rbpru wrote:
I think the fact that the RV industry puts over a million ST tires on the road every year pretty much tells you they have optimized the cost to performance issue.
For years the RV industry has used wood behind fiberglass, silicone caulking, plastic bushings in the suspensions, those wonderful tank sensors, tires that barely support the full weight of the trailer, sometimes undersized axles, minimum gauge wiring, inappropriate connectors and housings for exposed environments, etc. They have done this for decades on end.
You would think that just because something came as standard equipment then it must be the most appropriate. Sadly the RV industry does a better job of minimizing costs and maximizing its profitability than it does engineering its units. As most see when they upgrade items themselves, better costs more. There's been companies that have attempted to build better trailers and most have went out of business or been consumed by the big names. It's simply too difficult to build a trailer with better equipment and remain competitive with cheaply constructed units that flood the market. Items that come standard on trailers exist because the item made the most financial sense for the manufacturer. As long as it can survive the warranty period then its good enough for them, tires included.
