Tire

[eldon005]

I have a 2018 Sunset Trail 253RB trailer with the original tires, Sterling Sports ST 205/75 R14. The left rear tire has gone bald on the inside while the other three are wearing evenly. I am estimating the tires may have about 7000 miles on them. Any one have any ideas what could have caused this?

[Lloyd]

If I had to guess I would say either the spindle or the axle is bent. Have you curbed it? Curbs raise havoc with those things.

[Leroy]

I would jack that wheel up and see if you can shake the wheel. A loose wheel bearing will cause the tire to wear on the inside.

[eldon005]

I don’t recall hitting any curbs. I do plan to call the dealer today to ask them their thoughts.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by eldon005

I don’t recall hitting any curbs. I do plan to call the dealer today to ask them their thoughts.

Probably an alignment would take care of it.
My last 5 the wheel wore the right rear & left front tires severely in about 5-6k miles, CR had me take it to an alignment shop, for which Crossroads reimbursed me, afterwards CR replaced the tires, for the next 60k miles all 4 tires wore evenly at which time I replaced all 4.

[divey]

Originally Posted by eldon005

I have a 2018 Sunset Trail 253RB trailer with the original tires, Sterling Sports ST 205/75 R14. The left rear tire has gone bald on the inside while the other three are wearing evenly. I am estimating the tires may have about 7000 miles on them. Any one have any ideas what could have caused this?

I had the same issue. It was a loose wheel bearing (according to the dealer).

[egrum]

Originally Posted by eldon005

I have a 2018 Sunset Trail 253RB trailer with the original tires, Sterling Sports ST 205/75 R14. The left rear tire has gone bald on the inside while the other three are wearing evenly. I am estimating the tires may have about 7000 miles on them. Any one have any ideas what could have caused this?

Long story short, 2012 Sunset Trail 29BH same issue with left front tire (I think), tire wore out in less than 5000 mi. Thought oh I'll take it to dealer next spring as I was on my way to putting it away for the winter trailer was 5 month old at that point.

The following spring (About the end of April) tried to get it into the dealer, but they could not get it in for 6-8 weeks that would have been in about the beginning of June to the middle of July, and no guarantee they would be able to fix it at that point, I also noticed that another tire was also showing werra but not as much.

Took it to a highway tractor frame shop, the frame shop said both axles are bent, gave me the numbers, and suggested I take to dealer should be warranty. Also said that the axles that are on it they would not try to bend or straighten as the sidewalls of the axels are very thin and in their experience they kink or crack when attempt to straighten.

Called the dealer I got the same story 6-8 weeks so I asked for just a alignment measurement, which they did in a week. They said yup axles are bent and gave me the numbers which were real close to the frame shop numbers.

I asked about warranty and they said no trailer purchase was over a year old at that point Bought in April and this was early June. We had a major trip planned and I did not feel safe with wore out tires.

So I purchased new axels (1 weight limit up couldnt go higher as the entire alxe mounting and spring would need to change) had the frame shop order and install the axels about $2000.00 total.

Went back to argue with the dealer, they said the trailer is over a year old and they would not warranty it. Asked about the manufacturer of the axles, the dealer contacted them and said the serial number of the axels indicate that they are actually 2 years old so they would do nothing either.

Did not curb it, did not try any 180 degree turns in a short space, no pot holes and did not park it with the tires flexed out, made sure when I was parking I went back and forth 10 - 20 feet to give the tires /axles a chance to align themselves as suggested by the dealer.

In all between tires and axles I probably put $3000 - $4000 in it in the 2nd year of operation. I replaced all 4 tires before the new axels were installed.

Tires were another story 2 blow outs on the highway at highway speeds.

SCARY

[daveow]

Posted this a few years ago:

"Also I would like to mention that with the old China Bombs I was noticing some unusual wear (one season). Dealer recommended an alignment. I took it to an alignment specialist shop and found that both axles and wheels needed a serious alignment. This trailer is a year old and has never been on dirt roads. Talking to the alignment guy and he said he is seeing new trailers all the time! Chock up one more thing the factory is seriously slacking on."



These are Dexter axles. The alignment guy said they are good axles and unless I really hammer on them or do some serious curbing I should be good for years.

[dagst1]

After seeing how the axles are transported to the factory - A large bundle banded together - it is easy to see how they could get bent before they ever arrive at the camper factory.

Dexter had a factory here in town a few years back and my son worked there. When the axles were loaded on the truck there were places that were supported where the chains/straps were to go to strap them down. But a chain in the wrong place could result in a bent axle. And unless they were so bad it was obvious it would not be noticed until it wore out the tire.

[egrum]

We had Lippert axels and the frame guy said they were junk, installed Dexter. Also had the "China Bomb" tires like you said and had 2 blow out at highway speed, one did little damage to the trailer, the other one tore off the fender skirt, ripped up some wiring and some other minor damage, but in both cases when the tires blew it was scary heavy traffic and I consider us lucky to have made it stopped and not rolled or flipped.

I feel that the RV manufactures are using the cheapest components possible and building to the lightest specs possible to keep sales up, if one chose to build "properly" what ever that is, the public wouldn't like the price and they would migrate to the cheaper manufacturer. My justification is how can 3000lb axels go on a trailer that has a dry weight of 6800lbs, never mind all the camping junk, plus water plus propane, looks like the axels are already over loaded with an empty trailer, tires are exactly the same tires good for a weight significantly lower than the dry weight of the trailer. It would (I know cause I paid) the manufacture an extra $1000.00 to put proper weight carrying tires and axels on in the first place but not all would do that.

