|
Today we're going to discuss one of the
most important components of your RV and probably the most neglected,
your RV tires. We all tend to take tires for granted. You know what I
mean, when was the last time you checked the inflation pressure in your
tires? Especially the inner duals if you have a motor home. Better yet,
when was the last time you had your RV weighed? Overweight RVs and
under inflated tires are both unsafe, send operating and repair costs
sky high and can cause unexpected downtime. Much of the reason for
neglecting our tires is because we don't really understand what is
required to properly maintain them.
Did you know that nearly a quarter of
the RVs weighed by the Recreation Vehicle Safety Education Foundation
had loads that exceeded the capacity of the tires on the RVs? On
average, these RVs were overloaded by over 900 pounds based on
manufacturer specifications. In a separate survey conducted by
Bridgestone / Firestone, 4 out of 5 RVs had at least one under inflated
tire, a third of which were dangerously under inflated and at risk of
failure. An under inflated tire can't carry the load of a properly
inflated tire and the extra weight causes greater heat build up in the
tire, which can lead to tire failure. 40% of all rear tires were
overloaded. Improper weight distribution resulted in 28% of all motor
homes being out of balance by 400 pounds or more from one axle end to
the other.
With multiple slide out rooms, amenities
like washers and dryers, holding tank capacities and the ample amount
of storage space available on today's RVs it's easy to see why so many
RVs are overloaded. We have a tendency to fill every nook and cranny of
available space. Another problem is out of balance loads. Properly
distributing the load can be difficult to determine when you're loading
the RV. You can within an axle or tire's load capacity on one end of an
axle, and over capacity on the other axle end. The bottom line is
overloaded RVs and under inflated tires are extremely dangerous. Our
goal today is to keep you from becoming a statistic in relationship to
overloaded RVs and under inflated tires. What do you say we get
started.
The best place to start is with weight
ratings. Weight ratings are established by the manufacturer and are
based on the weakest link in the chain. The suspension system, tires,
wheels, brakes, axles, and the RV itself all have weight ratings. When
you exceed a weight rating you are overloading one or more components
on the RV and risk wearing the component out prematurely or complete
failure of the component. In many cases the tires on your RV are the
weakest link.
If you've been RVing for a while I'm
sure you heard stories about tire failures and blowouts. I can't begin
to tell you how many times I've heard people say that the tires on
their RV were defective, or my tires only had 12,000 miles on them when
I had a blowout. In the majority of cases the truth of the matter is
that tire maintenance has been neglected or the RV was overloaded. The
only thing between your RV and the road surface is your tires and the
air that is in them. This is the weakest link.
A federal data plate is required by law
on all vehicles. It lists the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross
axle weight rating for the vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or
GVWR is one of the most crucial safety factors of your RV. The Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable weight of the
vehicle when fully loaded for travel including, all passengers, all
cargo, fluids, and aftermarket accessories. You must not exceed the
total GVWR for your vehicle. The Gross Axle Weight Ratings or GAWR is
the maximum weight that should ever be placed on a given axle. The GAWR
divided by two is the maximum axle rating for each end of the axle. You
must not exceed this weight on either end of the axle, even if the
total doesn't exceed the GAWR.
In addition to the federal data plate
all members of the Recreation Vehicle Industry association RVIA are
required to have an additional label on the vehicles they manufacture.
This label lists additional information not available on the federal
data plate and supersedes the federal data plate. There are two
versions of the RVIA label depending on whether the vehicle was
manufactured from September 1996 through August 2000, or after
September 1, 2000. There are also separate versions for motor homes and
for trailers, including 5th wheel trailers. Some of the weight terms on this label that we are concerned with are:
Unloaded Vehicle Weight or Dry Weight (UVW):
The actual weight of the trailer or truck as built at the factory. The
UVW does not include passengers, cargo, fresh water, LP gas, or after
market accessories.
Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC):
is the maximum permissible weight of personal belongings that can be
added. CCC is equal or less than GVWR minus UVW, full fresh water
weight, full LP gas weight, tongue weight of any towed vehicle and
after market accessories.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): The maximum permissible weight of the tow vehicle and trailer combined when both are fully loaded for travel.
GCWR also applies to a motor home towing a vehicle or trailer behind
it. GCWR minus GVWR represents the allowable weight for the towed
vehicle.
Note: The hitch
receiver mounted on the towing vehicle must be rated for this amount of
weight. If it is rated for less that is the maximum amount you can tow.
Hitch Weight or Tongue Weight (TW): is the amount of weight pressing down on the vehicle's hitch or 5th wheel connection when the trailer is fully loaded for travel.
The only way to know if you are
exceeding any of these weight ratings is to take your RV to the scales
and have it weighed. The first step is to find scales where you can
weigh your RV. This shouldn't be a problem. You can look in the Yellow
Pages under moving and storage companies, farm suppliers, gravel pits
and commercial truck stops. There are several different kinds of
scales. What's important is to find scales where you can weigh
individual wheel positions in addition to the overall weight, and the
axle weights. Remember we said earlier it's quite possible to weigh an
axle and be with in the Gross Axle Weight Rating, but you can exceed
the tire rating on one axle end or the other. Call the number where the
scales are located and ask them if it is possible to weigh your RV in
these configurations.
The next step is to weigh everything!
The day you head to the scales have the RV fully loaded for travel. If
you tow a vehicle or trailer behind the motor home take the loaded
vehicle with you. If you are weighing a travel trailer or 5th
wheel, have the trailer and the tow vehicle loaded as if you were
leaving on a camping trip. Be sure to include all passengers, cargo,
food, clothing, fuel, water, and propane. Wate, fuel and propane alone
can exceed 750 pounds.
The actual process of weighing your RV
is not that difficult. It may take a little time at the scales, but it
is well worth it knowing that you're traveling safely within all of the
manufacturer's weight ratings. You can download a free copy of a
detailed guide, with worksheets to take with you on how to weigh your Travel Trailer.
Before you go to the
scales identify the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) for each axle, and the information about the
correct tire and rim sizes and recommended cold tire inflation
pressures for all vehicles and / or trailers you are going to weigh.
Get this information from the Federal Data plate and RVIA Data plates
we discussed earlier. Take this guide on how to weigh your travel
trailer or RV with you and simply follow the steps in the charts that
pertain to your configuration and fill in the blanks.
If any overload condition exists it must be resolved immediately.
In some cases it might be possible to redistribute the weight and then
weigh it again. If the overload condition still exists you'll need to
remove some weight from the RV.
Just like the axles
your tires and wheels have load ratings too. The maximum ratings are
molded into the side of the tires. Keep in mind these are maximum
ratings. The sidewall of the tire shows the maximum load and the
minimum inflation pressure for that load. Never set the inflation
pressures below the recommendations you find on the vehicle
manufacturers placard and do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure
ratings found on the tires sidewall.
The actual
permissible load for a tire depends on the tire size and load range.
The maximum load amount is molded into the side wall of the tire. You
could increase your load capacity by changing to a higher load rated
tire of the same size at a higher pressure, but keep in mind you still
must not exceed the gross axle weight rating of the vehicle and you
can't exceed the maximum tire inflation for the wheels. It's also
possible in some cases to increase tire load capacity by increasing the
inflation pressure in your tires, but you cannot exceed the maximum
pressure specified for that tire. Consult your tire dealer for load and
inflation tables.
It's also important
that you use the same inflation pressure on both ends of each axle. If
you weigh the RV and axle end loads differ enough that the tables
specify different inflation pressures for each axle end, the axle is
out of balance and you need to redistribute the load. If for some
reason you cannot redistribute the load you must inflate the tires on
both ends to the pressure required for the axle end with the heavier
load.
