Trail Express Tires - Page 4

camper_Lucy · 06-18-2012, 10:56 AM

Had three Trail Express tires go bad this weekend, first one I found upon arrive at the CG Thursday night, then found three "bubbles" in two more tires upon arrival home Sunday night. Sent the unit to the dealer and told the to call FR and/or Lionshead, let's see what they come up with.
FR if you are paying attention, I think you have a problem that needs to be worked out with your Tire Dist.

This is the Thursday night find, glad the tire did not blow, still had 75Lbs of air in it. They all had 80lbs when I started out Thursday morning.

ken0042 · 06-18-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camper_Lucy

FR if you are paying attention, I think you have a problem that needs to be worked out with your Tire Dist.

I wonder if it's worthwhile for those of us with the tire issues to share our respective DOT codes. When I had my dealer replace my tires, they said that they think there had been a bad batch.

Mine were DOT R2KC 3308; which means they were manufactured in the 33rd week of 2008. (Mid August.) Now my trailer was delivered to my dealer in March of 2010; which means the tires were 18 months old at that point. Then the tires and trailer sat on their lot until the end of October until I took delivery.

So it could have been a bad batch, or it could have been the fact that they were over 2 years old when I got my trailer; and had sat in the sun for at least 5 months.

fonzie · 06-18-2012, 02:57 PM

Tire code on my blow out is: DOT 1KMM16A 4110. Also I weighted the failed tire at 24.5 lbs (it has 6000 km on it). The new GoodYear Marathon weighted at 29 lbs. Also when pushing on top of tire, the TE collapse fairly easily as the GoodYear required a lot of push for it to collapse. Weak sidewalls for the TE.

FR28footer · 06-18-2012, 08:52 PM

My date codes were 0511. Bought the trailer in October of '11. Pretty sure it is not the date code and just FR being stupid. Why in the world would you put such bad tires on your product? Cost savings? Maybe it is now. But i am betting all it would take is to have another Explorer / Firestone problem and they would have to act. Pretty stupid to go cheap on one of the most important safety items on on trailer.......

Just ordered a 507 TPMS from TST as added insurance. Should be here on 6/25. Hope so as we have a trip planned on 6/26.

I will let you know what I think of the product.
For all of you with Trailer Express tires, GET RID OF THEM NOW!!!! And let your FR dealer know you are not happy. I did!!

comfun1 · 06-18-2012, 09:31 PM

All I can say about Trail Express is that their service is first class. They have given me five new tires and I have only owned my trailer six weeks. The first separated, the rest were cracked. No expence whatsoever to me and tires were here in two days. I chose to pay to have them mounted and balanced locally because it was cheaper than towing the trailer back to the dealer. I know the tires are not much and when I replace them it will be with a steel belted radial. In the mean time I had metal stems installed, tires balanced and bought a Tire Traker TPMS.

MilCop4523 · 06-19-2012, 05:59 AM

Mine had 1900 miles on them. Shot! (one letter off proper spelling)
got a quote in Canada taxes and tire levy included at almost 950 to replace with another 5 bias plys for warranty since FR will not cover Radials but highly suggest/urge you to switch.

FR Warranty guy offered me $125 a tire.
Now if the Canadian dollar falls by about 23% I may break even on getting my tires replaced.
Trail Express = junk in my books.

FR28footer · 06-19-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comfun1

All I can say about Trail Express is that their service is first class. They have given me five new tires and I have only owned my trailer six weeks. The first separated, the rest were cracked. No expence whatsoever to me and tires were here in two days. I chose to pay to have them mounted and balanced locally because it was cheaper than towing the trailer back to the dealer. I know the tires are not much and when I replace them it will be with a steel belted radial. In the mean time I had metal stems installed, tires balanced and bought a Tire Traker TPMS.

You are a brave man to put those back on. 5 new tires in six weeks would make me run away!
Glad they are treating you well. Safe travels.

ResQfrog · 06-19-2012, 11:39 AM

Attached are four photos of tires that the tire dealer for Forest River or Wildwood claim to have no problems. The slight cracking is normal. The sidewall deforming with the ring around the sidewalls out from the rims is normal.

Less than 1000 miles including the mileage from IN to NY during shipping.

Trailer is a 2012 Wildwood X-lite delivered on Feb 2012.

Tires are all from 2011 in the 30 and 31 weeks. Not that old yet.

Reported to National Highway safety. What fun. This brand of tire is not on there web site or is Wildwood or Forest River under vehicle manufactures.

Make sure that everyone with problems report your problems even if tires were replaced.

ken0042 · 06-19-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

FR Warranty guy offered me $125 a tire.

That's interesting. My dealer told me FR was only offering $20 per tire. I said no- send me the tires. Makes me wonder- like some other people it was more cost effective for me to get them installed on my own instead of dragging my trailer 40 miles each way. I wonder if FR really offered that, or that was what my dealer was offering me. Because by doing the tires on my own I'm sure my dealer was able to submit a bill or removal and replacement of the tires.

What size were your tires? I would imagine there isn't that much difference between 14" and 15" tires; definetely not 600% more.

I would have been all over $125 per tire. Heck, I priced out comperable cheap bias tires and they were around $60 each. I figured if they offered me $50 I was going to take them up on it.

FR28footer · 06-19-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgmiller32

Reported to National Highway safety. What fun. This brand of tire is not on there web site or is Wildwood or Forest River under vehicle manufactures.

Make sure that everyone with problems report your problems even if tires were replaced.

