Camper Trailer tyres
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 17:55
ThreadID:
79431
Views:
4970
Replies:
6
FollowUps:
7
This Thread has been Archived
Spana
I'm planning to change the tyres on our new camper, nothing wrong as such with the originals, but I'd like to be able to utilise all spares for camper or cruiser.
The cruiser has 33x12.5 BFG muds (very happy with them so far), so I need the trailer tyres to be the same diameter, they fit no worries too. Now the main question is, what would be better for a camper, wide or narrow tyres? If I had a spare set of 8inch wheels I'd just have bunged a set of 12.5's, the same as the cruiser. I only have a set of 7inch rims, so it's either buy new rims to fit the wide tyres, or buy skinnier tyres.
So what is everyone's opinion on this? or any other tyre choice also?
Thanks again for imput so far :)
Troy
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:07
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:07
Troy,
I don't believe the width of tyres on a trailer being towed matters one iota.
You are applying sound logic to have all wheels and tyres to be interchangeable and used as spares.
Bill.
AnswerID:
421220
Follow Up By: Spana - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:34
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:34
Thanks Bill, and as much as that makes it easier for me, would a wider tyre not spread the weight out further, thus putting less pressure on a possible spike or
rock?
FollowupID:
691525
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:59
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:59
Troy,
The most important factor is footprint length, rather than width that has the most impact on traction through sandy or muddy conditions.
This is why deflating tyres works so
well, by increasing the contact area of the tyre between the leading and trailing edge.
In a perfect world, skinny tyres do work better in some conditions but apart from dirt track racing where I used to use narrower tyres than what I used on bitumen, you are better off adjusting tyre pressure to suit the conditions.
Bill.
FollowupID:
691537
Reply By: True Blue - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:18
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:18
Someone entered on a recent thread the merits of having your wheels balanced for your camper, as
well as your car.
Made sense to me. I haven't done so in the past but will in the future before my next trip.
Just thought I'd mention it.
Wayne
AnswerID:
421222
Follow Up By: Spana - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:34
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:34
Cheers Wayne, I do remember that post, and prob will do the same.
FollowupID:
691526
Reply By: Going Bush - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:41
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:41
You didnt say what model cruiser you have, 5 stud or 6 stud wheels?? Around town I use standars 80 series 15" wheels but when touring I use skinny 60series split rims & 750R16 super grippers all round, so I have 8 wheels including the 2 spares & another spare tyre stowed under the Van (pics on stowing tyre under Jayco OB on my website
www.goingbush.com ) . Fat or Skinny, whatever if all your wheels are interchangable you will be a lot better off.
AnswerID:
421227
Follow Up By: Spana - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:55
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 18:55
I have 6 stud, on both my 80 series and the camper, you go for the skinnies touring, why is that? or is it for the rims being split?
FollowupID:
691533
Follow Up By: Going Bush - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 19:12
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 19:12
a few reasons, I find it easier to change and/or repair a tyre on Split Rims. And they are a much stronger rim.
I know there is an argument to use tubeless tyres & repair with tyre strings which is veeerry easy , But the 8 ply Super grippers are tough & resist sidewall damage, I only ever spiked one sidewall on a 750-16 but half a dozen on 15" tubeless tyres.
Only negative is the Supergrippers & Split rims & quite a bit heavier .
FollowupID:
691539
Reply By: Cliveg - Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 21:28
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 at 21:28
Its good to have the Tyres to fit all round, as I have when I had my CT built, the only thing you have to be aware of is, if the tryes are bigger in height then how does that go with the length of your canvas and annex if you have one, canvas is constructed to the height of the camper, you might find out that the canvas then is a bit too short, so
check that out before you decide on tyres,
BTW it dosnt assist in anything to do with the towing of the CT no matter what tyres you have fitted. the only benifit is they are interchangable.
Hope that helps
AnswerID:
421250
Follow Up By: Spana - Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 07:31
Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 07:31
thanks Cliveg,
We didn't get the annexe factory fitted for that reason, fiqured i'd get charged the world for them to source the tyres I was after, so just left it standard, making sure the hubs matched.
FollowupID:
691572
Reply By: Crackles - Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 09:32
Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 09:32
Spana it would be unlikely that a 12.5" wide tyre would fit under the trailer mudguards so you really would be looking for something narrower. A 255/75/16 will fit on a 7" rim, most likely stay inside the guard & is basically a 33" diameter. This then allows you to use the trailer spare as a short term car spare as
well. With the increase in trailer height gained by the bigger tyres you would need to
check the jockey wheel, stabilizer legs & canvas will reach the ground :-)
As for what is better, a skinny tyre would be more fuel efficient to tow on the road.
Cheers Craig.............
AnswerID:
421268
Follow Up By: Spana - Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 18:59
Friday, Jun 18, 2010 at 18:59
Thanks Craig, at the moment my trailer has the 12.5" tyres on, no worries for clearance, legs or jocky wheel, and canvas is to be made once I have setled on a tyre choice, but cheers for the advise
Troy
FollowupID:
691697
Reply By: hotfishez - Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 at 13:36
Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 at 13:36
If it fits, use the same as what is on the vehicle, I f you are not concerned it will make no significant difference as to what you run on the trailer as long as the tyres are in good condition. How much weight you have in the trailer against how much tyre pressure you run is the factor unless you are carting alot of weight in the trailer, then just get bullet proof skinnies.
Bigger/wider at low pressure is a smoother ride...that is my preffered, never had a problem.
AnswerID:
421416