Never operate your
vehicle with tires inflated to less pressure than required for the
load. Never operate your vehicle with tires inflated to less pressure
than specified on the vehicle placard, no matter what the load. Never
inflate your tires above the maximum pressure shown on their sidewalls
This would be a good time to discuss some of the leading causes of premature tire failure?
- Overloading the tires
- Under inflated tires
- Ozone and UV rays
- Age of the tires
- Rotating tires
The tires on your RV
are the most vulnerable component affected by overloading the RV. There
are numerous reasons for this. First and foremost is when the tires are
not inflated properly for the load. Failure to maintain correct tire
pressure can result in fast tread wear, uneven wear, poor handling, and
excessive heat build up, which can lead to tire failure. Another
problem is when you weigh your RV the total weight of the axles may be
within the axles weight rating but it may be overloaded on one side of
the axle or the other. This is a common problem with RVs and many times
the cause is poor weight distribution and / or improper loading of the
RV. When this happens the tire or tires on the end of the axle that is
overloaded are subject to tire failure. When a tire fails many RVers
contribute it to a defect in the tire, but that is rarely the reason.
The only way to avoid this is to weigh each axle end separately to
determine if a tire overload condition exists. The maximum load on each
axle end is half the GAWR for that axle. If an axle end has dual tires,
the load on each tire is half the load on the axle end. Never
exceed the maximum tire load rating that is molded into the tires
sidewall (along with the inflation pressure for that load).
Another leading
cause of tire failure is under inflated tires. The load rating for a
tire is only accurate if the tire is properly inflated. Under inflated
tires cause extreme heat build up that leads to tire failure. The
appearance of the tire can look normal but the internal damage is not
visible and the tire can fail at any time without warning. If you find
any tire 20 percent or more below the correct inflation pressure have
it removed, demounted and inspected. Driving on a tire that is 20
percent or more under inflated can cause serious, permanent damage to
the tire that may not be visible. Tires with internal damage from under
inflation can fail catastrophically without warning.
Tires can lose up to
two pounds of air pressure per month. If you don't check your tires for
three or four months they could be seriously under inflated. Ideally
you should check tire inflation, and adjust it if required, everyday
that you move or drive your RV. If you can't get into the habit of
doing it on a daily basis you need to make it a point to check all
tires weekly at a minimum when you're traveling. You always want to
check the tires when they are cold, meaning that you don't drive or
move the RV before checking inflation pressure.
The only way to
correctly measure the inflation pressure in your tires is with a
quality inflation pressure gauge. Using your boot, a billie club or a
hammer is not a quality pressure gauge, and don't ever depend on your
eyes to check tire inflation. There can be as much as 20 PSI difference
between tires that look the same. You need to invest in an accurate
inflation pressure gauge. You should get one with a double, angled
foot. This makes it much easier to check the outer tire of a dual set.
Wipe off the valve
stem before you remove cap. The valve stem caps should be metal with an
inner rubber gasket. A good cap will provide a seal even when the valve
doesn't. Plastic caps may not provide a good seal at higher inflation
pressures used on RV tires. Check all of your tires and adjust the
pressure according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Never set the
inflation pressures below the recommendations you find on the vehicle
manufacturers placard and do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure
ratings found on the tires sidewall. Over inflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured or broken by sudden impact if they hit an
obstacle, like a pothole, at high speeds.
Never check
inflation pressure when the tires are hot. You'll get a higher-pressure
reading and if you let some air out they'll be under inflated when they
are cold. If you have dual wheels you'll want to add extension hoses to
the valve stems to make the job of checking tire inflation easier. It
can be nearly impossible to check the inner dual without extension
hoses. The best extension hoses will have stainless steel reinforcement
and external braiding for long trouble-free life. Make sure the ends of
the hoses are securely attached to the wheels. If you add extension
hoses you need to replace the rubber valve stems with all steel valve
stems. The added weight of the extension hoses can cause rubber stems
to leak air resulting in under inflation.