I will do the same, but how did you report them if the tires are not in the data base? I did not see an option of "other".

Those lines looked just like mine after 1300 miles. Just crazy. I will report out on our new Maxxis 15" tires and TST TPMS next week.

ResQfrog · 06-19-2012, 10:20 PM

Had to call the toll free phone number. Be ready to be questioned if you are sure they are trail express and not one of the other brands that started in trail.

FR28footer · 06-19-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgmiller32

Had to call the toll free phone number. Be ready to be questioned if you are sure they are trail express and not one of the other brands that started in trail.

Thanks!!

MilCop4523 · 06-20-2012, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

That's interesting. My dealer told me FR was only offering $20 per tire. I said no- send me the tires. Makes me wonder- like some other people it was more cost effective for me to get them installed on my own instead of dragging my trailer 40 miles each way. I wonder if FR really offered that, or that was what my dealer was offering me. Because by doing the tires on my own I'm sure my dealer was able to submit a bill or removal and replacement of the tires.

What size were your tires? I would imagine there isn't that much difference between 14" and 15" tires; definetely not 600% more.

mine were originally 205/75/15 rejects. Even my spare had the surface defects and was never on the road.

My new radials are KUMHO 857 235/70/15

camper_Lucy · 06-27-2012, 09:51 AM

Well it seems FR is now refusing to address any Trail Express tire issues and pointing the dealers to the distributor, (who is not returning the calls), my recommendation to anyone considering purchasing from FR is to refuse to accept any unit that has Trail Express Tires on it. I would also asked the dealer to address this prior to ordering a unit, especially now that FR is not going to stand behind a product they selected to be part of your unit.

MilCop4523 · 06-27-2012, 10:23 AM

Its truely unfortunate because when a manufacturer contracts out for providence of a supplied product and that product is nothing but trouble (incase the kids find your screen open) and they knowingly continue to promote it - there is a legal term for what happens when someone is killed or injured because of that product.
I'm not a lawyer or a judge - just a cop that investigates accidents.

tirewarrantygirl · 07-20-2012, 02:33 PM

Cracking can be accelerated by too much exposure to heat, vehicle exhaust, ozone and sunlight, as well as electric generators and motors (that have armature brushes). Alot of tires are only under a 12 month warranty so it is best to check the date codes on your tires because the date code will tell you when your tire was made. In your case, your tires should be warrantied by the distributor of the tire to Forest River till March of next year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgmiller32

Looked at the tire on our new Wildood X lite 24QB trailer from March of this year. To find that two out of the five Trail Express tires have started to get cracks aprroximately 2" from the rim. Tires have DOT codes of R2KC 2011 and R2KC 2111 on all the tires. The trailer has approx 1200 miles including shipping from Middlebury, IN. We have put approx 600 miles on it. All tires are at 55 psi where they were when the trailer was picked up at the dealer. Tires are rated at 1760 lbs each with 3500 lb axles and GVWR of 5700 lbs. Trailer scaled at 5375 lbs on first trip out loaded. Cracking looks like something you find on 5 or 6 year old tires.

Dealer working on warranty for new tires.

FR28footer · 07-24-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tirewarrantygirl

Cracking can be accelerated by too much exposure to heat, vehicle exhaust, ozone and sunlight, as well as electric generators and motors (that have armature brushes). Alot of tires are only under a 12 month warranty so it is best to check the date codes on your tires because the date code will tell you when your tire was made. In your case, your tires should be warrantied by the distributor of the tire to Forest River till March of next year.

Who in their right mind would replace these awful tires with the same under warranty? You would have to be nuts.

I do not understand why any manufacturer would use such an inferior product or distributor on what I consider to be one of the most important safety items.

As stated, all it will take is a few nasty accidents caused by inferior tires and Berkshire will be out of the RV business.

They really should rethink the crap they are sending us home on. I am not sure how they sleep at night knowing there is a problem and doing nothing about it.

We are already considering upgrading in a year or so to a 5th wheel and based on how FR is handling this issue (or not dealing with it) they will more than likely not be getting any repeat business from us.

Yes, I know, "they all do it". But what a lame response. And what a lame way to do business.

MilCop4523 · 07-25-2012, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tirewarrantygirl

Cracking can be accelerated by too much exposure to heat, vehicle exhaust, ozone and sunlight, as well as electric generators and motors (that have armature brushes).

the sun I can see.... but
What sort of exhaust pipe would your TV have to have that would effect all 4 rolling tires and the idle spare covered on a TT or 5'er causing it to crack and or seperate?

Is it the fact that the armature brushes are on a generator or the generator exhaust is in the vicinity of the tires.

I don't know anyone who uses a generator and places it directly under their slide out where driver side tires would be or under an awning where passanger side tires would be. I look my muffler and modified the exhaust - venting it upwards with tubing. Wind catches it and its gone. Less noise as well.

Face it Trail Express are the worst of the worst tires you could risk your life on while hauling from my own experience anyway. KUMHO 857's are on my unit now.

EdJunior · 07-25-2012, 06:50 AM

I have an appointment to have my 4 new Maxxis tires put on this Saturday. The damage to my RV is finally repaired, so the tires are next. It sure will feel nice to be on the road again, and feel safer about it.

MilCop4523 · 07-25-2012, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdJunior

I have an appointment to have my 4 new Maxxis tires put on this Saturday. The damage to my RV is finally repaired, so the tires are next. It sure will feel nice to be on the road again, and feel safer about it.

Add a TPMS if not already present....

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