Having tire issues on a brand new camper....

[DC_In_NC]

Hey All,

Hope everyone is having a great start to their summers. We have had the camper out 5 times this year (total travel distance 1,100 miles) and the inside tread of the tires are gone. Our Wildwood (2012) is brand new and from the beginning my wife said the tires looked funny to her.....the top of the tire is slanted to the inside. Forest River feels the tires are out of balance and they plan to replace the tires and have them re-balanced.

Would out of balance tires do that much wear with only 1,100 miles on them?

[donn]

you have bent or defective axles. Insist on new axles to go along with the tires. And do not acept any tire stamped made in china.

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by donn

you have bent or defective axles. Insist on new axles to go along with the tires. And do not acept any tire stamped made in china.

For sure something is wrong with axles, out of balance tires would vibrate, wear unevenly across the tread and would not cause the noticable negative camber like described.

Don, I read somewhere on the forums that you cannot buy trailer tires anymore in North America that are not made in China, even the Marathons are stamped China, where did you get some?

[crocus]

Not everything made in China is garbage, but you get what you pay for. The factory puts the very cheapest tires they can find on their units, so it is no wonder they give problems.
My Maxxis tires came from Thailand, and while that would scare some people, the dealer said he will stand behind them 100%. Good enough for me.
I do agree that it sounds like a bent axle, and changing tires will solve nothing.

[donn]

Sorry, my fiver came factory equipped with LT235 85R16's made in America. When it comes time to replace I will replace with LT American made tires.

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by donn

Sorry, my fiver came factory equipped with LT235 85R16's made in America. When it comes time to replace I will replace with LT American made tires.

Thanks don, what does LT stand for, any link for their website?

[donn]

LT= Light Truck
P= Passenger
ST= Special Trailer
What size tires do you have on your trailer? That might make some difference as to what people will recommend as a good tire.

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by donn

LT= Light Truck
P= Passenger
ST= Special Trailer
What size tires do you have on your trailer? That might make some difference as to what people will recommend as a good tire.

225/75/15 D or E rated would be good.

[Smokyroo]

Nigels, I could be wrong here, but I am not certain LT tires should be put on a trailer. Trailer tires need to be able to have sidewall flex and strength as all the funky turning and so forth puts a different force on the tire itself compared to a truck tire or passenger tire. I would look into this further.

[Herk7769]

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...res-10660.html

There are several great posts and threads here on the merits of various tires. This is just one.

I recommend reading up on the pro's and con's of LT tires.

[donn]

Originally Posted by Smokyroo

Nigels, I could be wrong here, but I am not certain LT tires should be put on a trailer. Trailer tires need to be able to have sidewall flex and strength as all the funky turning and so forth puts a different force on the tire itself compared to a truck tire or passenger tire. I would look into this further.

If this were the case please tell me why then FR installed LT235 85R16 tires on my Cedar Creek????
LT tires are a perfectly acceptable alternative to China bomb ST tires. And they will provide many more years of faithful service than any ST tire currently in production.

[Rugged Brown]

It is funny to constantly hear posters lambasting China made tires and yet the apparent issue and cause here is American made axles. I find it difficult to follow the logic sometimes.

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by herk7769

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...res-10660.html

There are several great posts and threads here on the merits of various tires. This is just one.

I recommend reading up on the pro's and con's of LT tires.

Thanks Lou great link.

[DC_In_NC]

UPDATE........Axle company is replacing both axles and tires. They think Forest River put the axles on upside-down.

[dimurrrw]

Originally Posted by DC_In_NC

UPDATE........Axle company is replacing both axles and tires. They think Forest River put the axles on upside-down.

Just curious... if FR made a manufacturing boo-boo then why is the axle company taking responsibility for replacing them. Instead of FR, that is.

[DC_In_NC]

@ dimurrrw.......I should have been more clear, the RV dealer we purchased the camper from thinks FR put the axles on upside down (its only a guess). Because the issue is with the axles FR asked us to send some pictures to the axle company for a warranty claim. Based on the pictures and tire wear the axle company just decided to replace everything.

[crocus]

FR couldn't have put the axles on "upside down", as the axle factory is the one who welded the spring mount flanges on the axle tubes, not FR.
Sounds like someone doesn't have a friggin clue what they're talking about. But that wouldn't be anything new for an RV dealer.

[Herk7769]

Additionally, I believe the frame manufacturer adds the axles. In the Flagstaff 5th wheel that would be Lippert, not the builder. I have seen deliveries of camper frames stacked up (wheels off) on the lowest frame (wheels on) being sent to the manufacturers while driving through Indiana.

[flyrotor]

Best thing is, your trailer is getting fixed....

[DC_In_NC]

The trailer is now fixed just waiting for the tires to be replaced. Forest River and my dealer did a great job in handling this issue......could not be happier.