New or second hand tyres on campers

If you would not put seconds on your vehicle why would you consider them on your trailer?

I dont recommend that you use seconds on your trailer unless they are yours from your vehicle and you know what they have been up to.

Many years ago travelling to qld from perth with trailer, put on 2nd hand tyres on trailer fried both tyres before i hit the border prone to punctures and blow outs
def go for new tyres

Just make sure they are not too old - even if they look good (ie. thread depth). Anything older than 5 years I'd be reluctant to consider, as old tyres tend to blow! If the tyre has a DOT code ( US Dept Of Transport) on it, then the last group of three digits is week and year, e.g 242 would be 24th week of 2002. Can be 1992 too, but you should be able to tell the difference easy;-). If it doesn't have a DOT code, I don't know - ask your tyre place?

I tend to use ex-courier van tyres if available on the old box trailer - they are relatively new, LT construction, and ok, not much tread left;-) But compared to a car tyre they're heaps stronger.

foxer,
use the exact same tyres you would use on your towing vehicle, as one day you may need a tyre in a hurry to get you out of trouble, if you worry about having new tyres on the trailor that only gets used 4 weeks a year then you can change the tyres around of the 4by and trailor when required.
Also you don't need to carry as many spares when you go bush, as the one tyree fits all.

In my view, they are no less important than the car's tyres, in the overall trip reliability equation. I hate changing wheels and tyres - I want the trailer to just 'trail' - holiday hours are precious - I use BFG's on the trailer, just like the Jack - deflate/inflate, just like the car, to maximise reliability - my previous trailer had cheaper tyres on it - the tyre we shredded on that, was the only flat I've had for about 15 years. Quality tyres, sensible speeds and adjustment of pressures as indicated, seems the go.

I have two tralers. the first one is the old 7x4 box which gets used for taking rubbish to the tip. It is fitted with a pair of HG Holden wheels and tyres that I was given by a former boss in about 1990. I figure if I get a flat on that one I'll leave it at the side of the road and pick up a replcement tyre from one of the dealers in town or borrow a spare from a mate who has similar wheels. I used to carry a spare on that trailer but after 20years and never using it I got sick of carrying it around.

The other is the camper, it gets used for extended trips, often in "remote" areas and on roads that are not always great.

It is fitted with wheels and tyres that match the car exactly. My practice is to rotate tyres from the car onto the trailer. When I buy new tyres for the car I look at all my tyres and keep the best 4. They are distributed to the trailer, the trailer spare and the car spare. The new tyres go on the car. I am trying to rotate tyres at about 50% ware so the trailer has got decent rubber on it. Although sometimes there are demands on my spare cash which mean I have to hang on to them a bit longer.

Since adopting this practice and maintaining pressures to suit the conditions I have not had a problem. I have blown a tyre on the tralier, and at high speed about 120km/h. The tyre was one I picked up on the Cape York trip. I had a total of ten punctures on that trip and picked up this tyre in Laura, I was happy to get it even though I knew it was not the best. I am glad it was on the trailer, gggeeeee did it go off. Whatever tyres I have the ones on the trailer are worst in the collection.

Duncs

I put secondhand tyres on our on-road pop-up camper and over a year the walls developed cracks. I have now put on new LT tyres and no longer worry about getting a blow-out. It certainly wasn't worth the saving.

Adrian

On my last trip I did a leafspring on the CT and it was sticking into the tyre. Lucky I put the BFs on there. My other tyres were good but were not as strong as them. They would have blown for sure and would have lost axle, camper, car who knows?

Buy brand new ones...and the chances of a problem are greatly reduced...the more 'meat' on the tread the less chance of a failure...

Foxer ,if your spending the $s on a new c/trailer why would or should you settle for 2nd hand tyres and in a lot of cases 2nd hand wheels ??? Would you settle for 2nd hand on a new truck ??? dont think so !!!! New wheels [sunrasiers] cost stuff all and you then know what abuse they have NOT had ,same with tyres ,might look good but what about the 4 plugs and 5 internal patches you are not aware of untill the 1st flat at the most remote place[murphys law].

Use the same wheels and tyres that are on your vehicle , and swap your tyres from the vehicle to the trailer.

Well there seems to be a common opinion creeping in to use new tyres. If you don't know much about tyres probably a safe bet. But new or old is is not the issue. Perhaps many on this site have the dollars to spend or just highly prioritise thier ct .
Either way none of us want a flat. I have found over the years though that often your trailer will not do the same miles as your vehicle and second hand high quality tyres will do the job. Make sure they have no obvious floors or patches inside.

I just picked up 3 x excellent matching tyres with 75% tread and in great condition for $200 fitted and balanced. They will do me for many years. My 2 cents.
More money to spend on other things.(Tyres are important but new doesnt mean better)

Skinny