Thanks to all for your comments and questions. With reference to moving the bolts on the hangars, no options exist on this trailer.
With reference to the comment "The most common mistake made with an upgrade such as the OP is making is tire pressure", here are a few facts that I did not originally clutter up the first post with.
1. The placard calls for a 225/15/R/D tires inflated to 65PSI.
2. At 2540 lbs. capacity per tire, I should be able to carry 10,160 lbs. capacity on four wheels. Granted, there could be some weight differences per wheel.
3. The placard says the axle rating is 4400 lbs. per axle which is 8800 lbs. for this two axle trailer.
4. The weight on the two axles is 8000 lbs. per the CAT scales at the truck stop.
5. In order to go to a larger 16" rim with a tire that has roughly the same profile as the original tires and will mount in the same space as the original tires, a LT 225/16/R/E is rated at 2680 lbs. at 80PSI. That's why I will go to 80PSI.
6. While I would like to have more reserve capacity, given my space requirements
and not wanting to change the geometry of the trailer i.e. blocking the axle, with the LT225/16/R/E tires, my reserve capacity over the GVWR of 9960 lbs. is approximately 760 lbs.
7. As to the comment, "Industry standards tell us to use the amount of tire pressure needed to provide the load capacity recommended by the vehicle manufacturer", it is my belief therein lies the problem. There really are no comprehensive standards for trailer tires and the manufacturers that outfit their trailers with poorly made offshore tires are not doing anything to raise the standard for ST tires.
I didn't want to rant on in my original post but I can say that the experience with Goodyear has been dismal. We have towed about 75,000 miles over 13 years. In those years Goodyear replaced four tires they made for Carlisle and the damage on my 24' Wilderness pull behind. On the 5th wheel over the last six years, they have replaced four tires and paid for the blowout damage caused by the blowout, two years later replaced two of the latest tires because of sidewall defeciences and now I have another blowout. So at this point, I have a four year old tire blowout, and one four year old tire still working and two each two year old tires. The 5th wheel has only about 25,000 miles on it. And I do check my tires every time we change locations. The newer tires came without a warranty, so two tires will be presented for warranty when we get home.
Enough said, I think.
