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Post by spadoctor on Mar 22, 2016 7:21:48 GMT -5
We were talking SPREE...not the Spree Connect line...SPREE is one piece I beam....I own one....get your facts straight. As for BAL they are used on some Sportsmen..
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Post by lynnmor on Mar 22, 2016 10:43:49 GMT -5
Welded three piece, see photo.  |
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Post by cooperrobt on Mar 22, 2016 16:31:15 GMT -5
I thought we were discussing tires?
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Post by lynnmor on Mar 22, 2016 18:46:13 GMT -5
I thought we were discussing tires? The OP wanted to put large, heavy tires on his trailer. This may be a problem with the extremely weak frame. The OP hasn't been back, so maybe he had enough of the personal attacks. |
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Post by poppachris on Apr 4, 2016 21:59:19 GMT -5
Well: After reading here and on other sites, and discussing the issue with my original Spree dealer who recommended them and runs them on his own trailer (and doesn't sell Good Year tires BTW) I have purchased the Marathon ST225/75R15-D tires. So far, I'm pretty pleased. A stiffer more stable ride with less tendency to bounce or sway. I do feel a lot more comfortable with them than with the Trailer King Load Range C tires. Time will tell the true tale I guess.
I am a bit intrigued about the addition of shocks to the frame and axles. I could hear a bit more on that issue.
And please, gentlemen. I don't give a rat's patootie about who's past posts indicate vendettas against each other. Take it to the schoolyard after class and save this thread for real posts with on-topic comments.
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Post by poppachris on Apr 4, 2016 22:06:17 GMT -5
I thought we were discussing tires? The OP wanted to put large, heavy tires on his trailer. This may be a problem with the extremely weak frame. The OP hasn't been back, so maybe he had enough of the personal attacks. I did put the larger tires on. They fit the rims just fine and have dramatically improved the ride. As for the frame, as long as I don't overload its rating or the axles rating, then it doesn't really matter if the tires can carry more. I do loading to the ability of the weakest link in the system, once the tires, now the axles. The stronger components merely get an easier life. In this case I considered the Trailer King load range C tires to be the weakest link and had no confidence in them. |
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Post by cooperrobt on Apr 7, 2016 0:40:07 GMT -5
I too am considering upgrading my tires on the Spree Escape e196 from the factory c load rated tires to d rated tires. The trailer is of course a single axle which I am very comfortable with since I have been towing trailers with single axles for about 25 years now. I do not however want to change the spec of tire size from the factory 205r/75 14's. D load rated tires are kind of hard to find in this 14" tire size. I find that the tires bow a little at the pavement (50 psi) and I am hoping that the 2 extra ply's will help.
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Post by lynnmor on Apr 7, 2016 8:44:16 GMT -5
I would suggest these Kumho tires. KumhoThey are not USA, but I think they are as good as it gets with 14". I have them on my utility trailer. The "C" in the size does not mean a C load rating, it means commercial. They are D rated. |
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Post by cooperrobt on Apr 7, 2016 9:06:35 GMT -5
Thanks Lynnmor. I will speak to the RV shop that I deal with.
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Post by cooperrobt on Apr 12, 2016 16:32:14 GMT -5
So I am sitting here at the tire shop having new d load kumho tires put on and the first thing I noticed was the guy putting the jack right under the axle. I told to put that thing under frame and he copped an attitude.
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Post by lynnmor on Apr 12, 2016 19:38:09 GMT -5
Happens all the time. I had a PA state inspection station starting to put a jack near the center of the axle. I left. I hate inspection, I always come out with damage.
If your springs are below the axle, and the jack is contacting the U-bolt plate, there is little chance of damage. If the jack is pushing on the axle tube, they are thin and may indent or bend.
I would suggest that you take the wheels to have tires mounted to minimize the damage. Don't even get me started on air tools and lug nuts.
