Etrailer.com?

[acritzer]

Ok for tires? I really like the option to buy already loaded onto a wheel. Then I can simply change them out myself.

And....are Bias tires OK for trailers? After looking again I think my current ones have too much side wall cracks for the summer. I'll need to replace them before taking our first long trip.

[Charlie_D_]

acritzer wrote:

Charlie D. wrote:
http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com/

Free shipping. Be sure to ask for fresh tires. Good people to deal with and usually 2-3 days.

Meaning they have old stock that's sitting around? Ask for the ones that are newest?

Every tire dealer has tires of varying age. Sometimes they have to order from a distributor and they may have tires not as fresh as some. In some cases there is not first in/first out program. I always ask for tires less than 2 months of age when buying. That gives me fresh tires and tires of the same age.

[westend]

I shop trailer tires at Discount Tires. They have a good shop and they can order anything I want. I chose their Carlisle Radial Trail RH in 215-15 Load D because it fits my trailer. If I had the option of changing the hubs/wheels and choosing an LT truck tire, I would have gone that route. My local DT also has the insert for balancing my older wheels. The trailer rides like it's on rails.

[acritzer]

Been doing more research. Anyone help with all these misc. brands? Seems like everyplace has their own 2-3. No idea on any of them.
Rainer, Kenda Karrier, Loadstar, Towmax, West Lake Super.

All look like I can get tire and wheel assembly for $109-$140ish.
Looking for ST 225/75, right now I have D15 but I guess I'll go for R15

[e-light]

Cant comment on the tires but etrailer is great. Awesome customer service, price matching policy, lots of video resources...good tech support...just a good company, Ive bought a lot of stuff from them.

[j-d]

There's an outfit called EasternMarine (.com) that's into trailer parts, tires, wheels, etc. Prices are good, but then there's the shipping...

[zedd]

Don't know about bias vs radial tires but etrailer is a great place to deal with. Decent prices, fast shipping, lots of info on-line. I've bought a lot of stuff from them and have always been pleased with the stuff and the service.

That said, I think I'd look for tires locally. I kinda like Maxxis. Got mine at Discount Tire. They had to order them but it took only a couple days to get them in.

Usual disclaimer...no affiliation with etrailer or Discount Tire except as a satisfied customer.

[Gdetrailer]

acritzer wrote:

SteveB wrote:
What can I say? Its not for everyone. I do my own heavy work but I understand some cannot.

Discount Tire Direct is the best at warranty replacement from my experience with them. As long as the road hazard is purchased (if available).

Back to the OP's request. It was for bias ply tires from etrailer.com which is also a great place to do business with. They just did not sell Maxxis when I was looking and I would venture that brand new bias ply tires would be great for a less than 3000 mile/year camper.

Like I said, I don't want to "go cheap" on tires....but I'm also not going to be towing long distances for now. I have the summer off, but most of our trips will be limited to the OH/KY/IN area. At least, until the kids get a little older.

One good reason to not buy a Bias tire is the fact that they do run hotter.. Running hotter means that they are not as efficient in dissipating heat build up AND they are presenting a bit more "drag" to your tow vehicle..

The heat and drag is one of many reasons as to why you no longer see automobiles and even light trucks being equipped with Bias tires..

Radial tires do help with gas mileage (although not a lot)..

I grew up in a Bias tire family, my Dad still firmly believes they are better but even he had to give up them 10 years ago when all the tire manufacturers dropped Bias tires for his truck rims (obsolete rim size)..

I have used nothing but Radial tires, I have driven my Dads truck when he had BIAS tires.. I didn't care for the feel of Bias tires.. seemed to have more side wall roll than what I was used to with the Radials..

If going to BIAS tires on your trailer you may notice a slight different feel..

[acritzer]

SteveB wrote:
What can I say? Its not for everyone. I do my own heavy work but I understand some cannot.

Discount Tire Direct is the best at warranty replacement from my experience with them. As long as the road hazard is purchased (if available).

Back to the OP's request. It was for bias ply tires from etrailer.com which is also a great place to do business with. They just did not sell Maxxis when I was looking and I would venture that brand new bias ply tires would be great for a less than 3000 mile/year camper.

Like I said, I don't want to "go cheap" on tires....but I'm also not going to be towing long distances for now. I have the summer off, but most of our trips will be limited to the OH/KY/IN area. At least, until the kids get a little older.

[Gdetrailer]

SteveB wrote:
What can I say? Its not for everyone. I do my own heavy work but I understand some cannot.

