tire pressure

[lilcountry]

I have a question about tire pressure. My load range E tires are rated for 80 psi. I know that once I start moving, especially in warmer weather, the psi will increase. Should I start with 80 psi, or should I start with a lower pressure? If so, what do you recommend?

[JIMNLIN]

Feds changed the GAWR/GVWR/CCC regulation wording in '08. Many 13k-14.5k trailers before that date used 6k axles as the Endricksen '05 3670 Montana Big Sky with multiple slides. I noticed his trailer mfg went with 7k axles and load G tires at a later date. That move should have fixed Big Sky owners problems if a quality G tire was offered.

[DennisG9]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Endricken wrote:
I just weighed my trailer on the Cat Scales and its just under 14K lbs.
Trailer is 13,900 lbs versus Trailer Label 14,180 GVWR (or effectively "maxxed" out, but NOT overweight). Used to weigh 12,900 long ago before we went from weekend RVing to long term RVing.
Axles: 5590 (vs 6k Axles)
Tires: 2795 (vs 3042 rating)- albeit actual individual weights on each tire remains unknown and probably peaks at times on crowned roads or uphill.

So the tires shouldn't always be overloaded, but without individual tire weights I can't know for sure...

For fun weigh each side or tire if possible. It will open your eyes.

I wasn't able to get weights for both sides but did notice right side was just a little warmer running. Moved some thing around in the basement and inside and temps are much better.

[Cummins12V98]

Endricken wrote:
I just weighed my trailer on the Cat Scales and its just under 14K lbs.
Trailer is 13,900 lbs versus Trailer Label 14,180 GVWR (or effectively "maxxed" out, but NOT overweight). Used to weigh 12,900 long ago before we went from weekend RVing to long term RVing.
Axles: 5590 (vs 6k Axles)
Tires: 2795 (vs 3042 rating)- albeit actual individual weights on each tire remains unknown and probably peaks at times on crowned roads or uphill.

So the tires shouldn't always be overloaded, but without individual tire weights I can't know for sure...

For fun weigh each side or tire if possible. It will open your eyes.

[Endricken]

I just weighed my trailer on the Cat Scales and its just under 14K lbs.
Trailer is 13,900 lbs versus Trailer Label 14,180 GVWR (or effectively "maxxed" out, but NOT overweight). Used to weigh 12,900 long ago before we went from weekend RVing to long term RVing.
Axles: 5590 (vs 6k Axles)
Tires: 2795 (vs 3042 rating)- albeit actual individual weights on each tire remains unknown and probably peaks at times on crowned roads or uphill.

So the tires shouldn't always be overloaded, but without individual tire weights I can't know for sure...

[JIMNLIN]

If more air volume increases weight capacity, would I be doing any harm by having a Cold Air Pressure of 85 PSI in my tires versus the tire sidewall 80 PSI recommendation? Especially when temps are cooler?

That maybe a bad assumption. Maybe our tire engineers Tireman9 or CapriRacer can give you a answer on LT tires.
We do know that a P tires load capacity stops at 35 psi even though the tire may have a 44 to 51 psi rating.

What I do know is a LT E tire at 80 psi can reach 94 psi with a load in hot weather and at interstate speeds. Now the tire is pumped to 85 psi can have the tire at 99 psi. Doesn't sound like a good idea.

Cummins makes a good point about your trailer and LT E tires.
Montana Big Sky 3670 models have GVWRs in the 14k-15k range and came with a 3500 lb ST tire. Sounds like you or some one put a under capacity replacement tire on your '05 36'-38' trailer.

The sidewall bulge at the bottom indicates a over loaded tire/under inflated tire or the infamous ST tire sidewall bulge.

[Cummins12V98]

Endricken wrote:
If more air volume increases weight capacity, would I be doing any harm by having a Cold Air Pressure of 85 PSI in my tires versus the tire sidewall 80 PSI recommendation? Especially when temps are cooler?

The visible bulging I see (as do others I've talked to)where the tires contact the road as seen in my mirrors drives me crazy!

If you are running E tires at 80psi with your rig in your signature they are probably overloaded. I would highly recommend running a set of GY G614 tires.

[Endricken]

If more air volume increases weight capacity, would I be doing any harm by having a Cold Air Pressure of 85 PSI in my tires versus the tire sidewall 80 PSI recommendation? Especially when temps are cooler?

