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shotgunner's avatar
shotgunner
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014

Check Your Tires

Last summer, we left for a four-week, 6,000 mile adventure out west. I had the TT inspected the week before we left and had some minor repairs made, so we were in good shape. The tires had plenty of tread and looked to be perfect.

At the end of our second day, traveling about 10 hours that day, we had a blowout on one of the tires. Not great, but fixable. I was able to get to the next exit, which was only 100 yards up the highway and change the tire.

You can guess what happened next. Two miles up the highway, the second tire blew out. I only carry one spare and it was used up now. AAA could not help, even though we have the RV coverage because there is no way to tow the unit with a blown tire.

Had to call a roadside tire place (in the end, AAA made it right by paying us for the roadside call. Not the tire cost, of course, but the trip and repair charge). Once changed, we went to the next exit, which luckily had a campground and a super-walmart. We were able to get the other two changed out as well as a new spare, so were on our way, only losing a half-day in the process.

What the roadside tire guy told me is that he sees this a lot. Our tires were high on tread, but were 14 years old! They had simply worn out from age sitting in the driveway. (most of our trips are local, so there is very little wear).

So the lesson is: check the dates on your tires, not just the tread wear.
  • shotgunner wrote:
    We had it worse on our last big trip. Going over the LaVita pass in CO, about 1/4 mile from the top, towing the same TT with a Diesel Suburban and BAM! The engine blew. Had to get the truck and the camper towed back to Pueblo and bought the Ford Excursion that afternoon. Happy trails again! :)

    The Wilderness is a 2000 model, so yes, those were the original tires! (sorry, don't remember the brand)

    Fourteen years on OEM trailer tires- could be a record!

    Per your last year Big Adventure: We had exactly the same experience one year, only we weren't towing. Had the back of the pickup simply crammed with our tentcamping gear. Engine on the truck blew, had 'er towed to the nearest Ford dealer, transferred all the gear in to the back of the first truck that struck our fancy, and continued on the trip! Good times...:B
  • We had it worse on our last big trip. Going over the LaVita pass in CO, about 1/4 mile from the top, towing the same TT with a Diesel Suburban and BAM! The engine blew. Had to get the truck and the camper towed back to Pueblo and bought the Ford Excursion that afternoon. Happy trails again! :)

    The Wilderness is a 2000 model, so yes, those were the original tires! (sorry, don't remember the brand)
  • I just bought 4 new tires last summer... The originals were less than 3 years old, and probably had less than 1,500 miles on them, but the Nevada sun had baked the sidewalls to the point they were so cracked I was afraid to tow it any distance. Guess what I got for Christmas... a set of tire covers!
  • Thanks for the info- sounds like a classic cascading-blowout case.

    Of course, I'm sure the guy at Walmart was right about those tires- after fourteen years and who knows how many miles, what trailer tire WOULDN'T be "ready to go"? I s'pose you don't know the brand now that they're all gone. You don't mention the your trailer model year- could the tires have been original to the trailer?

    p.s.

    I feel your pain about "not enough spares"- had that happen one year with the TOW VEHICLE! Out in the middle of nowhere, two flats in a row. Had to get the whole shootin' match towed forty miles to town just to get the flats repaired.
  • shotgunner wrote:
    So the lesson is: check the dates on your tires, not just the tread wear.
    Yessir, and, check for hairline cracks usually found near the rim. And the obvious, check air pressure often.

    Got any pics of the old tires?
  • Francesca, It was the other tire on the same side of a dual-axle setup. It is a Wilderness 28'. So your idea that it may have been weakened by the other one going out is possible. The guy who changed the other ones at Wal-Mart said at least one of them was ready to go, so I'm kind of glad I could not simply change the second one and move on...it would have ended the same :)
  • Fourteen years! Miraculous life for any tire...what brand were they?

    Also, I'm curious about position- you say the "other tire" blew- is yours a single axle trailer, or was the second blowout on the same side of a dual axle combo? I ask because there's a school of thought that says that on dual axle apps, the tire on the same side as one blown out often sustains enough damage that it too will fail shortly thereafter. Just wondered if this might be one of those events.