I'm looking to buy a 2000 Minnie Winnie DL with 33,000 miles. This past weekend I took it to a nearby rv park for my first test overnighter. The learning experience went well. Everything seems to work. Put about 30 miles on it round trip. My concern: As soon as I pulled out for the first time and reached about 20 to 40mph there was some serious "wheel hop". I'll describe it as riding on a washboard road. It stopped once I reached 40 plus. Happened every time I'd stop and start. Reminds me of tires that are "cupping" from worn shocks and/or struts. Suspension issues make me question the purchase. Anyone else had this happen?

What did the tire shop tell you when you stopped there and had them test drive it?

I had a tire that would bounce at 10 ~ 5 mph or less when slowing down. Wouldn't have thought it was possible but a simple balancing fixed it.For the few dollars it would cost, I would have the tire balanced and see if that stops it. Otherwise it may be much more expensive.

The old Bias Ply tires were really bad about developing Flat Spots while parked overnight. Felt like the wheels were square till the flats softened up and the tires got round again.Radials, usually not so much. The tires that acted square for me were on a one-ton van. It'd sit in the garage like the wheels were blocked. Put radials on it, I could then push it out of the garage easily by hand.What kind of tires are on this, how old are they (date code after the DOT codes, usually on only one place on each tire) and what is the tire pressure? It's possible there's a stuck brake caliper. Those'll shake your wheel, make you think you're driving on a flat. Drive awhile, pull over, and see if one front brake is noticeably hotter than the other. When that happened to me, the left wasn't anything unusual, but the right was like walking up to a burning charcoal BBQ.Date Code on Tires: Last four digits. First two are Week of the year, so 01-52. Second two are Yearm so 0414 would mean made in the fourth week (January) of 2014. Older than five years, tires need replaced, even if they look good. Brake work isn't outrageously expensive, so if the shake is tires or brakes, not likely a deal breaker.

Get the suspension checked out, for sure. But it sounds more like a tire issue.

Be aware that date codes for 1999 and earlier are only three digits, the last being the year, the first two are the week of the year. If the tires are original (highly possible) then the date codes may be three digit for 1999 tires.http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11Date codes are only found on one side of the tire, so you may have to look on the inside sidewall of some tires to find it, depending on how they were mounted.Charles

Is this serious? | Good Sam Community

photobug
Explorer
Feb 14, 2017
had a similar problem with the unit I bought last summer. New tires all around and rebuilt brake job and the thing rides like a 14,000lb truck again. It's not a luxury car, but comfortable enough to ride in for days at a time.
VA-Apraisr
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2017
I'd negotiate a $2100 credit for new tires ($300+ x 7 tires).
ppine
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2017
Avan cut to the chase by eluding to the obvious answer.
Don't ask us, go have someone in the tire business check it for you.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
Boomerzoomer wrote:
Thanks all. The logical response is to take it to a tire shop. I really wanted to present some of the theories to the shop you guys offered so I would appear somewhat informed instead of a newbie dolt. You guys are great! Thanks so much.

While that sounds logical, it often is a BIG mistake.

If you TELL the "experts" what to do, that is ALL they will do.
Give them they symptoms and let them do their job.

A TRUCK tire shop would be best.
Your average car tire shop knows virtually nothing about RVs.
And RV service centers don't know much more.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
DownTheAvenue wrote:
avan wrote:
What did the tire shop tell you when you stopped there and had them test drive it?

Where in the original post did you get that he stopped at a tire shop? I read the post, re-read it, and can't get that information.

Look up the word "sarcasm". :)

And I would add to that, what were the pressures when you checked them all ??

Sounds to me like old, hard tires with a flat spot or two.....OR one of a dual pair that is almost completely flat.
Boomerzoomer
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
Thanks all. The logical response is to take it to a tire shop. I really wanted to present some of the theories to the shop you guys offered so I would appear somewhat informed instead of a newbie dolt. You guys are great! Thanks so much.
Boomerzoomer
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
stripit wrote:
Are you sure the transmission was shifting correctly through all the gears? Could it be trans shudder not shifting?

The transmission seems to be shifting smoothly. I don't think this is the issue. Just the low speed hop after all the gears have shifted.
darsben1
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
OF course on a 2000 the tires are possibly 17 years old WAY PAST the recommended 5-7 year replacement. They are seriously dangerous if original tires and are a blowout waiting to happen.
YOU NEED to check the DOT dates and if over 5-7 years old replace them immediately. It does not matter how much tread is on the tire they need inspecting now and replacing if old. That will probably cure the problem.
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
avan wrote:
What did the tire shop tell you when you stopped there and had them test drive it?

Where in the original post did you get that he stopped at a tire shop? I read the post, re-read it, and can't get that information.
ksg5000
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017
Take the guess work out of it and take it to tire shop - they should tell you whether it's tires, suspension, brakes or whatever.

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