The visible bulging I see (as do others I've talked to)where the tires contact the road as seen in my mirrors drives me crazy!

[laknox]

PokerCamper wrote:

laknox wrote:
standard deep socket

I already looked ... my socket set has everything you listed except that socket. 😞 And since I need to order a breaker bar anyway, I figured I might as well find a lug nut socket set at the same time.

Well, I also need a deep socket for my B&W Companion u-bolts, so the set just comes along. 🙂

Lyle

[PokerCamper]

Good deal, I'm ordering it now along with the breaker bar and a torque wrench (since I don't have one). I'll wait on the air wrench until this fall so my wife doesn't freak out. 🙂

Thanks, I appreciate your help!

[bpounds]

PokerCamper wrote:
Well, since I'm leaving on Saturday for a 2 week trip, I need something I can get shipped to me within 2-3 days ... so back to Amazon Prime I went. With your experience, do these sockets look thin-walled enough that they'd work on your Cougar (and by extension mine as well)?

They "look" thin enough to me to work, but you can never tell with pictures.

www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-SK4C3F-2-Inch-3-Piece-Service/dp/B000HGKR5K



They've also got a 1/2 inch two foot long breaker bar that looks good and is well reviewed.

Looks like the same product. I think it will fit.

[PokerCamper]

laknox wrote:
standard deep socket

I already looked ... my socket set has everything you listed except that socket. 😞 And since I need to order a breaker bar anyway, I figured I might as well find a lug nut socket set at the same time.

[laknox]

PokerCamper wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
Just be careful. They make 2 versions of that ramp. I have the regular one and with the Trail-Aire suspension the other tire will barely clear the ground.

I have the 5.5" lift heavier duty version and a supply of 2x6's in the bed of the pickup in case I have to build up the ramp's height. What I need to have a working emergency setup now is a tire iron for the lug nuts. I thought the one in the new pickup would work, but it's too big to fit between the metal hub and the lug nuts.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but since I've never been forced to change a tire in my life (hangs head in shame) do they make special irons designed for trailer tires or do I just have to find one with a thinner socket head and make sure it fits?

Personally, I take my 1/2" breaker bar, 6" extension, standard deep socket, speed wrench and torque wrench with me, for my FW tires. Almost as fast as a cross-wrench. 🙂

Lyle

[PokerCamper]

Well, since I'm leaving on Saturday for a 2 week trip, I need something I can get shipped to me within 2-3 days ... so back to Amazon Prime I went. With your experience, do these sockets look thin-walled enough that they'd work on your Cougar (and by extension mine as well)?

They "look" thin enough to me to work, but you can never tell with pictures.

www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-SK4C3F-2-Inch-3-Piece-Service/dp/B000HGKR5K



They've also got a 1/2 inch two foot long breaker bar that looks good and is well reviewed.

[bpounds]

PokerCamper wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
Just be careful. They make 2 versions of that ramp. I have the regular one and with the Trail-Aire suspension the other tire will barely clear the ground.

I have the 5.5" lift heavier duty version and a supply of 2x6's in the bed of the pickup in case I have to build up the ramp's height. What I need to have a working emergency setup now is a tire iron for the lug nuts. I thought the one in the new pickup would work, but it's too big to fit between the metal hub and the lug nuts.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but since I've never been forced to change a tire in my life (hangs head in shame) do they make special irons designed for trailer tires or do I just have to find one with a thinner socket head and make sure it fits?

When I first got this Cougar, I had the same problem. In these aluminum wheels, the counterbore for the lug nuts is too small for most sockets. I like to carry a star type wrench, and I searched around until I found one with the smallest OD I could find. Got it home and it still was a little too tight for the counterbores, but a quick spin against a grinder fixed that. Then at Harbor Freight I found a set of dedicated lug sockets, and those fit great. They are a set of three sockets, each end with a different size. So the set handles 6 nut sizes. The half inch drive is in the center of each socket, so you use a short extension to make them work. I really like these and they work great on my impact gun and my torque wrench. I still keep that star wrench in the fiver, but will only use it if I have to change a tire away from home. I would recommend you just get that socket set and a good size breaker bar to go with it.

Here is the set:
Lug impact socket set