abnormal tire wear

MilCop4523 · 11-22-2011, 10:33 PM

We have a 2012 Salem 27RKSS taking ownership on Sept 1 of this fall. Its showing wear on all 4 tires on the outside and inside single treads. A lot of scalloping all the way around all 4 tires.

I had to pay for some warranty work last month and early Sept days after getting the trailer and Forest river wants the parts which were retained by the dealer in our home town as well as a Forest River dealer in Maine before I get reimbursed despite my forwarding them receipts and photographs (plus business cards of the Me RV salesperson who assisted with repairs in Sept). Parts which are long gone to the land fill in NB and Me.

Withthe tires wearing the same but scalloping on 2 treads (all 4 tires) has anyone else had this sort of problem and have you had teh tires replaced under warranty?
We are expecting 25 cm of snow tonight so the trailer will be not moving until spring.
should I contact via email Forest River and advise them of the situation before winter sets in?
Thanks in advance

billy bob · 11-22-2011, 10:57 PM

I had trouble with the inside of the tires wearing down. The axles were bent and had to be replaced. I would contact Forest River as soon as possable

Ovair · 11-23-2011, 07:42 AM

If it is wearing on the inner AND outer tread at the same time, I would suspect under inflation.

oldprof1 · 11-23-2011, 08:07 AM

Scalloping is usually a balance problem. Do you feel any shaking?

MilCop4523 · 11-23-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldprof1

Scalloping is usually a balance problem. Do you feel any shaking?

didn't realy notice anything. My next door neighbor noticed them after he was looking at his trailer a week or so before mine and he has a similar issue - they think his axle is out of whack.

kjoh75 · 11-23-2011, 09:38 AM

I have a 2005 Cherokee TT with a tandem axle. This blog got me to thinking about a premature tire problem I had this summer. I blew 2 tires on the same side one afternoon (2 within a 15 minute period). The tires were on the same side of the camper. The tire pressure was checked just prior to the trip.

Six months after I purchased the camper (winter 2009-2010) I happen to notice a difference in how the tires aligned on the axles. It sure looked like the front tire cambers differently from the back tire. What I mean is the front tire is further out at the bottom then the one behind it. Don't know if this is normal or not. But again this blog got me to thinking about those axles and tires. Do I have a bent axle? Did this cause a premature failure in the tires? At least I know the replacement tires are balanced. But the tire shop did ask if I wanted it done. I thought balancing was standard practice. On trailer tires maybe not???? Is there a difference in a trailer tire compared to a properly sized car tire to fit the job? The replacement tires I purchased were car tires that handled my trailer weight (that's all they had instock).

Just wondered if I have a problem coming in the future.

MilCop4523 · 11-28-2011, 07:49 AM

all 5 tires (spare included) have identical tire pressures. Max tire pressure on tires is 50 (sidewall usage).
All are set to just over 41 psi as of yesterday and I highly doubt that all have the same rate of disapation considering that 4 are Nitrogen filled and the spare is regular air filled.

The trailer has just under 1,900 miles on it since it left the factory. 1,645miles from delivery start to today.

The trialer has been parked since end Sept.

Tires are Trail Express 15"
All the run trailers have excessive tire wear on the outside tread along with a feathering. When I drag my fingers across all the treads I can feel a sharp ridge.

the last 2 warranty claims I've had with Forest river I've had ZERO luck in getting reimbursement from head office.

One for awning clips which were missing the spring (replaced after I had to purchase it from a Forest River dealer in Maine and the owner himself installed it, and a door handle which a Forest River dealer in Fredericton NB CAnada refused to replace under warranty because it is a USA trailer, but they sold me the handle and let me put it on myself. They also threw out the old handle.

crocus · 11-28-2011, 10:01 AM

41 psi is not nearly enough for the load. That plus an out-of-balance condition might cause your problems. As your tires are damaged, and they are crappy tires to begin with, I would suggest replaceing them with some better tires and bead-balancing them while you are at it. Maybe consider going to D-rated tires. Then you shouldn't have any more problems.

MilCop4523 · 11-28-2011, 01:43 PM

41 is what they apparently left the factory with - including the spare. trailer rates 50 cold on sticker while the tire side wall states 50 max.

MilCop4523 · 11-28-2011, 01:51 PM

looking at a Goodyear G614RST or a Goodyear Marathon Radial... Any suggestions?
or other brands

**wmtire** · 11-28-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

looking at a Goodyear G614RST

Uhhh, do they build that tire in a 15 inch rim size? I've only seen it in 16 inch, 14 ply stuff.

MilCop4523 · 11-28-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmtire

Uhhh, do they build that tire in a 15 inch rim size? I've only seen it in 16 inch, 14 ply stuff.

I'm not sure...?
Guess that why I put out there the question for alternative tires.. I wouldn't figure tires would loose tread at about 300 miles in the one trip taken after delivery if the dealer and or manufacturer had set the tire pressures correctly.

MilCop4523 · 12-06-2011, 09:56 AM

Next door neighbor with a 2012 Salem Bunk House 33 foot jsut had a dealer here look at his trailer and determine that his camber is out on the axles.

The dealer Couch's RV nation in Ohio want him to ship the axles back to them and (500$ later) make their own determination on if it is the camber or not.
If not then he has to pay to get the items shipped back to Canada.

oh plus the cost of shipping his original tires and rims as well.

New Axles 1200 dollars.

My suggestion was to take his trailer to a heavy truck repair location and get them adjusted/corrected.
So much for the warranty.

JPSPete20 · 12-06-2011, 10:24 PM

We have a 2011 27RKSS that we got at the end of March this year. At two thousand miles, the left rear tire showed very unusual wear high on the inside. The tire showed 55 LBs pressure. Took pictures, took the trailer back to the dealer and sent emails with the pictures to Forest River Tech. Support. They said, "See what dealer says.". Dealer swapped the spare with the bad wheel and said all was OK with axles and wheels. Now two thousand miles later, two other tires are beginning to show inside wear and scolloping. The dealer has hinted that the original equipment tires are "very cheap" and recommended replacing them. I will be sending more pictures to Forest River.

We will be beginning a 5000+ mile trip in February. We will be starting with new tires regardless, but I am going to get another claim on record with Forest River.

JPSPete

rockwood06 · 12-07-2011, 07:10 AM

Having your tires balanced is important, it reduces vibration on the campers frame work and interior, suspenion, tire wear as well as control while towing.

MilCop4523 · 12-07-2011, 07:17 AM

I have to check to see if there is any weights on the rims or not.

MilCop4523 · 12-07-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPSPete20

We have a 2011 27RKSS that we got at the end of March this year. At two thousand miles, the left rear tire showed very unusual wear high on the inside. The tire showed 55 LBs pressure.
JPSPete

My 5 tires in oour 2012 27RKSS are at 40 to 41 lbs pressure which after 1700 miles from the purchase to today is unusual. Either they are all loosing pressure at the same alarming rate (nitrogen in 4 - air in the 5th) or they were never quality controlled for pressure when they left the factory or the dealer.

10 lbs in 3 months is concerning if they are not holding air.

rockwood06 · 12-07-2011, 07:30 AM

Check the back of the rims as well. The manufacture and the dealer do not balance the tires, you can see that by looking at the campers on there sales lot. They are transported as you see them. The class A,B and the C motor home are balanced from the truck manufacture, Chevy, Ford,etc,etc in some cases the truck manufactures will balance the tires from the back of the rim so one can not see the weights.

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