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Post by larryz4 on Apr 16, 2016 22:34:06 GMT -5
My new 262RKS came from the factory equipped with Trailer King ST205/75R15 Load Range C/6ply (1820lbs@50psi) tires. According to the label they are at or near the limit of their capacity at max air pressure with absolutely no "wiggle room". Frankly, this gives me a lot of worry. I'm seriously considering swapping them out before something happens. I have no issues with the Trailer King brand as every bit of on-line research I can find leads me to believe they are as good as anybody else out there (which isn't saying much). I am looking at Trailer King ST225/75R15 Load Range E/10ply (2490lbs@80psi) as a replacement. Before doing so, I have a few questions I'm hoping might be answered here: 1: Is this reasonable? 2: If so, does the higher pressure rating require inflating to that pressure or some lower pressure that my match up to my 262RKS GAWR? 3: There is also a ST225/75R15 Load range D/8ply (2540lbs@65psi)... Would this be a better choice? Plus the same questions as for the 10ply. I'm getting so confused! Please help! I noticed that our Connect C250BHS has the Trailer King tires as well. The downside is mine has 14" wheels, and I am already thinking about moving up to 15", but hate to lose the aluminum wheels that my unit came with. I was considering changing the tires out to Maxxis M8008 tires which I have had really good luck with (if I stay with 14"). I would like to go to 15" and LT tires, but have no idea which ones will work....I read that Michelin Rib XPS are supposed to be awesome, but they are pricey...especially when I would need to get 5 wheels and 5 tires. poppachris, have you changed your tires out? Are you still running the Trailer Kings? I have seen many great reviews about those tires though. Thanks. |
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Post by 2ndchance on Apr 17, 2016 7:25:29 GMT -5
I really don't understand the concern with factory installed tire load ratings. In the first place, the max load rating is more legal protection for the manufacturer and federal requirement than anything else. I have no idea what the actual test load tire makers subject their tires to but you can bet it far exceeds what's stamped on the sidewall. Should your tire load rating be higher than the load they are carrying? Of course, obviously. But if your tire load rating is more than the axle load rating, what is to be accomplished by replacing them with an even higher rated tire? Why aren't you worried about the axle load rating? Are you going to replace them too? I am new to travel trailers but I have plenty of experience with, and have rebuilt several heavy boat and utility trailers. Last year I hauled over 3 1/2 tons of rock on a 7000 lb gvw utility trailer with eight year old c load rated tires. It wasn't intentional (the loader driver wasn't too careful) and I was lucky and I certainly would not recommend it but you get my point. I was probably in greater danger of wheel bearing or spindle failure than a tire wall failure.
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Post by poppachris on Apr 25, 2016 21:19:49 GMT -5
My new 262RKS came from the factory equipped with Trailer King ST205/75R15 Load Range C/6ply (1820lbs@50psi) tires. According to the label they are at or near the limit of their capacity at max air pressure with absolutely no "wiggle room". Frankly, this gives me a lot of worry. I'm seriously considering swapping them out before something happens. I have no issues with the Trailer King brand as every bit of on-line research I can find leads me to believe they are as good as anybody else out there (which isn't saying much). I am looking at Trailer King ST225/75R15 Load Range E/10ply (2490lbs@80psi) as a replacement. Before doing so, I have a few questions I'm hoping might be answered here: 1: Is this reasonable? 2: If so, does the higher pressure rating require inflating to that pressure or some lower pressure that my match up to my 262RKS GAWR? 3: There is also a ST225/75R15 Load range D/8ply (2540lbs@65psi)... Would this be a better choice? Plus the same questions as for the 10ply. I'm getting so confused! Please help! I noticed that our Connect C250BHS has the Trailer King tires as well. The downside is mine has 14" wheels, and I am already thinking about moving up to 15", but hate to lose the aluminum wheels that my unit came with. I was considering changing the tires out to Maxxis M8008 tires which I have had really good luck with (if I stay with 14"). I would like to go to 15" and LT tires, but have no idea which ones will work....I read that Michelin Rib XPS are supposed to be awesome, but they are pricey...especially when I would need to get 5 wheels and 5 tires. poppachris, have you changed your tires out? Are you still running the Trailer Kings? I have seen many great reviews about those tires though. Thanks. Yes I did. I changed them to Good Year Marathon 225/75R15 Load Range D. I have to say that I am very pleased with the new tires. I