93Cobra2771 wrote:
Before anyone asks, yes, these were made in China. Nanking, 225/75R15. D load at 2540# each. Manufactured December of 05.
Have never weighed my camper, but dry weight is 6250 with gross being 10,000 (not a typo). Axles are 5200# AL-Ko. Best guess on my weight is 7500#. I don't pack heavy nor do I carry water.
Anyhow, thought I would share. I figure this is classic broken belt or belt separation.
New set of Maxxis put on yesterday. Born in January of this year.
Hi 93Cobra2771,
Bummer on your tire. The good thing is you caught it before it let go.
Your camper weight and tire setup is similar to mine. Both are a 10,000# GVWR camper, mine is a little heavier with a 7,150 dry weight before options and "stuff". And we all have our stuff....
As a fellow camper, I encourage you to think seriously about doing 2 things.
1. Weigh your camper with the WD engaged so you get the added weight from WD on the tires. Stuff adds up and it is always a shock, dang...I never thought it was that much. In my case with fresh water I'm sitting just about on the 10,000# GVWR. I added some axle upgrades for hanger strength and some other "stuff" and in the last year or so and the weight went up. I weighed this camper several times in the past and, well it grew more then I had thought. While I was not over weight on any tire, my reserve capacity was not as high as I had thought.
You just bought 5 new tires. Now is a good time to understand your weights. Ideally need individual wheel weights, the next best is to split the TT axles on 2 scales to at least get an axle weight. Now you are armed with knowing you are not doing some type of damage to those new tires. A main point in this thread is to know your individual wheel weights and for a tandem setup, need more reserve in tire capacity. Since you feel you pack light, you may have that reserve capacity now. You will only know for sure if you go to the scales. See mine
here2. As Tireman9 pointed out, we and others too need to help the cause and fill a report with the NHTSA. If you did not abuse the tire, run over weight, run over speed, tire pressure at VIN plate pressure, no road hazards and no major pot holes or curbs, then we are good candidates to help the cause and file a report. Make sure you save the full DOT code so they can link the factory who created them to the failure. And even better, save the tire if it is not already gone. By posting of our issues here on RV.net others can learn from us and what to do next when it happens to them. Another key takeaway is, look at your tires all the time. Every rest stop, start of every trip. Both you and I spotted the bulge “before” it flew apart.
Good luck with your new tires. I bought one new Maxxis to replace the blown out one. Had a heck of a time finding one.
For long term, I just bought 5 new BFG's All season Commercial TA's LT225/75R16's LR E and new rims. Mounted them 2 nights ago. I get higher load rating for more reserve, a tire rated to tow in the cold (we winter camp) and a tire that I believe has greater resistance against tire cuts in the treads. It was a toss up between Maxxis E load range in the ST225/75R15's with new rims or deal with some ride height issue and go to 16" LT. I just bought a new 10,000# GVWR flat deck trailer with no tires or wheels. Long term I will move the ST’s to the flat deck and put the LT’s on the camper. I have to deal with ½” of fender clearance 1st on the TT. The camper tows a lot, my flat deck will be limited and in only short distances and not near the weight of the camper.
Happy camping
John
