Posted 2010-10-04 6:46 AM (#125438) Subject: Another trailer tire question!
Veteran
Posts: 112
Location: ohio
We came home yesterday from a trip and while turning the trailer around noticed the back tire was in shreads. I retraced our route for 4 miles to come up on tire pieces all over the road. How could we go 4 miles and not hear, see or feel the blow out? The other tire must have carried the load. This is our 3rd blow out on that side. The first time it was the hottest day of July and we heard it go pop right at the exit of a roadside rest. Believe it or not, the next year, same roadside rest, blown tire, same side! Husband was furious, so we go and buy 4 new tires that the owner said would never give us problems with the load we carried. The were LT235/85R 16, Load range "G". But they are made in china! Now I am on the quest to buy American made, but what load range? Surely G was heaver than D? We have a 3 horse with 14' LQ and it is usually fully loaded. Husband is very strict about proper tire inflation and maintance of the truck and rig. Any help would be appreicated!
Posted 2010-10-04 7:39 AM (#125441 - in reply to #125438) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Go look at the placard on the side of the trailer and see what the trailer weighs. The placard will also tell you what axles and tires the trailer came with. Check and see if that was before or after the LQ was added. Then I would verify by taking the trailer across a scale and seeing what it really weighs with your horses and camping gear all loaded.
Based upon the actual weight you can make an informed decision on what load range tires you need.
Take 20-25% of the trailers entire weight and assume it's on the gooseneck ball, the rest of the weight will rest on the trailer axles and tires. A double axle trailer puts 1/4th of the remaining weight on each tire. And more accuarte method would be to know how your unhooked truck weighs before you weigh the rig. When you actually weigh it, figure out how much heavier your truck is with the trailer attached, then you will know how much weight is on the gooseneck ball and how much weight is on the trailer tires.
On my non LQ trailer. It has two Dexter 5200lb axles with load range E tires, The axles combined are rated for 10,400 lbs of load. The load range "E" tires are rated at 3042lbs each or 12168 lbs of load. So my tires have more capacity than my axles. My trailer weighs 6000 lbs empty. Add 4 horses and I'm probably in the 10,400 range. Add some water, saddles and camping gear and I'm 11,000-11,500 lbs. The trailer specs say my trailer has a 1600lb hitch weight when empty. With horses loaded and gear in the front of the trailer, its heavier than that. So l'll assume the 20% number of 11,500 x 20% = 2300 lbs on the hitch leaving the balance on the trailer tires. or 9200lbs.
That means each tire on my trailer is carrying 2300 lbs. Well under thr 3042lbs each tire is rated for and under the 2600 lbs that each side of the axle is rated is for.
For comparison, My 4 horse 8 foot LQ weighed in at 16,000 loaded. 20% on hitch was 3200 lbs, leaving 12,800 on the axles. divided by 4 tires = 3200 lbs per tire, which is too much for a load range E tire, but still under the 3600lb rating for a Load range G tire.
I suspect your 14' LQ will weigh somewhere close to what my LQ weighed. meaning you probably need a "G" range tire. And when it comes to a "G" range tire, I think the best choice is the Goodyear G614 trailer tires.
Posted 2010-10-04 8:18 AM (#125442 - in reply to #125438) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Originally written by sdlepalpm on 2010-10-04 6:46 AM
We came home yesterday from a trip and while turning the trailer around noticed the back tire was in shreads. I retraced our route for 4 miles to come up on tire pieces all over the road. How could we go 4 miles and not hear, see or feel the blow out?
Posted 2010-10-04 9:09 AM (#125445 - in reply to #125442) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Veteran
Posts: 112
Location: ohio
Thank you all for your quick response. Painted, we can always depend on your advice! I will stick with load range G and look for Goodyear. The sticker on the trailer says 15,000 pounds.
wyndancer - yes the back rear. The other two was the fronts, same side.
Posted 2010-10-04 10:17 AM (#125448 - in reply to #125438) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 800
Location: Tenn/Ala.
Please, weigh the trailer. There is not a trailer manufacturer I am aware of the states actual weight on the VIN tag. That number is the maximum allowable weight based on their originally specified axles/tires/wheels. As Kay has very well stated before, it is a common myth, but myth nonetheless, that actual weight is on the tag. If you need to know, please visit a scale. By the way, the "G" is a common tire for a 3H 14' LQ, and the Goodyear G614 typically gives great service.
Posted 2010-10-04 11:52 AM (#125450 - in reply to #125438) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Expert
Posts: 2955
Location: North Carolina
All of the truck stop scales I've been to have three sections. With one weighing, they will give you accurate steer tire, drive tire, and trailer tire weights. All for about $10.
Drive across when you're fully loaded and you'll know the actual trailer tire load. No further guessing.
Posted 2010-10-04 2:50 PM (#125456 - in reply to #125445) Subject: RE: Another trailer tire question!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Originally written by sdlepalpm on 2010-10-04 9:09 AM
Thank you all for your quick response. Painted, we can always depend on your advice! I will stick with load range G and look for Goodyear. The sticker on the trailer says 15,000 pounds.
wyndancer - yes the back rear. The other two was the fronts, same side.