Forum Discussion

RoadRunners2's avatar
RoadRunners2
Explorer
Apr 19, 2016

Long Trips

Does anyone here do long trips pulling a travel trailer? Or, does anyone regularly pull their travel trailer 4000 miles a year?

I ask this question as I pulled a fifth wheel for 20 on these long trips. I found the only tire that would support such trips was the Michelin XPS rib tire.

We sold the fifth wheel thinking we were finished RVing. We bought a vacation home in the midwest. Then we got to thinking we would rather not use motels to travel to the vacation home so we purchased a small trailer - 23 ft long with dual axles and ST205/75R14C installed. They were a brand I never heard of.

We like to drive at highway speeds and don't think these tires will cut it. Can anyone here with long distance driving in the hot summer tell what tires they use.

I am not a fan of Goodyear Marathons. Had lots of trouble with them years ago.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2016
    I did 11,000 miles last year. The tires were Goodyear Wranglers size LT215/75-15. If you have room to go larger, I would do it. There are no great tires available, in my opinion, in your current size.

    My new Chinese wheel bearings were spent and ready to completely fail in those miles. I replaced with made in USA Timken bearings.

    The trailers made today are not ready for prime time, to make them reliable you have a lot of upgrades to do.
  • 3oaks's avatar
    3oaks
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2016
    We average 4 to 6,000 miles per year pulling our TT. Our Sunline TT came with Mission ST tires LR C. Ran them for 5 years without a problem. Replaced them with Maxxis ST tires LR D and ran them for another 5 years before trading in the trailer for a 2016 Arctic Fox which came with Good Year Marathons. I'll run with them for a few years unless I have a problem with them. Then it's back to Maxxis.

    Bearings? Not all Timken brand bearings are manufactured in the U.S. Timken has manufacturing facilities in CHINA as well as other foreign countries and some of those bearings are shipped back for sale in the U.S.
  • Tachdriver's avatar
    Tachdriver
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2016
    I travel once a year to Florida which is a 2000 mile round trip for me.

    I have same size tire, being a new to TT I bought a brand from Discount Tire chain called Goodride, I only assume they are Chinese as well. I am in my fifth year and will use them and get new ones this year.

    Not sure how you qualify whether they will last for you, you can use them and keep an eye on them or replace them, a lot of folks here have a liking towards Maxxis.

    I also replaced my bearings with Timken....yes you have to be careful where they are made.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Apr 19, 2016
    Many RVers here use Maxxis tires. Their satisfaction with the tires holding up well is pretty good.
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Apr 19, 2016
    Increase the LR on the stock size tire and that's about all you can do... My OEM tires that came with my trailer was LR B.. Yes, B... Found the same size tires in a LR D and have never looked back..

    Never had any issues with the B tires, but I don't have that heavy of a trailer and don't drive thousands of miles on a single trip..

    Get whatever brand of tire that you can find... As long as they at least double the OEM LR, you are going to be ahead of the game..

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • owenssailor's avatar
    owenssailor
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2016
    We have been towing 500 to 10000 per year with our trailer. It is in the winter in the Southwest. Tires are Goodyear same size as yours. No issues. Speed for is is around 62 MPH.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Apr 19, 2016
    I just finished an 8500 mile trip from IN to CA. We spent two months on the road mostly in AZ. I had a set of Towmax "D" rated 205 STs installed before I left.

    I tow a Dutchman Lite at 6200 lbs across the scales loaded for the road. I put 12,000 + miles on the original "C" rated tires which were used when I bought the unit.

    I replaced the OEM tired because they were 7 years old.

    The point is there is no rhyme or reason to TT tires. It seens to be the luck of the draw.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 19, 2016
    Had DURO bias they all slipped belts just before 3 years. Then went Denman "D" rated and they lasted about 3 more years, two slipped belts, one lost the entire tread. Then put on MAXXIS 205/75R15-D and they seem to be holding up well. Yes I run mine through the desert periodically at 115°+.

    Only 14" I know with more capacity is Kumho 857 at 2271 pounds 65 psi.
    http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Radial+857

    Otherwise you might need to go 15"+ wheels.

    With new tires (check the date code) I would run them as is one season and get tires upgraded next year.
    When you upgrade make sure the tires are rated for the full trailer GVWR. JMHO.

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