Long trip. Tires!

[Michaelred73]

I'm taking my 96 13' skamp on its longest haul yet next week from Asheville NC to Destin Fl. (about 700 miles, one way) While I maintain the camper well, I can't help but to bite my fingernails a little on hauling it such a long distance on mostly interstate. My tires are about 7 years old and have great tread left. Scamp suggests 30 psi on the tires, but the tires themselves suggest 35 psi cold at 1200 lbs. Any suggestions? Also,.. Best, easiest way to grease the bearings. Thanks in advance for all replies.

[Dennis Clinton]

Lots of threads on this. Go with the tire markings.

[Deb & Chuck]

Originally Posted by Michaelred73

I'm taking my 96 13' skamp on its longest haul yet next week from Asheville NC to Destin Fl. (about 700 miles, one way) While I maintain the camper well, I can't help but to bite my fingernails a little on hauling it such a long distance on mostly interstate. My tires are about 7 years old and have great tread left. Scamp suggests 30 psi on the tires, but the tires themselves suggest 35 psi cold at 1200 lbs. Any suggestions? Also,.. Best, easiest way to grease the bearings. Thanks in advance for all replies.

I suggest you replace the trailer tires before you set out on your trip. six years is the max and they should be replaced. Some friends on the way to Bandon,Or this month blew a tire on their Casita the tires were six years old.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Chuck

[Mary F]

If it were my 7 year old tires and my 700 mile trip, I'd replace them.

[Kenneth.Pangburn]

Make sure you keep a spare on hand. I blew a tire on my snoozy and the tire was only 6 days old (user error). Lucky for us we had a spare and could continue on our trip.

[Daniel A.]

My tires are 8 years old by the date stamp I was going to replace them but my tire guy looked them over and said stay with them.
No sun damage, no cracking, but he did say if I were going long distance than yes replace them.

[Cathy Gale]

Originally Posted by Michaelred73

I'm taking my 96 13' skamp on its longest haul yet next week from Asheville NC to Destin Fl. (about 700 miles, one way) While I maintain the camper well, I can't help but to bite my fingernails a little on hauling it such a long distance on mostly interstate. My tires are about 7 years old and have great tread left. Scamp suggests 30 psi on the tires, but the tires themselves suggest 35 psi cold at 1200 lbs. Any suggestions? Also,.. Best, easiest way to grease the bearings. Thanks in advance for all replies.

Replacing tires does not depend on how much tread is left but the damage done by heat and cold and sun and time. 6 years is about the max and new tires before you head out is much better than a blow out on the road and trying to find an open store on a weekend or far away from home. Better safe than sorry.
Cathy

[Michaelred73]

Any suggestions on a decent tire? I need 13" b load tires. Is it acceptable to get a higher load rating such as C or D. Around here D loads are the most prevalent ones I can find. Thx

[Daniel A.]

A C load would be better, tires tend to generate plenty of emotion on the site.
Have a look at some of the threads, that should give you a good indication of what tires others use.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Michaelred73

I'm taking my 96 13' skamp on its longest haul yet next week from Asheville NC to Destin Fl. (about 700 miles, one way) While I maintain the camper well, I can't help but to bite my fingernails a little on hauling it such a long distance on mostly interstate. My tires are about 7 years old and have great tread left. Scamp suggests 30 psi on the tires, but the tires themselves suggest 35 psi cold at 1200 lbs. Any suggestions? Also,.. Best, easiest way to grease the bearings. Thanks in advance for all replies.

C'mon! 700 miles is a day trip!
(just kidding... take your time and enjoy your trip!)

Be safe and use common sense! If you need tires buy'em, and don't forget to check your lights!

Still...Peter Ustinov gave the best performance of all, and some campgrounds insist that you replace your whole camper at ten years or stay somewhere else.

[David B.]

I am over 6000 miles into a 11,000 mile trip with our 1990 13' Scamp, and placed new "D range" tires on it prior to leaving. I have had to use my new spare, as (my guess) I lost a wheel weight and one tire cupped badly. New tires are less expensive than having fiberglass repaired due to flapping rubber, or hospital stays. PS, I've been working in a trauma hospital ICU for 28 years ....... GET THE BEST/STRONGEST NEW TIRES YOU CAN GET!!!!!!

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Cathy Gale

6 years is about the max and new tires before you head out is much better than a blow out on the road and trying to find an open store on a weekend or far away from home. Better safe than sorry.
Cathy

I agree - change them out. The worst part is it can happen in or near the smallest of towns and you will have few options as to the make of tire you replace them with - been there done that twice now and my trailer sits with a set of tires on it I would not have bought had I had another choose. You also have little choose as to what you will pay for them. ;-) Much better to replace them when not under the gun and you have time to look at all your options and shop around a little.

[Raz]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum.

Tires- about $200. It's worth it for the peace of mind.

Grease Bearings- You need grease-$5, grease seals- $10, and cotter pins. It's not a hard job but needs to be done right. My axle manual had instructions along with numerous posts here and on other forums. To have it done, figure an hours labor at any auto shop.

Have a nice trip, Raz

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Carol H

The worst part is it can happen in or near the smallest of towns and you will have few options as to the make of tire you replace them with

You can face the same problems in a big city.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

You can face the same problems in a big city.

Not as long as they have an interstate by-pass!

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by floyd

Not as long as they have an interstate by-pass!

We had a tire go last summer, the police escort you off the highway. No choice in the matter. Luckily there was a tire shop within a mile that had a single tire the right size.

We had not yet replaced the spare that snapped off somewhere the trip before. Now we have a spare and 3 different tires.

[Bob Miller]

Quote from Daniel A's post:
My tires are 8 years old by the date stamp I was going to replace them but my tire guy looked them over and said stay with them.
No sun damage, no cracking, but he did say if I were going long distance than yes replace them.

If I were Daniel I would find a new tire guy!!!
Me thinks his tire guy is saying that it's OK for short trips so he can sell new tires.
As I think I mentioned, my Hunter cames with almost new, but 12 year old, tires. They look great, but won't get any more miles on them.... except to drive over to Americas tire for new ones.
BTW: Tire failures on several Toyota Motorhomes I know of caused enough damage that they were declared "totaled" by the ins cos.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

You can face the same problems in a big city.

Yup but you may have the option of finding a place to park where you can phone around and disconnect and go and get what you really want.... in a one tire town you will for sure not have that option.

When changing out your trailer tires its also a good idea to remember to consider what you are carrying as a spare. If you dont update your spare to match the specs on the tires on trailer when you replace them you may find that the spare is of such a different spec it may not be safe to use it for more than a few miles. Dont ask me how I know that

[Rene]

Well all the nervous nellies have given you no choice but to get new tires now. I just did a similar length trip on 14 year old tires. I just did not know it. The tires looked fine before I left. Ignorance really is bliss! Now I can see big cracks and worn tread and I know how old they are so I have to replace them. One of them I will press into service as a spare. Livin' on the edge...oh yeah!

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Daniel A.

My tires are 8 years old by the date stamp I was going to replace them but my tire guy looked them over and said stay with them.
No sun damage, no cracking, but he did say if I were going long distance than yes replace them.

Your tires are fully warmed up in about twenty miles at speed. I guess that makes anything more than 25 miles a long trip. A tire is either fit to use at highway speeds or it's not.
The only trailer tire which I have replaced due to side wall cracking and desiccation was six months old and replaced under warranty.
I have no plans to replace my tires twice a year.