Tire Cover Idea

[PaulnGina]

Here is a picture of a 1989 Avion that had the snap-on covers for the triple-axle 34VB. You could easily modify the design to have the snaps in the wheel well area rather than on the skin of the trailer. They could be weighted easily.

Our 1987 Avion 34W has evidence of prior wheel /tire skirts and an entire tropic room. I plan on getting some fabric, probably from Zip Dee, to make new wheel/tire covers. I also know of a local tent/awning business that would probably also be a good source.

On our silver trailers, the snaps are barely noticeable, at least mine are. They are installed along the rivet line above the wheel wells and blend in with the rivet line.

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Snap on tire covers are comon on white box trailers. At least down here in my neck of the woods. I use the double covers, easy on and off.

Mike, where do you store yours? We have double on one side, singles on the other. They seem to collect spiders and other creatures. I used to put them in the SUV but now I fold the covers and put them in the propane cover box.

You probably have a pickup so maybe not an issue for you.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by richw46

Mike, where do you store yours? We have double on one side, singles on the other. They seem to collect spiders and other creatures. I used to put them in the SUV but now I fold the covers and put them in the propane cover box.

You probably have a pickup so maybe not an issue for you.

Parked in my front yard with one side on the drive way. So far no issues with bugs. I keep the area around the trailer sprayed down with bug killer and cut short. I do have a neighbors cat that likes to snooze on top of the wheels. And nope I no longer have a pick up. Currently driving and towing with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4WD with 5.7 Hemi. After removing I always give the covers a good shake, roll up and usually tuck them down behind the seats in the Jeep.

[airdreamers]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Parked in my front yard with one side on the drive way. So far no issues with bugs. I keep the area around the trailer sprayed down with bug killer and cut short. I do have a neighbors cat that likes to snooze on top of the wheels. And nope I no longer have a pick up. Currently driving and towing with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4WD with 5.7 Hemi. After removing I always give the covers a good shake, roll up and usually tuck them down behind the seats in the Jeep.

My covers are not so clean as to tuck them anywhere but hosed off, brushed off, dried and stuffed in a bag for future use. Fortunately the AS is walking distance from my house but the parking is on a pavers track with grass edges, oh well. The things we have to put up with no rent, walking distance to the house and with water and electricity, WOW!

BTW, my tire covers come FREE with the SOB cover for our last RV.

[CDONA]

I went with the patio screening that is used for window covers & such on RVs. It comes in 70% and 90% light transmission, I went with 90%. It snaps on my plastic fender skirts (EB only), comes with the fabric looped at the bottom edge so any kind of weight could be inserted. Looks a lot like the pix of the skirted classic posted early this thread.

[TinShack]

My boat uses an aluminum track attached to the boat and welting stitched onto the canvas to hold up the canvas curtain for the cabin. The track is about 6' long and shaped to fit the cabin contour. The welting on the canvas is the same length. When I want to hang the canvas, I just slide the canvas welting into the track. It goes in very easily. A few snaps on each side keep it in place.

You can buy the track and welting online. Curtain, Canvas & Upholstery: 1 1 4 x 1 2 Canvas Upholstery Track Welting @ tacomarine.comI think you could attach the track to the wheel well trim using the existing screws that hold it in place, then, with the welting stitched onto some Sunbrella-type fabric cut and finished to fit, slide it into the track. A couple of snaps inside the wheel well would hold it in place. You could also stitch some lead weights into the bottom of the fabric to keep it from flapping in the wind.

This would save you from drilling any new holes with the exception of a couple inside the wheel well for the snaps.

[John&Vicki]

Tireman...

Why do we use tire covers on our trailers and not on our cars?

Thanks,
John

[SteveSueMac]

Dang, TinShack - that could work too! So many options! Thanks!

[Thalweg]

What TinShack is describing sounds like rails that are on my '62 Tradewind. I think these rails are factory installed, and I've never been 100% sure what they were for. But tire covers are really the only thing that makes sense.

[TinShack]

Originally Posted by Thalweg

What TinShack is describing sounds like rails that are on my '62 Tradewind. I think these rails are factory installed, and I've never been 100% sure what they were for. But tire covers are really the only thing that makes sense.

Attachment 240834

Yes, that is like the track I'm referring to. The newer Airstreams have a trim piece that is screwed on inside the wheel well, so rather than rivet it to the side, I was thinking it may be better to utilize the screw holes that are already there. For you Thalweg, since you already have the track, making the covers with the welting would be all you need.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by John&Vicki

Tireman...

Why do we use tire covers on our trailers and not on our cars?

Thanks,
John

Variety of reasons.

Most car tires get replaced at 4 to 5 years
Many cars spend a good portion of their lives in garage
Car tires have a 15% to 25% margin on load so they have less structural damage done when driving (remember over half of all RVs have one or more tire in an overload situation)
All cars since 2002 come with TPMS so the driver is alerted to a loss of air. I bet that fewer than 10% of RVs have TPMS

[Skater]

Originally Posted by John&Vicki

Tireman...