recently came home to south Louisiana from a week long trip to the Ozarks. This was 516 miles from home so I wound up putting over 1000 miles on them which I consider to be a decent check ride. I found the ride to be greatly improved. Where I used to have a tendency to sway when trucks passed and bounced a lot on some roads, now I find it to be stiffer and more under control under those conditions. I'm a happy camper. PS: I still watched all of my load weights as these new tires now easily outclass the axles. There is a CAT scale only 1.5 miles from my house so I took the opportunity to weigh the rig before setting off on the trip. It was a pretty heavy load I was towing and weighed in at 6700lbs which is about as heavy as I ever wish to get in my 262RKS which is rated 6800lbs. Total combined CGVWR was 13,650. |
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Post by poppachris on Apr 25, 2016 21:32:13 GMT -5
I really don't understand the concern with factory installed tire load ratings. In the first place, the max load rating is more legal protection for the manufacturer and federal requirement than anything else. I have no idea what the actual test load tire makers subject their tires to but you can bet it far exceeds what's stamped on the sidewall. Should your tire load rating be higher than the load they are carrying? Of course, obviously. But if your tire load rating is more than the axle load rating, what is to be accomplished by replacing them with an even higher rated tire? Why aren't you worried about the axle load rating? Are you going to replace them too? I am new to travel trailers but I have plenty of experience with, and have rebuilt several heavy boat and utility trailers. Last year I hauled over 3 1/2 tons of rock on a 7000 lb gvw utility trailer with eight year old c load rated tires. It wasn't intentional (the loader driver wasn't too careful) and I was lucky and I certainly would not recommend it but you get my point. I was probably in greater danger of wheel bearing or spindle failure than a tire wall failure. Of course I'm not going to replace the axles. I take great care not to overload axles or frames. The reason I lost faith in the load range C tires was a visual observation of heavy flexing of the sidewalls on the road by my son who was following me home one day. The factory tires are 4 tread plys only have 2 ply sidewalls at load range C. The D range tire is an 8 ply tire with 4 ply at the sidewalls. The much stiffer sidewalls are giving me a much better ride. I'm pretty pleased with my decision and would do so again now that I know for myself the improvement I gained. |
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Post by larryz4 on May 7, 2016 13:05:28 GMT -5
Yes I did. I changed them to Good Year Marathon 225/75R15 Load Range D. I have to say that I am very pleased with the new tires. I recently came home to south Louisiana from a week long trip to the Ozarks. This was 516 miles from home so I wound up putting over 1000 miles on them which I consider to be a decent check ride. I found the ride to be greatly improved. Where I used to have a tendency to sway when trucks passed and bounced a lot on some roads, now I find it to be stiffer and more under control under those conditions. I'm a happy camper. PS: I still watched all of my load weights as these new tires now easily outclass the axles. There is a CAT scale only 1.5 miles from my house so I took the opportunity to weigh the rig before setting off on the trip. It was a pretty heavy load I was towing and weighed in at 6700lbs which is about as heavy as I ever wish to get in my 262RKS which is rated 6800lbs. Total combined CGVWR was 13,650. Thanks poppachris, I did order and received 15" Maxxis Load Range E tires for my new trailer. I figured I would just go with black wheels and it will be OK for my trailer. I have additional questions regarding CAT Scales. I know that I can use them at Truck stops, but what is the process? Do I just drive up on the scales and then go in for the weight ticket? I want to be sure of my weight distribution before the cross country trip and it would help to get this info before I go. Also what is the nominal cost of a weighing? thanks Larry. |
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Post by poppachris on May 17, 2016 6:51:45 GMT -5
Larry:
The CAT scale I use is at a local truck stop. I simply pull up onto the scale with the forward tow vehicle axle on one section, the drive axle on the next section and the trailer on yet another section. Press an intercom button to call the operator, give him/her an identifying number, (just make one up - I used the number 4). Go inside and pay your 10 bucks and get your printout. TO do separate trailer axles you need to have the straddle over two separate sections. This, in my case would have required a second weighing since the length of my rig didn't make the length of the scale sections in such a way as to do that in one shot. But ?I was ok with just the 3 numbers, Steer axle, Drive axle, Trailer axle(s).
