Driving Class C on the Beach

[1971amerigo]

Good Day.
Just wondering if anyone here drives thier class c on the beach?

[VA-Apraisr]

Yep....wouldn't get 20 yards without airing down to 25psi front/rear. I always leave 10 extra psi in tires just in case I do get stuck! Can drop down to 15psi and get outta trouble. I have an air compressor on my camper so can quickly air back up if needed.

[pnichols]

John,

In your 2nd photo from the top it looks like your front tires are aired down. Are they?

If so, are you rear dually sets aired down too?

[VA-Apraisr]

Yes, it does work on the beach! Hope this pics show up (always have issues trying to post up pics).

[pnichols]

You probably mean "fatter" or "wider" tires in the front?

I run non-stock tires all around ... but they're taller and narrower than stock. Narrower is certainly not what you want in the sand (less flotation), but the larger diameter of my tires may reduce the tendency to "dig in" or "plow" in the sand.

Probably the ultimate sand tire is one with a large diameter combined with a wide as possible tread footprint.

Of course airing-down increases the tread footprint, but unfortunately it also reduces the tire's instantaneous vertical diameter - which is not good from a digging in or plowing perspective.

[1971amerigo]

Does anyone run larger tires on the front of thier class c for beach driving ?

[VA-Apraisr]

Those look just like the aluminum spacers I put on my camper. The spacer goes over the original studs, then the spacer is torqued on to the inner wheel (gotta use the right size socket to get it tight...this is where the tire shop messed up on mine), then the outer wheel goes on the spacer lugs. Its really a no brainer. My brother is a master mechanic and said many tractor trailers on the road use this same setup for various reasons. Yes, I guess you could use narrower tires and stop the rubbing.....mine was for that reason and creating a larger "footprint" on the beach for easier driving. It doesn't affect your axle bearing or wheel bearings or anything else for that matter. Tried and tested now for 10 years on my camper. Unless you're going for the beach, absolutely no reason to do this.

[garyhaupt]

I have asked about changing out my tires and the shop guys say nope. What I have are the recommended for the E350. I 'could' go and just get them somewhere else, but I am stuck on the particular chain of stores as they do the whole scope of mechanical, have shops all over western Canada and a shop warranty that is hard to beat.


Here is some steel spacers.


http://www.wheeladapter.com/single_spacers.php?gclid=CI33wMDk_cMCFQiVfgodea0ADQ


Always one thing or another...I haven't even gone on the beach, as I have explained, and really, I am not going to start with changing out my tires and buying $400.00+spacers just so I could, maybe, if I was ever inclined to drive on the sand that is 1,500+ plus miles away.

I'll be down that way..maybe this year..maybe next, and I will make a point of chasing down Hill Towing and just ask a few questions.



Gary Haupt

[pnichols]

Thanks Gary.

Hmmm ... it looks like what spacers are doing is putting more room between the two tires in a dual set by moving out the outer tire?

Is it intended that you leave them on all the time?

Don't you need way longer lug nuts then?

Doesn't it stress the bearings a bit to move the outer tire further out?

Doesn't it make the E450's wide rear stance even wider, then?

If the main goal is to merely put more air between the inward-facing sidewalls of each tire in a dual set to either ... permit no-rub airing-down or reduce rock wedging when off-pavement ... then I've accomplished the same thing without spacers: I now use 215/85R16 LRE tires on our Class C. This tire size is taller, but narrower ... hench more room between the two sidewalls in dual sets. In Load Range E, this tire size is rated for loads and pressures identical to those of the 225/75R16 size stock tires that come on so many Class C motorhomes. More room between tire sidewalls in dual sets also provides better cooling of the dual set tires due to increased air flow between the two tires - which especially helps when traveling in hot weather.

[garyhaupt]

Fine..here..

This is a webpage showing a selection..

http://www.roughcountry.com/wheels/wheel-spacers.html


From that page..the Ford, Chev ones.




Just got a note from the website support..

"Our spacers do not fit the dually models because they are aluminum and the center bore is different than the single rear wheel. I would recommend getting steal spacers for the dually models."


Gary Haupt

[garyhaupt]

Sure Phil...gimme 10 bux...in US currency...not CDN.


Gary Haupt

[pnichols]

I'm trying to visualize what these spacers for the rear duals look like.

Can anyone post a picture?

[garyhaupt]

VA-Apraisr wrote:
As for the spacer, I've had mine on for 10 years now and the ONLY issue I had was when I let a tire shop mount my rear tires.....they failed to properly torque the spacer correctly with the inner wheel, and less than 300 miles later, all 8 lugs snapped on my rear end when exiting the highway! I NEVER let anyone torque my rear wheels anymore....I do it myself and make sure everything is well positioned and use a torque-stick to make sure we're firmly attached. Again, having over 68k miles on this setup so far. Also, I drive up to 14 miles in each direction on a deserted island for fishing with tires down to 20-25psi and never had a tire come off the rim. Slow driving is the key. Again, XPS Michelin tires are steel walled and very rugged.

Okay..so you mount your own rears? This is not me..I am a shop guy. Maybe I could find a shop that would take this on. I live in aa place that has a few shops that tend to be adventurous.


Gary Haupt

[Off_Pavement]

Gosh Gary, I'm not quite sure what you are asking me to chime in with... you got some great responses it seems. As far as your inner dual tire valve issues, I can't imagine why you would have a continuing issue but I guess I DO know you. hehe

If this is about tire pressure and rocks, then yes, low pressure helps, but the issue with an RV is its weight. Off camber road sections and low tire pressure would be a potential nightmare with an RV I believe. I'd be very nervous airing down enough to be beneficial.

[VA-Apraisr]

As for the spacer, I've had mine on for 10 years now and the ONLY issue I had was when I let a tire shop mount my rear tires.....they failed to properly torque the spacer correctly with the inner wheel, and less than 300 miles later, all 8 lugs snapped on my rear end when exiting the highway! I NEVER let anyone torque my rear wheels anymore....I do it myself and make sure everything is well positioned and use a torque-stick to make sure we're firmly attached. Again, having over 68k miles on this setup so far. Also, I drive up to 14 miles in each direction on a deserted island for fishing with tires down to 20-25psi and never had a tire come off the rim. Slow driving is the key. Again, XPS Michelin tires are steel walled and very rugged.