Why do we use tire covers on our trailers and not on our cars?

Thanks,
John

Car tires don't usually age out - usually you've put enough miles on them that they need to be replaced simply due to wear before they age out (5 or 6 years). But, people like me that have vehicles we don't drive as often do have to watch the tire age. I just replaced a set that were 7 or 8 years old on my car (I probably got away with fudging the date a bit because I keep it in a garage and use the car often enough to keep them from dry rotting - but, at least one of them was bad, giving me vibrations at highway speed, so it probably wasn't going to be long before I had a blowout or something).

[drjudy]

Originally Posted by PaulnGina

Here is a picture of a 1989 Avion that had the snap-on covers for the triple-axle 34VB. You could easily modify the design to have the snaps in the wheel well area rather than on the skin of the trailer. They could be weighted easily.

Our 1987 Avion 34W has evidence of prior wheel /tire skirts and an entire tropic room. I plan on getting some fabric, probably from Zip Dee, to make new wheel/tire covers. I also know of a local tent/awning business that would probably also be a good source.

On our silver trailers, the snaps are barely noticeable, at least mine are. They are installed along the rivet line above the wheel wells and blend in with the rivet line.

My 1985 AS Sovereign has a channel above the wheel well. I’m thinking there must have been sew-in plastic tabs to draw inside the channel. Does anyone know?

[drjudy]

Originally Posted by TinShack

My boat uses an aluminum track attached to the boat and welting stitched onto the canvas to hold up the canvas curtain for the cabin. The track is about 6' long and shaped to fit the cabin contour. The welting on the canvas is the same length. When I want to hang the canvas, I just slide the canvas welting into the track. It goes in very easily. A few snaps on each side keep it in place.

You can buy the track and welting online. Curtain, Canvas & Upholstery: 1 1 4 x 1 2 Canvas Upholstery Track Welting @ tacomarine.comI think you could attach the track to the wheel well trim using the existing screws that hold it in place, then, with the welting stitched onto some Sunbrella-type fabric cut and finished to fit, slide it into the track. A couple of snaps inside the wheel well would hold it in place. You could also stitch some lead weights into the bottom of the fabric to keep it from flapping in the wind.

This would save you from drilling any new holes with the exception of a couple inside the wheel well for the snaps.

I found the item in 15’ lengths at SAILRITE.COM.

[drjudy]

Originally Posted by drjudy

My 1985 AS Sovereign has a channel above the wheel well. I’m thinking there must have been sew-in plastic tabs to draw inside the channel. Does anyone know?

I found the vinyl welting in 15’ lengths (enough to cover both sides of dual axel) at SAIKRITE.COM. About $1 per ft in 2022.

[drjudy]

My aluminum channel has ID of 5/16 (8.5 mm) and that’s the same OD as keder tape sold by sailrite and vts. So it won’t slide easily. I see keder has a website and sells all thicknesses. I found this two minutes after they closed so will call next week. Will probably go with 6mm.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

I have TST tire sensors. The last few days I have been monitoring the air pressure and temp. The temp behind my covers on both sides has been averaging 12 degrees below ambient (in the low 90s during the day). Tells me that they are providing good over temp protection.

I thought TST sensors are not active unless they sense movement? From what I recall reading, the display will continue to show the most recent measurement that was recorded when the tires were in motion last, but it's not representing the current conditions when the vehicle is not moving.

They do this in order to save battery power.

I'll have to dig up my owners manual and see ...

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Thanks.

So I'll try to describe the Rube plan. I gave up on the snaps idea - just hate the idea of drilling holes in the Tin Goat.

So - I'm imagining a rectangular vinyl fabric with a weighted pole on top that would be draped over the top of the tires and drop down to the axles while the rest of the fabric comes back over the tops of the tires and hangs down to the ground.

To keep them attached and not bothered by wind, I'm thinking one of the following:

A) make them long enough so you drive over the vinyl bottom part then roll up the vinyl from the bottom to the top and place the weighted rod over the tops of the tires, or,

B) have a bungee attached to each end of the pole that attaches to a grommet on the sides of the vinyl covering the tires, or

C) another weighted pole sewn across the bottom part of the vinyl cover.

Of course - the tandem you shared in the link seems pretty darn simple 😃

.

Steve, this us my rube solution since in a prior life managed housing rehab.

I asked a roofing contractor client for a couple of section of TPO roofing. i forget the mil thickness but it was often spec for commercial roofing and had life expectancy 50 + years. generally white on the weather side , i told him what i was thinking ( X x X") so he hammered in a couple of brass eyelets in the top corners. i hook a bungee to the top corners and lift it over the tire, than fold the side excess around the tire. done!

i'll look for a pic

btw saw that a BH punched the big ticket at Westminster and thought if you and the boys! congrats!

[CruizinDux]

Steve, here ya go. Nothing fancy but works. About as Rube as it gets.


I don't travel with them, so I just roll them up and leave them in my storage space and on occasion bring them home to hose them off.