Hello from SW Missouri

[Bread]

Finally found time to sign up to the forums. We bought our first popup last summer, a 2015 Rockwood Freedom 1940ltd. My wife grew up with a pop up, but I was always a tent camper so I have no idea what I'm doing lol.

The reason I'm posting today is we will be making a Disney World trip this summer and need some tire advice. We still have the stock 13" tires on it, rated at 65mph I think. Is this trailer capable of having faster rated tires? I want to be able to take this baby as fast as I can. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for? If I can increase the tire size, do I have to change my hitch? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[bikendan]

Hi and welcome to FRF!
Having owned two Popups and having a blowout at 65mph, I suggest that you don't go any faster than 65mph.
A single axle trailer is harder to control, than a tandem axle trailer.

[A32Deuce]

Welcome from South Jersey. Maybe you could up grade to 14 inch tires in a D rating radial. That depends on clearence of the tire and body plus if the axle spindle could handle the added stress. More to check then just doing.

[pgandw]

Carlisle makes good quality 13" D-rated trailer tires for a decent price. For about the last 3 years, new ST tires have been speed rated at 75MPH or better (Carlisle rates theirs at 81MPH).

just my experiences
Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[campkasten]

Dear BREAD... welcome to the club! We had a popup camper for 10 years... loved it. It had 13-inch wheels, too. We could not fit 14-inch wheels and tires on it, so I did the next best thing and upgraded to the next larger size tire... factory tires: 175/80R13, new tires: 185/80R13. Still only Load Range C 6-ply rated tire, but more carrying capacity. They fit just fine & worked out GREAT! We did not have to change anything on the hitch side.

Let me tell you, 65 mph is plenty fast for a short-coupled single axle trailer to be going down the road. After the first dim-wit suddenly changes lanes right in front of you and you have to make a radical move, you will appreciate the control slower speeds provide when towing!

We liked the MAXXIS M8008 tires for the popup. Never a problem.
They did not make Load Range D (8-ply rated) tires in 13-inch sizes back then, but some manufacturers make them now... LOADSTAR has one thru eTrailer.com and it is rated for speeds higher then 65 mph. Carlisle Radial Trail HD is another one that's a Load Range D and rated for speeds higher then 65 mph.

[CurtPutnam]

Welcome from SoCal!

[CaptnJohn]

I was following a pop up with my cruise set at 68. Saw the right trailer tire blow. He was all over 2 lanes. Trailer once looked like it was going to flip. I stopped behind him, his face was chalk white. He said control was like holding a pissed off rattlesnake.
After a bad sway with my 1st TT I swore off anything with a single axel. Wind that day was not my friend. If you want to go fast take a tent.

[pojp58]

Welcome Bread, we started in the tent then moved into a Jayco popup with a deck on the front, we had a lot good times in that thing. We have sense moved in to a TT.

Enjoy the popup.

[Tundra 2014]

X2-Kasten I agree, 65 MPH is fast w/ a single axel trailer. Go to a D rated, and 1 width size larger to gain load capacity. On our pop-up, we had a blow-out at 60 MPH. It wrapped around the axel and took 2 hours to cut and pry the belts off. Luckily, someone stopped that had a saws-all and long pry bar to help me along w/ 2 emergency repair guys. Wise to get the best tires available. I did not have the room to go to 14" tires.

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Lot of sound advise here and I would stick with the recommendations on staying at 65 or lower. Later RJD