Got some new tires!
For a lot of people, Spring means a lot of different things. For me, it signals the fact that camping season is right around the corner. That means taking the short trip to my parents to dismantle, inspect, and repack the wheel bearings before brining our trailer home from storage.
I wrote a post a while ago about doing the bearings, so I won't bore you with that again. Many people simply use the quick grease zerk fittings on their axels, but I prefer to give the bearings a good physical inspection once a year.
It is a messy job, but I can usually have all four wheels done in a couple of hours and it gives me the chance to visit with my dad.
Over the past year, I noticed that the tires on my trailer were wearing a bit funny. I rotated them to see if it was on specific spot or tire and before I knew it, I had two tires with this abnormal wear pattern on the outside edge.
Since these are the tires that originally came on the trailer (five years ago) and those are known to be pretty low quality, I decided to get some new ones.
I called my regular place and they first quoted me a set of Radar tires for $300 cash. I had never heard of that brand, so I started doing a little research and I discovered that they were made in China. No offense to the Chinese, but I haven't heard great things about their tires.
Part of the reason I repack my bearings every year is so that I am not that guy sitting on the side of the expressway with a blow tire on their trailer. If you live in the US, you have likely seen what I am talking about many times.
Anyway, I figured why risk it, so I told the guy that I was okay paying a bit more for a better quality tire. Apparently Goodyear are the only trailer tires that are made in the US, so I decided to go with those for $600 cash.
Two days before my appointment, I got a call that they were not able to get the Goodyear tires. I quickly found another dealer who had some in stock for just a little more money and setup an appointment with them.
Our driveway is sloped quite a bit towards the road. I was really worried about the trailer screeching forward with all of the tires gone, so Saturday morning I pulled the spare off so I could put it on one of the hubs and chock it in place. I then went about removing the other wheels and threw them in the bed of my truck.
Luckily I have air tools. That made everything much easier!
My appointment at Discount Tire in the next town over was for 9:30. I got there at 9:10 and since they weren't very busy, they actually had my tires done before my appointment was supposed to start. I pulled back into my driveway right around 9:35.
Looking at the picture above, it does kind of look like my axel might be bent a little. I don't feel like messing with that right now, so I just put the new wheels on and I will keep an eye on them. It actually wouldn't be a bad thing to have to replace them every five years and that might be a lot less expensive and hassle free than messing with replacing the axel.
So here they are, my brand new Goodyear Endurance Load Range D tires on my travel trailer. All ready to go for a summer of camping. I got them back on fairly quickly thanks to my air impact wrench and then I used my torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts down to 100 foot pound of torque.
They sure are pretty!
Meanwhile, during the whole tire job, I got a call from my wife. She was in a parking lot to watch our nieces soccer game and someone ran into her...
Looks like I know what my next project is going to be!
Sports Talk Social - @bozz.sports
All pictures taken by myself or @mrsbozz
Well, I had no clue Goodyear was only North America tire but makes sense.
That is a good amount damage, hopefully you don't got to pay out of pocket.
Yeah, I wasn't there and they didn't exchange information. I am hoping I can find something at a junk yard and just replace it. It looks like it might just be a couple of bolts and some clips. If I can get out for around $500 I will be cool with that. I think the part new is like $700 but then you have to paint it too.
This sounds great, you were able to make and mount the tires and the best thing about it is that you arrived at 9:35 to your appointment.
Your wife was able to see and ask the guy who crashed into her for money?
I will enter into discord.
Challenges, nice work with the tyres, and yes that axel does have some banana like qualities, any idea what did it, mind you like you mention it may well be more cost effective to keep whacking tyres on rather than searching for and then fitting a new axle, we love you see the positive in some muppet back ending your wife's car yeesh.
We've just sent our C124 in for wheel refurbishment, looks like we have a wheel theme going, thank you for sharing @bozz . Looking forward to reading more of your adventures.
Thanks, I appreciate it! I figure if I can get another five years out of these tires I don't really mind having to replace them. I try to keep them in good condition with Armor All and stuff like that, but when they wear funny, there isn't much you can do. I am not sure what would have done that to the axel. Likely I ran over a curb or something. Who knows!
It's a good thing you do that routine maintenance on the camper, it saves you a lot of money and headaches down the road. I'm sorry about your truck! I hope it's a quick and easy fix. Did the culprit leave a note?
I see that you have a Buick. I was unaware they still made those. They were all the rage in the Midwest when I was a kid.
It is a sweet ride. It basically just glides over the road. I would buy one again if they still made the lacrosse. Most everything is SUVs and crossovers now. Few of the big three still make cars.
😆 .. Buicks are for old folks.. hahaha.. Just messing Bozz man. I almost bought one a while back and instead we purchased a Cadillac .. hmmmmmm... Talk about old!! That's me!! The old guy. haha
What a fun job! haha. I don't mind repacking bearings, especially after you do it a few time, it gets easier. Messy but not a bad job. Plus it's nice you have some company while doing it. (Hi Dad!!) I like the new shoes! they look sharp.
Oh No! The Buick!!! That sucks. Looks like the sensors are okay and it may just buff out. Did it mess up the paint on the edge at the top? Looks a little too white up there. I hope not. Now you need one of those bumper stickers.. you know which one I am talking about...
"SH*T HAPPENS"
🤣
Man that’s rough about the wife’s car...
Yeah, at least it is the back so I don't have to look at it all the time.