best place, they had the right size at $37 a tire with free mounting! (Mason's Tire Hwy 544, Conway SC.) Ordered them on Saturday, they came in Monday, I put them on the trailer Tuesday night. Two P165/80 R 13's for $86! Not bad. They fit just like they should.



She still has a bit of spring in the axle but it wouldn't hurt to rejuvinate it. How about someone telling more about those bolt-on shock kits. I can't spring (pardon the pun) for a new axle at the moment.

BTW I posted a photo album on facebook with more photos of the tire changing experience...

Thanks everyone for your inputs, you were all a big help!
ConwayBob