Ozone in the air and
UV rays from the sun shorten the life of your tires. It's not uncommon
to see RV tires with low mileage and plenty of tread that are ruined by
the damaging effects of ozone and UV rays. Ozone in the air causes
tires to dry rot and deteriorate. UV rays from the sun make it happen
quicker. This is especially true of the tires sidewall. Inspect your
tires for checking or cracks in the sidewalls. If you notice any damage
have the tires inspected by a professional. There are basically two
ways to protect your tires from these elements. Keep the tires covered
with covers that will block out the sunlight when not in use. For
long-term storage remove the tires and store them in a cool dry place
away from the sunlight, and away from grease, oil, and fuel. I also
recommend that you place something like a piece of wood between the
ground and the tires. Be sure that whatever you use is larger then the
footprint of the tire. No portion of the tire should hang over the edge
of the tire block. This can cause internal damage to the tire.
The age of your
tires is another factor that contributes to tire failure. I learned
this lesson the hard way. I bought an early model Jeep CJ7 to tow
behind our motor home. After completely restoring it we were ready to
try it out. The tires on the Jeep looked new. There were no visible
signs of damage from the sun and the tread looked as though they were
used very little. We towed the Jeep from North Carolina to Florida and
from there to Colorado and back to North Carolina with no problems.
Shortly after that we towed it to Pennsylvania. Two hundred miles into
the trip a front tire blew out, damaging the inner fender, shock
absorber and an area below the door. I replaced the tire with the spare
and within another 100 miles the spare blew out resulting in more
damage. After getting a new tire and going back to pick the Jeep up
along side the Interstate we took it to a tire store to have the
remainder of the tires replaced. The technician came in and explained
that the tires were nine years old and even though they looked to be in
good shape they could not handle the stress put on them. He also
explained that all tires manufactured in the United States have a DOT
number. The DOT number on my tires was on the inside sidewalls. The
last three or four digits in the DOT number identify how old the tire
is. Older tires used three digits. The first two identify the week of
the year that the tire was built and the third identifies the year.
Newer tires use four digits. Again the first two digits are the week of
the year and the last two identify the year. For example 3204 is the 32nd
week of the year and 04 is the year 2004. If you question the age of
your tires, especially on a used RV, and you can't find the DOT number
have them inspected by a qualified tire center.
Have you ever owned
a vehicle and neglected to have the tires rotated and one day you
suddenly notice that the front tires are wore out but the rear tires
look fine? I'm sure that this has happened to most of us until we
learned the valuable and expensive lesson of not rotating our tires. If
one tire shows signs of wear faster than another tire it may be a
signal that something other than normal tire wear is happening and you
should have it checked. But if it's just normal tire wear you can even
out the wear and extend the life of your tires by having the tires
rotated on a regular basis. Talk to your tire dealer about proper tire
rotation intervals.
Occasionally washing
your tires with soap and water is OK, but anything beyond that can
actually shorten the life of your tires. Sidewall rubber contains
antioxidants and anti-ozones that are designed to work their way to the
surface of the rubber to protect it. Washing tires excessively removes
these protective compounds and can age tire prematurely. The same is
true of most tire dressing designed to make your tires shine.
Always keep in mind
that weighing your RV is a snapshot in time. Weights can and do change
according to how you load and distribute the weight in your RV and on
many other factors. You should get in the practice of weighing your RV
periodically to stay within all weight ratings, and remember, whenever
an overload condition exists resolve the problem before using your RV.
Tire failure can be
extremely dangerous and can cause extensive damage to your RV. There
are no guarantees, but by practicing good tire maintenance and weighing
your RV you can feel much safer and secure that the weakest link on
your RV will do its job while you're out exploring this wonderful
country we live in.
Happy Camping,
Mark J. Polk
Copyright 2000 - 2008 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101. Reprinted with permission.
RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the
producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's,
videos, books, and e-books.http://www.rveducation101.com/
Sign up for your free "RV Education 101" Newsletterhttp://rveducation101.com/email/
|