Tires wore out on the inside edge

pandkm · 07-15-2012, 08:52 PM

I am going to be calling my dealer in the morning. Just got back from a week long trip and discovered on the way home today that the inside edge of all 4 tires are wore out. The trailer only has about 5K on it. The date code on all four tires are Dec 2010 (if I read it correctly). The tires are Trail Express. With the tires wearing on the inside edge is it just bad tires or something worse like axle or hub issues. The rear tires are worn a little more then the fronts. I am going to try to attach the pictures that I took as it was getting dark.

wyo700 · 07-15-2012, 09:00 PM

Wear like that I am gonna say its axle problems. And not saying you did it on purpose but that can happen from the trailer being over loaded making the axles bow and all the force being put on the inside of the tires.

OldCoot · 07-15-2012, 09:01 PM

If it has springs, I would suspect either the axles are installed upside down or the axles are bent. Either way, it needs to be taken back to the vendor. Look under the trailer to see if the axles are bowed up in the center. If the bow is down, they are upside down. If they are bowed up, there is a very remote chance the wheel bearings are loose on all 4 wheels, but that is a very remote possibility. A trip to the dealer is necessary either way.

pandkm · 07-16-2012, 03:00 PM

Called the dealer this morning and he said that they are the cheap Bias tires and a year and half on them is good. he asked me to email the pictures that I had and to bring the trailer to him when I had some time that he was going to double check the axles and hubs but by looking at the pictures he expects it to be nothing but bad tires. He hates those tires.

pandkm · 07-16-2012, 03:02 PM

Dealer just called me back as I submitted the last post. He shipped the pictures to FR and they are going to credit me 50 dollars a tire and the dealer is going to give me another discount on top of that. He is still going to inspect the axles and stuff to make sure that there is nothing else wrong. Now just to find time to get the trailer to him. And then to decide what tires to get. Stay with Bias or go with Radial.

OldCoot · 07-16-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandkm

Dealer just called me back as I submitted the last post. He shipped the pictures to FR and they are going to credit me 50 dollars a tire and the dealer is going to give me another discount on top of that. He is still going to inspect the axles and stuff to make sure that there is nothing else wrong. Now just to find time to get the trailer to him. And then to decide what tires to get. Stay with Bias or go with Radial.

Radials would be my choice and about the only thing that will make all 4 tires wear on the inside has to do with the spindles or the axles. Tire make has nothing to do with it. Another way to check is drop a plumb bob down the side of the trailer on the centerline of each wheel and measure from the string to the top of the rim and the bottom of the rim. It should be the same or maybe a little closer at the top. If it is closer at the bottom, it is a spindle/axle problem.
Just make sure the trailer is on level ground.
Don't let the dealer blow smoke up your...

amxpress · 07-16-2012, 04:20 PM

While they're at it, have them balance the new tires.

RPAspey · 07-17-2012, 02:52 PM

and put on metal valve stems. not 65# rated rubber ones!

gramps1 · 07-17-2012, 04:15 PM

I have had same problem for 6 years on my 30 ft fifth wheel model 28rk. Had axles checked for alinement at campingworld Springfield,MO July 7 and found out frount axle was within 1/16 in. rear axle was over 1/2 inch out of aline and making axle dogtrac causing tires to wear on out sides. Hope you don't have this problem.

DAISY BOYKIN · 07-17-2012, 04:55 PM

Have to agree with above post including AMXPRESS that they need balancing!! One of your pictures looks like the tire is cupped (OUT OF BALANCE).

lindy · 07-17-2012, 04:56 PM

One point not mention so far is, have you weighed the trl yet? You wouldn't believe how easy it is to overload the trl and tire wear as show is one result.

Big Dawg · 07-17-2012, 05:11 PM

I am having the same problems with my 2011 Grey Wolf. It is at the dealer now, they are working with Lippert to replace the axles, and they will cover the tires. I am in a waiting game with them.

BJAY · 07-21-2012, 04:28 PM

I had something similar happen on a single axle trailer 2 years ago. We had made a 6000 mile trip from Toronto to Brownsville, Tx with no noticeable tire wear. The next year I added a WD hitch and had to replace the tires when I got home. Before installing new tires I had the axle alignment checked and all seemed good. The old tires wear load range C so I upgraded to Load Range D tires and had 12000 miles on them when I sold the trailer. I thought maybe I was transferring enough extra weight to the trailer axle with the WD hitch to overload the C tires.
Bill

Ditchooker · 07-21-2012, 08:03 PM

if it has the lippert axles in it, it's probably bent incorrectly. Had mine replaced for wearing like yours just over a year ago. FR stepped up and paid for the new tires as lippert wouldn't cover them. I did catch mine quite quickly (within 6 months) of purchasing the trailer.

pandkm · 09-04-2012, 10:34 AM

Well know that it has been a while but the dealer finally got to my trailer. They were going to charge me for an axle inspection that I declined hoping that someone who say something. Well the tech was looking it over and told them that if he just put new tires on it that they would just wear out again. lippert is sending new axles and tires. I am adding the metal valve stems and having them balanced. Axles should be here sometime this week. Thank goodness for good service techs.

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