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05-21-2012, 03:57 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Newfoundland
Posts: 2
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wheels/tires too high?
Hi Folks, my first post here so of course I'm seeking advice.  I bought a 2007 Bantam F17 and it has 15" wheels. I find the step-up and down to the door is too high especially for children and shorter people. I am thinking about getting 14" wheels and tires. That will lower the height by at least 2 inches. Not much but better. Any issues doing this? The salesman said the bigger tires make it easier to tow. I have my doubts about that statement too. Thanks for any advice
Gerard
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05-21-2012, 08:38 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,835
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i don't want you not feel welcome here, because you are, but the Bantam is made by another company, R-Vision.
so, probably no one here has any idea about a Bantam, except some of us hybrid owners. we could help with generic RV or hybrid questions, but yours is specific to your brand and model.
i think you would get better answers at the R-Vision version of FRF.
go to:
R-Vision Camping Club
there will be many Bantam owners there that could help you a lot more than a Forest River product owner.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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05-21-2012, 08:46 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 6,949
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Can't help you much with the tire question for your trailer, but maybe a better idea than lowering the whole trailer is to carry a stoop.
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Scott
DW, 3 Kids and our Goldens
2012 Shamrock 233S
2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7L 4WD
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05-21-2012, 08:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rouleau, Saskatchewan
Posts: 180
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My old 17ft 99 Bantam lite came with 14 in tires. Here are the specs I found online for the 2007 F17 Bantam Flier Expandable trailer:
Specification Description Length 17'8" Width 7'3" Height 9'9" Hitch Weight 193 lbs Dry Weight 2,262 lbs Gross Weight 3,193 lbs Cargo Weight 931 lbs Axle Weight 2,069 lbs Fresh Water Capacity 30 gals Grey Water Capacity 15 gals Black Water Capacity 10 gals Furnace BTU 20,000 Sleeps 6 Tire Size 205/75R14C
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Todd & Sheila and kids
Rouleau, Saskatchewan
2012 Surveyor SV-305
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 CC Outdoorsman
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05-21-2012, 09:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SD
Posts: 441
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Changing wheels and tires or lowering the trailer seems like a pretty drastic measure. Could the steps be reworked or replaced or carry one of those fold up steps to put at the bottom.
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2015 Sierra 357TRIP
2012 Ram 2500 CCSB 6.7CTD
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05-21-2012, 09:43 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,031
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 This is a better solution to your problem. Can be set a 2 different heights.
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Terry and Janet
2008 3001W Windjammer
2007 Ford F150
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05-22-2012, 01:57 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Newfoundland
Posts: 2
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Oops, sorry, I thought it was a Forest River product. Anyway thanks for the responses. I am using a stoop now but was looking for a more permanent solution. I may go with some 14" aluminums anyway for looks. Steel wheels tend to show rust pretty quickly out here in the North Atlantic. Thanks.
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05-22-2012, 06:41 AM
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#8
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw65
Oops, sorry, I thought it was a Forest River product. Anyway thanks for the responses. I am using a stoop now but was looking for a more permanent solution. I may go with some 14" aluminums anyway for looks. Steel wheels tend to show rust pretty quickly out here in the North Atlantic. Thanks.
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If you think painted steel rusts quickly in a salty environment, those expensive aluminum ones won't look pretty after a while either.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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05-22-2012, 06:50 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,045
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my 2x4 step
 while on vacation ...We had a concrete patio site our first month...then moved to one without... i went to Home Depot with a sketch.. take 1.. 8 foot 2x4..make 2 ..30 " cuts...then 2 more 12 " cuts with the 3 ' piece thats left over... turn all 2x4s on their sides..1 piece on each end ..then 1 in the middle ..screw these pieces together..then a 3/4 piece of plywood..leave a 2 1/2 " overlap all around...screw everything together with 4 " screws... i got a pint of paint at Walmart.. total cost $20  You will like it !!
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2014 Crusader 325 TE....2012.. F 250.. Supercab XLT, 4x2 , diesel....days camped 2011 ... 28.... days camped 2012...115 ... days camped 2013...155...2014...171 and counting
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05-22-2012, 06:55 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw65
That will lower the height by at least 2 inches.
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I dont' think it will lower the trailer 2". Going from a 15" wheel to a 14" wheel is only 1/2" difference....the other 1/2" is on the top. The tire could be a little smaller depending on size, but again 1/2 of the diameter is going to be on top again.
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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05-22-2012, 07:00 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,368
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnguy
I dont' think it will lower the trailer 2". Going from a 15" wheel to a 14" wheel is only 1/2" difference....the other 1/2" is on the top. The tire could be a little smaller depending on size, but again 1/2 of the diameter is going to be on top again.
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X2! Also, don't know what the Load Range is on your 15's, but if they are D's, you might not have enough tire capacity with 14's. LR D in 14's are hard to find.
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2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
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05-28-2012, 10:35 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
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Again, this sounds as if this unit has the leaf type springs. Leaf springs are a good suspension system, they do require more room between the top of the axles and the bottom of the unit. This is just the nature of leaf springs. The "Torsion" type axles do not have the leaf springs, just the rubber type torsion mounts between the axle and the spindles. These work fine also and allow the unit to sit closer to the ground. Check to see which you have.
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