I am thinking about buying a 2014 Cedar Creek Silverback 5er but I am concerned about the space between the tandem tires on the unit. I have owned 4 fifth wheels so far in my life and none of them had the tandem tires so close together. The space on the Silverback appear to be about 4 inches (my estimate)apart. I have looked at other new 5th wheels and they appear to be about 10 inches space between the tandem tires. Plus the units I have owned were in the 10 inch range. My concern with the tires being so close together that a tire blow out could impact both tires on the same side of the unit. In addition I have had a leaf spring break on a Montana and the axle twisted which in my opinion would have cause the two tires on the opposite side to have rubbed together compounding the problem when the leaf spring broke. The question is, does anyone understand my concerns and have similar ones with the Silverback unit? In addition with the two tandem tires being so close together I would believe the 5th wheel unit would be more unstable acting like a play ground teeter tot when traveling down the road. Anyone have thoughts about the tandem tires being so close together on this unit.

Our Cameo has less than 4" between the tires with G614's. I see no problems with it. Have owned 4 fifth wheels and don't remember having ever even seen one with 10" between the tires. Make/model you are comparing to?

I have a 2013 SB with less that 2" between the tires. I wasn't worried until now. Ignorance is sometimes bliss.Jim

If I'm not mistaken, according to Dexter the suspension people all that's needed is one inch between the wheels. I have changed my tires to Michelin XPS Ribs. They have a little diameter than the tires I replaced and they wind up with about 1 1/2" inches between. Never had a problem. I don't think there is any difference between the spacing from one brand to another as they almost all use the same length springs and equalizers. I don't see how they can from front to back unless the suspension is all worn out...B.O.

flrp wrote:I am thinking about buying a 2014 Cedar Creek Silverback 5er but I am concerned about the space between the tandem tires on the unit. I have owned 4 fifth wheels so far in my life and none of them had the tandem tires so close together. The space on the Silverback appear to be about 4 inches (my estimate)apart. I have looked at other new 5th wheels and they appear to be about 10 inches space between the tandem tires. Plus the units I have owned were in the 10 inch range. My concern with the tires being so close together that a tire blow out could impact both tires on the same side of the unit. In addition I have had a leaf spring break on a Montana and the axle twisted which in my opinion would have cause the two tires on the opposite side to have rubbed together compounding the problem when the leaf spring broke. The question is, does anyone understand my concerns and have similar ones with the Silverback unit? In addition with the two tandem tires being so close together I would believe the 5th wheel unit would be more unstable acting like a play ground teeter tot when traveling down the road. Anyone have thoughts about the tandem tires being so close together on this unit.Mine are about 2-3 inches apart. I wondered about that until I started reading about the sidewall stresses on trailer tires when turning and especially backing. The closer they are together the less side loading and the way I see it any help given trailer tires is a plus.

I'm sure the chassis engineers that the Chassis Manufacturer Forest River uses for the Cedar Creek...most likely Lippert or Leland....use Computer Aided Design to engineer the chassis for that specific 5er. My Jayco 5er has a mere 6" seperating the tires. There are a few brands that toyed with wide apart wheels, 18" or more...Keystone for example. Supposedly gave a more stable ride. Different trpes of suspensions would warrent the tires to be closer together or farther apart too. If it really bugs ya call the Cedar Creek Factory in Elkhart and ask to speak to an engineer.

Tandem tires on the Cedar Creek Silverback | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

jjj
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
On my Keystone Challenger I could not get 2 fingers between them. I recently changed my springs to a little shorter and got the egua flex equalizer and now have a little over an inch between. I have never had a problem with the spacing the whole time with it
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 07, 2013
donn0128 wrote:
In 8 years with distance between tires of about 1-3/8 inches I have never had any issues. But them again I dont have junk ST tires on my fiver

Yep....that's about the distance between tires on my 5vr

No problems with them being that close.
LT tires, wheels balanced and shocks....rides smooth
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Nov 07, 2013
On previous two TTs and one 5er space was between 2 to 4 inches, about the same as current Rig.
Greentow
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
On my 3rd Cedar Creek. No problems with tires yet, and probably more than 50,000 miles between the 3 rigs. Current one has G614 tires and 25,000 miles.
donn0128
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2013
In 8 years with distance between tires of about 1-3/8 inches I have never had any issues. But them again I dont have junk ST tires on my fiver
SooperDaddy
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
I'm sure the chassis engineers that the Chassis Manufacturer Forest River uses for the Cedar Creek...most likely Lippert or Leland....use Computer Aided Design to engineer the chassis for that specific 5er.

My Jayco 5er has a mere 6" seperating the tires. There are a few brands that toyed with wide apart wheels, 18" or more...Keystone for example. Supposedly gave a more stable ride. Different trpes of suspensions would warrent the tires to be closer together or farther apart too.

If it really bugs ya call the Cedar Creek Factory in Elkhart and ask to speak to an engineer.
avvidclif1
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
flrp wrote:
I am thinking about buying a 2014 Cedar Creek Silverback 5er but I am concerned about the space between the tandem tires on the unit. I have owned 4 fifth wheels so far in my life and none of them had the tandem tires so close together. The space on the Silverback appear to be about 4 inches (my estimate)apart. I have looked at other new 5th wheels and they appear to be about 10 inches space between the tandem tires. Plus the units I have owned were in the 10 inch range. My concern with the tires being so close together that a tire blow out could impact both tires on the same side of the unit. In addition I have had a leaf spring break on a Montana and the axle twisted which in my opinion would have cause the two tires on the opposite side to have rubbed together compounding the problem when the leaf spring broke. The question is, does anyone understand my concerns and have similar ones with the Silverback unit? In addition with the two tandem tires being so close together I would believe the 5th wheel unit would be more unstable acting like a play ground teeter tot when traveling down the road. Anyone have thoughts about the tandem tires being so close together on this unit.

Mine are about 2-3 inches apart. I wondered about that until I started reading about the sidewall stresses on trailer tires when turning and especially backing. The closer they are together the less side loading and the way I see it any help given trailer tires is a plus.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2013
If I'm not mistaken, according to Dexter the suspension people all that's needed is one inch between the wheels. I have changed my tires to Michelin XPS Ribs. They have a little diameter than the tires I replaced and they wind up with about 1 1/2" inches between. Never had a problem. I don't think there is any difference between the spacing from one brand to another as they almost all use the same length springs and equalizers. I don't see how they can from front to back unless the suspension is all worn out...

B.O.
JimandMary
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
I have a 2013 SB with less that 2" between the tires. I wasn't worried until now. Ignorance is sometimes bliss.

Jim
Jim_Cindy
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Our Cameo has less than 4" between the tires with G614's. I see no problems with it. Have owned 4 fifth wheels and don't remember having ever even seen one with 10" between the tires. Make/model you are comparing to?

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Tandem tires on the Cedar Creek Silverback

20 Replies

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