which camper tires?
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Junior User
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which camper tires?
Hey all, I just bought a 2003 26 foot dutchman fifth wheel camper. Loaded weight is 9000 lbs. The tires looked to be fairly new but after my first trip I noticed some belt shifting in one of the tires, so my question is my current tires are st 205-75/15 c rated at 1850 lbs cold. To me I need a heavier duty trailer tire but don't know where to start. I plan to buy 4 new ones that are rated for this weight ( I will not take chances) so I need some input. Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
I have had good Luck with Goodyear Marathons. I think they come in load range D and E. You probably should use E or at least D, check the rating guides to be sure. Assuming 9000 is your actual weight you are already past the rated load for your tires. BTW those ratings are at max inflation. Trailer tires should almost always be at max pressure.
Greywolf had a whole thread on the Chinese tires so sounds like you should stay away from at leat Nankang brand.
Greywolf had a whole thread on the Chinese tires so sounds like you should stay away from at leat Nankang brand.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
9000 lbs is NOT the weight at each wheel. YOu will have to go to a truck scales and weight each axle (with trailer loaded) to get your actual weight at the wheel. I think you will find that the loading will be closer to around 1800 or so. Only way to tell will be to weigh it.
Above poster is correct about the Nanking tires... I blew 3 out of 4 brand new ones...dealer would NOT refund. Said no warranty on tires when used on an travel trailer. I no longer deal with Mr. Tire in Maryland!
Above poster is correct about the Nanking tires... I blew 3 out of 4 brand new ones...dealer would NOT refund. Said no warranty on tires when used on an travel trailer. I no longer deal with Mr. Tire in Maryland!
Last edited by BPofMD; Apr 25, 2007 at 11:23 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: SW Chicago Burbs
Originally Posted by MMarty
Hey all, I just bought a 2003 26 foot dutchman fifth wheel camper. Loaded weight is 9000 lbs. The tires looked to be fairly new but after my first trip I noticed some belt shifting in one of the tires, so my question is my current tires are st 205-75/15 c rated at 1850 lbs cold. To me I need a heavier duty trailer tire but don't know where to start. I plan to buy 4 new ones that are rated for this weight ( I will not take chances) so I need some input. Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Assuming your max trailer weight is 9000 and you have 4 tires, then weight per tire is 2,250 each which is well above the C rating your current tires have. If you never get to max weight then maybe you are OK, but it is way too easy on a trailer to get upto and past max without thinking about it. I would be surprised if the factory put this rated tire on a trailer tha might hit 9,000, but maybe they were cost cutting assuming you would not get to max, which is worriesome.
My trailer has a C rated spare and I have used it, but it made me very nervous on my 8000# rated trailer.
Go with higher rated tires so you have a safety margin.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
My trailer has a C rated spare and I have used it, but it made me very nervous on my 8000# rated trailer.
Go with higher rated tires so you have a safety margin.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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Joined: May 2003
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5th wheel trailers have 20-25% of their weight on the hitch. Thats 1800-2250lbs which leaves 7000lbs (?) for the axles divided by 4 = 1750lbs on each wheel if it was balanced evenly (never happens). I would up the tire size to 225x15 and use D rated tires but you should be sure to check and see if the wheels are rated for the 65psi of D rated tires.
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