Forum Discussion

dicksenn's avatar
dicksenn
Explorer
Feb 15, 2016

2008 Dutchmen Wheel and Tire Swap

I bought a 2008 Dutchmen Fourwinds 29Q-GS 3 years ago for my father and I to use at our hunting lease with the intentions of using it for family getaways also. My daughters are now 3 and 6 and we camped about 6 weekends last year at Oklahoma State parks and had a blast so we intended to camp as much as possible starting in March until October.

My concern is as we go on longer and longer trips I want to just ease my mind and replace all the tires. I've had the camper 3 years and the tires weren't new when I bought it. The problem I have is I think when I bought it used someone replaced the stock 15'' wheels for 14" wheels and doing my research I've just confused myself so I need some help.

The GVWR of the trailer is 7700 lbs, so in my mind having two axles each tire/wheel load rating should be a minimum of 1925 lbs. The brochure says the stock tire is 205/75D15 but when I look those tires up the highest load rating I've seen is 1820 lbs.

The tire/wheels on there now are 205/75R14 with a load rating of 1760 lbs so surely those should be upgraded to 15" wheels, right? If I do upgrade to 15's do the 205/75D15 rated at 1820 lbs have a high enought load index? What am I missing.

Any suggestions and advice welcome. I just want the trailer setup as safe as possible and this has me a little uneasy now.

Regards,
Richard
  • georgefarl1945's avatar
    georgefarl1945
    Explorer
    Feb 15, 2016
    I have a 2010 Dutchmen Dutchmen, 30 ft. 7200# wet. My tires are 225x75 - 15. The manufacturer tag on the leafy side gives you the tires size for your trailer. My manufacturing tag is just above the storage door on left front side.
  • dicksenn's avatar
    dicksenn
    Explorer
    Feb 15, 2016
    georgefarl1945 wrote:
    I have a 2010 Dutchmen Dutchmen, 30 ft. 7200# wet. My tires are 225x75 - 15. The manufacturer tag on the leafy side gives you the tires size for your trailer. My manufacturing tag is just above the storage door on left front side.


    Are you talking about the tag that list the all the weight ratings or another tag?
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2016
    The manufacturer deducts the tongue weight from the total, allowing those light weight tires to be used.

    What I did was buy 6" x 15" aluminum wheels and made in USA Goodyear LT tires in the LT215/75-15 size. This way I bypassed the whole ST, China bomb nonsense.
  • dicksenn's avatar
    dicksenn
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2016
    Lynnmor wrote:
    The manufacturer deducts the tongue weight from the total, allowing those light weight tires to be used.

    What I did was buy 6" x 15" aluminum wheels and made in USA Goodyear LT tires in the LT215/75-15 size. This way I bypassed the whole ST, China bomb nonsense.


    I've been looking into the 15"x6" wheels because that's what I'd like to do, but I can't find any info on trailer wheel backspacing. Unless the backspace is adjusted on the 6" wide wheel I don't think they'll fit the trailer and the inside of the tires would rub the inside wheel well of the trailer.

    I'm tempted to purchase a tire wheel combo at Tractor Supply with a 15"x6" wheel and just head out to the lease where I have the trailer right now to see if it will clear. As long as they let me return it if it doesn't fit that may be the best option.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2016
    The ST205/75-15 trailer tires are 8" wide. The LT tire is 8.5" wide and will be 1/4" closer on each side. Trailer wheels generally have zero offset, meaning that the mounting surface is in the exact center of the tire.

    The top of the tire will be 5/16" closer to the trailer with the LT's.

    I doubt that these small reductions of clearance will be a problem, but lay a pencil on the sides and top of the present tire to gauge the result.
  • 2012Coleman's avatar
    2012Coleman
    Explorer II
    Feb 16, 2016
    Here is a tire size comparison tool that may be helpful. Just plug the tire sizes in at the top right.
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    Feb 17, 2016
    When I tried to do this tire swap thing I called the mfg.
    They told me . "Lets Check the axle ratings. It doesn't make sense to install wheels and tires rated more than the axle ratings."
    I was also told to make sure my trailers weight was evenly distributed over both axles 50/50.
    When they build trailers, the mfg. told me they test the tires/wheels for any given axle and they DO NOT recommend swapping out wheels and tires unless tested.
    Two things to think about .
    Ride, handling and wear and tear on the trailer construction can be compromised if the tires make it too hard a ride.
    PSI rating for rims should match the tires mounted on them.

    RMA latest finding. FEb 15 2016 ......
    http://www.rvtiresafety.com/

    scroll thru these pages. I follow steps taken in this thread. Tire pressure and tire temp. taken at gas stops . I try to catch a problem before it becomes...a problem. So far, it has worked for me .
    http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28475862/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Feb 17, 2016
    bobndot wrote:
    When I tried to do this tire swap thing I called the mfg.
    They told me . "Lets Check the axle ratings. It doesn't make sense to install wheels and tires rated more than the axle ratings."


    That's right, you want the tires, wheels, axles, springs and bearings to all fail at exactly the same time. Yea, that makes sense.

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