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Post by RdRmr on Aug 6, 2016 17:32:12 GMT -5
poppachris, Here is a site that will give you the info you need on tires: www.barrystiretech.com scroll down the page till you come to ST tires. I had the Goodyear Marathons on two previous 5TH wheels, no issues at all (once I learned to slow down) they have a max speed rating of 65MPH. You will be hard pressed to find a 15" trailer tire made in the USA. My new 5er came with 16" Trailer King II made in Kentucky by Power King, a division of General Tire. Over 10,000 towed miles so far and they are still looking good. Not that it helps on 15" tires, no idea where they are made. Another I have heard good things about is Maxxis-8008. Good hunting. Happy Camping.... |
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Post by RdRmr on Aug 6, 2016 17:32:56 GMT -5
OOPS, duplicate.
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Post by poppachris on May 30, 2017 16:48:09 GMT -5
Thanks! The only post out of this whole series that really attempts to answer the question...
We ordered our 2014 262RKS with Marathons. I've been to a scale (a number of times too) and the tongue weight is over 900 lbs. With a GVWR of 6800 lbs, that gives about 5900 lbs on the tires & axles. LRC are rated 7280 lbs total (and axles, 2 x 3500 lbs). It is recommended that you have at least 20% reserve load capacity on ST tires and the LRC means about 19% spare capacity. That is *if* you are loaded to no more than the GVWR max. I have learned that the NCC is low on the 262RKS and just one full holding tank would make us over the GVWR (and that is loaded with things for an ordinary weekend trip). It is also very possible that the tires are unevenly loaded side to side. It would be a valuable exercise to go to a scale and find out what your weights are. A TPMS is highly recommended. Keep in mind that with ST tires, it is very important to treat them properly. This means max. 65 mph, keeping them inflated to the correct psi, avoiding potholes and speedbumps (at speed) and staying off shoulders where you could pick up something that would cause a puncture. I beleive that most ST tire failures are caused by improper care but it is impossible to ever know as reports on forums are anecdotal and you will never know how they were treated. If you are just going to local campgrounds, the LRC may be okay but if doing long trips and/or highway speeds, I'd go with LRD tires. Some say that Marathons are not that good but some swear by them. Maxxis is often recommended but failures have been reported with them too. Our Marathons are 2 years old with about 10K miles on them and I expect to get a lot more out of them. Lots and lots of great tire info on RVtiresafety.com by a retired tire engineer. When we ordered our new Spree, I asked the salesman why anyone would want to order the optional LRD Marathons just to see what he would say. His answer was "I dunno"... He also said not many buyers order them. If it were me and if you have the $$, I would definitely go with LRD tires. Sell the OEM Trailer Kings on CL. There's always threads on other RV forums on ST tires but they're guaranteed to drive you crazy with all the opposing views. You could upgrade to LT tires but would have to get new 16" rims. I hope that as the original poster it is OK if I ask that we please get back to the topic I asked about. I am currently considering Good Year Marathon ST225/75R15 Load Range D as a replacement tire to the Trailer Kings. Any comments? (Just on the tires, not the people.) FYI: I always read as many posts as I can about a subject I'm interested in. I can usually smell out a chronic complainer on my own. I never make comments about him/her as I am often guilty of just the opposite position, too quick to praise rather than denigrate. Gil, Deb and Dougal the Springer Spaniel 2014 KZ Spree 262RKS 2009 F250 |
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