16" tires don't have date codes?

[tmaxx]

Looking at a 2005 Thor Four Winds 29E (2 slides, 21k miles) for $27900 at a dealer. They will give us $2500 for our used pop-up. It's in our price range, but....
I asked them for the date code on the tires. The response was that 16" tires don't have date codes?? They then said the tires are in excellent condition.

So 16" tires don't have date codes? Is this salesman telling the truth or just too lazy to go and check the date codes?

The other thing is that this RV has a front window which seems to be a red flag for some. Is a front window something to be avoided?

[ReadyToGo]

On the tires. We werecple to ocntact the prior owner due to my wife looking through the manuals etc that come with the camper, which incidentally is a must. I would ask why the trade in after buying brand new tires.
That way, you can find out if all the tires were bought at the same time.

[CapriRacer]

Sfla2 wrote:
I thought I heard ,now all tire must have DOT on both sides

Not exactly. As of 2008, tires have to have the complete DOT code on the side intended out - and a partial code (everything except the date code) on the other side.

That means that white sidewall tires will have the date code on the out side, but blackwalls, not so much. Plus, while the law went active in 2008, the tire manufacturers started implementing this prior to that.

[Sfla2]

I thought i heard ,now all tire must have DOT on both sides

[dicknellen]

How many tires did they check? I bet not all the date codes are that new. What type of roof and what condition?
Dick

[Oldme]

Tire born date and other info:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/brochure.html

[BB_TX]

Did you try googling 2005 Thor Four Winds 29E to see what they might be priced at and maybe sold for?

[tmaxx]

So, I called back and told him that I wouldn't consider the RV unless I knew the date code. He consented and went out to get the date codes. The date code indicates the tires were installed Feb 2013, so 2 years old. With this in mind, and the fact that he will take my pop-up on trade is very tempting (if I can overlook his initial comment about the tires not having date codes - I am guessing he just didn't want to go out in the cold and crawl underneath the RV).
Does the price seem reasonable for this RV? ($27,900 - $2500 popup trade-in = $25,400)
The only draw back I can see now is the front window in the cabover, but I would just need to make sure it keeps sealed well.

It's a 2005 Thor Four Winds 29E 21k miles, 2 slides.

Thanks.

[rcmiller32]

Those DOT numbers that include the date code are required not optional. No DOT numbers they should not be driven down the road.

[BB_TX]

If the date code is not on the outside sidewall, look on the inside sidewall. It will be on one or the other.

[fla-gypsy]

Tell them that lie won't fly and move on to something else.

[j-d]

tmaxx wrote:

It's an integrity thing to me. If they are willing to lie about this, then what else...

As the Chicken said, EGGS-Actly!

[tmaxx]

rjxj wrote:
The united nations stated that only 16 inch tires do not have to have date codes and they sent special memo's to RV dealers.

They are lazy goofballs. Just go over there and do it yourself if you want it done right.

Well, it's about an 8 hour drive out of state to check myself 🙂
It's an integrity thing to me. If they are willing to lie about this, then what else...

[Desert_Captain]

Yes they have date codes and as noted above probably show that the tires are just about timed out. A new set of tires will run $1200 - $1500.

As far as the window on the front of the cabover I would pass. They were very popular for a number of years until folks figured out they were a problem waiting to happen. First they are prone to leaks by virtue of their location and simple hydraulics.... as in rain at 60 mph. Second they can easily and often take hits from road debris and once compromised (cracked or broken), you will have a serious leak. The front of my cabover has a number of small dings/dents as do most C's, just glad I don't have a window to repair.

:C

[darsben]

enblethen wrote:
Front windows have issues with leaks along with the front edge of class Cs. The seam under the cab over area act like a siphon to get water inside.
The front window seals and mounting gets a lot of pressure to drive water in.
Neither is a big problem. Just need t get them sealed properly.
The dealer is one that you may not want to trust. I would ask for a discount on the tires. About $1500 should cover tires.

Plus an extra $500.00 for fibbing and that is exactly how I would put it.