Discount Tire Direct is the best at warranty replacement from my experience with them. As long as the road hazard is purchased (if available).

Back to the OP's request. It was for bias ply tires from etrailer.com which is also a great place to do business with. They just did not sell Maxxis when I was looking and I would venture that brand new bias ply tires would be great for a less than 3000 mile/year camper.

I like to do pretty much all the work I can do and even though I could do the tire removal and install I find that for me time and labor wise a better choice to have the tire shop do that work.. After all they are not charging me any more to do the work, I may as well take advantage of the situation..

The nice thing is, they have multiple jacks and can lift the entire trailer off all four tires at one time (heck, if the one big lift they have is open I simply back the trailer into the stall and they can lift it with the one jack they have for big rigs)..

Myself, it is jack one, remove, block, jack the next one, remove and so one..

Didn't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I though full disclosure is a good thing to know since mail order vs local tire shop is not exactly apples to apples and there often is not enough "savings" on things like tires when buying mail order..

I looked at mail order years ago for tires and rims but found that the savings amounted to at most $10 per tire.. To me, not enough savings in money to justify all the heavy work..

Heck, I bought new steel painted rims from my local tire dealer for $35 each years ago, Etrailers price was actually a bit higher!

Simular rim I bought years ago Etrailer currently has priced at $36.95 each and free shipping only applies for orders of $99 or more..

SEE HERE

[SteveB]

What can I say? Its not for everyone. I do my own heavy work but I understand some cannot.

Discount Tire Direct is the best at warranty replacement from my experience with them. As long as the road hazard is purchased (if available).

Back to the OP's request. It was for bias ply tires from etrailer.com which is also a great place to do business with. They just did not sell Maxxis when I was looking and I would venture that brand new bias ply tires would be great for a less than 3000 mile/year camper.

[Gdetrailer]

SteveB wrote:
Check out Discount Tire Direct for trailer tires. Free shipping. Take 1 or 2 off the trailer at a time and take to the tire guy to R&R the rubber. If you are so inclined you could get a new set of trailer rims. I got my fancy aluminum mags from trailertiresandwheel.com, also free shipping, but if the existing rims are good then why spend extra money.

Umm.. they "bury" the shipping cost in the price of the tire (IE they add the price of the tire PLUS shipping into ONE ADVERTISED price). It isn't really true "free shipping".

What you might save on is the local taxes, in most cases as long as the the seller does not have a sticks and bricks business in your state you will not get charged sales tax.. However YOU are supposed to REPORT AND PAY your local sales tax on goods and bought out of state and shipped to your state..

When comparing mail order vs local you need to look at many angles.. Local tire shop does not charge shipping (that cost IS there but the tire shop buys bulk and the cost is spread out over many tires so it is much less) but they do charge sales tax.

Local shop may charge MORE for dismount/mounting tires you buy elsewhere than they would for tires you buy from them..

Mail order, YOU, end up doing all the heavy work (IE remove from trailer, drive to tire shop, wait then drive home and put back on)..

Local tire shop, THEY do all the heavy work.. You drive trailer there and they take it from there..

Tires bought mailorder might present issues with getting warranty/replacement down the road..

Buyer be aware..

[SteveB]

Check out Discount Tire Direct for trailer tires. Free shipping. Take 1 or 2 off the trailer at a time and take to the tire guy to R&R the rubber. If you are so inclined you could get a new set of trailer rims. I got my fancy aluminum mags from trailertiresandwheel.com, also free shipping, but if the existing rims are good then why spend extra money.

[gcloss]

Last year I was taking delivery of my new Jayco Eagle and wanted to purchase a Blue OX WDH. I was a little short on time, so instead of placing the order via the internet, I called and worked with a Customer Service Rep.

The Blue Ox model I wanted was not int stock. The Customer Service Rep put me on hold and called the Blue Ox factory, she came back on the line and told me Blue Ox could ship right away, so I placed the order with the rep.

The next day the Etrailer the rep called me to tell me the WDH shipped and gave me the FedEx tracking number. Three days later the Blue OX WDH shows up at home just in time to pickup my new TT the next day. About an hour after FedEx delivered the WDH, the Etrailer rep called me to make sure everything was OK with the WDH.

Etrailer is the absolute best online retailer I have ever dealt with. They won me over as a customer with my first order.

[Gdetrailer]

acritzer wrote:
Ok...good things to think about. I don't want to be pushed into the "cheap" route, even though it sounds tempting.
I'll check my size and start making calls to locus places. See if I can pull the trailer in, have them do the work, then get it turned around.

Sounds like a good plan!