Add to this the tow vehicle is greatly under sized and under powered. The car salesman says "oh yea the vehicle will pull that unit NO Problem", sure on flat level ground no hills no head wind, no cross wind, no problem.

I have an F150 with a 5 liter engine and I feel we are under sized and powered for what I'm pulling. We had an Acadia that was rated at 4700lbs towing ability (if I remember correctly) the following year with NO CHANGE to the chassis, engine or anything else GM up'd the Acadia towing capacity to 5400lbs. We were pulling a 3500lb trailer and I found the Acadia to be under rated. My daughter and SIL bought a later model Acadia and are pulling a 5400lb trailer, my SIL says: oh no, Acadia has no issues, but he has never pulled anything in his life, til now and won't listen to me as he knows what he is talking about and GM says it fine. There was some guy on here a month ago that wants to pull a 35 ft trailer with his Ford F150 with a 6 cylinder Eco Boost and the dealer told him no problem.

[dagst1]

Egrum-- would you mind posting the make,model,and year of your camper. Also please add it to your signature. Thanks.

[jmnsn57]

I believe anyone who relies on a Trailer dealership to have competent mechanics, would also believe that the assemblers for that manufacturer would be equally competent. And that's the problem. Build Crap, sell Crap, and then take a position that what you sold wasn't crap. That's my experience over 30 years with 4 dealers, 4 manufacturers, and 5 TT's. Play it as you may.

[egrum]

Originally Posted by jmnsn57

I believe anyone who relies on a Trailer dealership to have competent mechanics, would also believe that the assemblers for that manufacturer would be equally competent. And that's the problem. Build Crap, sell Crap, and then take a position that what you sold wasn't crap. That's my experience over 30 years with 4 dealers, 4 manufacturers, and 5 TT's. Play it as you may.

I believe that the dealer technicians are competent and trust worthy, HOWEVER, I also believe that the dealer sales people are probably not RV'ers and for that reason don't really have a clue. They probably have not spent much time RVing (at least not recently). They don't see the issuesor have to deal with unhappy customers In My Opinion. Not saying they are all like that but in my experience the majority are. If you find a dealership you trust STICK WITH THEM.

Like I said in my other post the manufactures must build and buy to meet the publics demand of wheres the cheapest price unit! AND the employees at the manufacturing plant probably do adequate work given circumstances, meaning do the job, get it out keep moving the units along. They have little to no training in anything other than part A connects to part B move along.

Also as they are not tradesmen they have little pride in their work. Git ur Done.

[007matman]

I don't mean to get into this brew haha.. however, the last time I had that issue it was the bearings. Lift the trailer and see if there is play in that wheel.. If it wobbles, they are bad.

[egrum]

Originally Posted by 007matman

I don't mean to get into this brew haha.. however, the last time I had that issue it was the bearings. Lift the trailer and see if there is play in that wheel.. If it wobbles, they are bad.

Not bearings for me and how could bearings go bad in less than 1 season?

I grease and pack my own bearings every 2 years and have had no play or wobble.

[eldon005]

Just checked the bearings on that tire. Bearings are tight. The spare that I put on is starting to show same wearing on inside of tire. My guess is either axle is out of alignment or I have a bad axle. I am having the dealer take a look at it next month.

[egrum]

Originally Posted by eldon005

Just checked the bearings on that tire. Bearings are tight. The spare that I put on is starting to show same wearing on inside of tire. My guess is either axle is out of alignment or I have a bad axle. I am having the dealer take a look at it next month.

If you read my story earlier in this thread you can see my experience with bent axels.

Good Luck

[eldon005]

The trailer is a 2018 Sunset Trail, model 253RB

[007matman]

Originally Posted by egrum

Not bearings for me and how could bearings go bad in less than 1 season?



I grease and pack my own bearings every 2 years and have had no play or wobble.

Easy.
1) not seated properly
2) not lubricated properly
3) defective bearings

Don't think that another brand is better.. there were folks over in the Forest River forums complaining of bearing failure on brand new trailers with Dexter axles too. Turns out that the factory put barely any lube in the axles and they were failing quickly.

I'm not saying a bent axle is an impossibility.. however, a bad bearing, missing lubricant, or failure to seat properly is probably more likely.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Easy.
1) not seated properly
2) not lubricated properly
3) defective bearings

Don't think that another brand is better.. there were folks over in the Forest River forums complaining of bearing failure on brand new trailers with Dexter axles too. Turns out that the factory put barely any lube in the axles and they were failing quickly.

I'm not saying a bent axle is an impossibility.. however, a bad bearing, missing lubricant, or failure to seat properly is probably more likely.

Or the factory uses the EZ Lubes zerks on end of the spindle & fills your brake drums full grease due to cheap Chinese seals..
I'd recommend NEVER use those zerks to grease bearings, hand pack bearings only.
When the trailer alignment company in Elkhart Indiana aligned mine the owner said he does countless RVs every month. He also stated he contacted Lippert & said if they would increase the castor/camber a bit when building the axles it would prevent most of the issues he sees, that once the trailers were loaded it wasn't enough. He was told that they had engineers that took care of the specs, all axles were built to those specs & he should take care of his own business. So he said that's good, takes about 45 minutes to do a pair of axles for $250, easy money usually billed back the factory anyway.