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msieber109 · 03-11-2009, 11:26 AM

Is anybody running 235/80r16 tires on their AS?
If so, did you have any clearance problems?

Here's why... I am in the middle of purchasing a 1975 29' Ambassador and it needs tires. I have a pretty steep driveway and need all the ground clearance I can get. When my 1966 24' Tradewind was useable it had 225/75r15's on it and it was very close to dragging.

Thanks in advance
Mike

Road Ruler · 03-11-2009, 12:15 PM

I am using 235X75x15's and I would not go any larger on the diameter.

The 80's would be 736mm in dia and the 75's would be 733mm's.

There are pics of my tires in my gallery here... http://www.airforums.com/photos/showimage.php?i=2586&catid=member&imageuser=682

HowieE · 03-11-2009, 04:03 PM

I am using 225 75 R 16.

If you say the current tires a dragging do you mean against the top of the wheel well box? If so I would check the axles before deciding on a tire. Sounds like the axles are weak.

If you go to a 16 in rim make sure the offset is correct to clear the inside of the wheel wells. My rims have a -8mm offset.

**Action** · 03-11-2009, 09:15 PM

The Ambassador is gonna have way more overhang than the Tradewind. So if the TW was barely making clearence the Ambassador with tall wheels and good axles may still not clear.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Ganaraska · 03-11-2009, 09:36 PM

Here's an old trick they used to use on low slung custom cars. Mount a pair of heavy duty casters under the back bumper. Your trailer will roll smoothly onto your steep driveway with no dragging.

msieber109 · 03-11-2009, 09:37 PM

I Thank everyone for there input.

HowieE, how wide are your 16 inch rims?

And by dragging, I mean the rear bumper on the ground.
I am trying to get the tallest, narrowest tire I can for some added ground clearance and without damaging the AS.

msieber109 · 03-11-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Here's an old trick they used to use on low slung custom cars. Mount a pair of heavy duty casters under the back bumper. Your trailer will roll smoothly onto your steep driveway with no dragging.

I've been debating on doing something like this.

Kristi Foster · 03-12-2009, 05:41 AM

We can not get our newly purchased 68 Avion up our driveway for the same reason. Our elderly neighbor was kind enough to let us store it in his backyard until we could figure out a solution. He said he used to have leaf springs added to his mobile homes, years ago for extra lift. Our trailer doesn't have leaf springs though.He also mentioned skid plates and coasters. We are afraid of what all that weight placed on the bumper would do to the frame. It will be interesting to hear if the 16" tires solve the problem.

markdoane · 03-12-2009, 05:57 AM

Sometimes you can fix a dragging problem by filling in the lowspots of your driveway, rather than adding casters to the bumper.

If you lay a couple of 2x8s in the lowest spot it may be all you need. This works especially well to bridge curbs and street gutters.

Kristi Foster · 03-12-2009, 06:10 AM

We just brought home some bags of landscape stones to place in the road where it dips so low. They recently resurfaced our road and it does have very low shoulders for rain drainage.We plan to try the bags of stones this weekend.I will report back if it happens to work.

dwightdi · 03-12-2009, 11:04 AM

I put some wheels on the frame rails to help. I also take the w/d bars off before I back in my uphill drive. I carry an extra deep drop ball and change to it, if required in unusual campsites. I keep to the .75 H

ratio tires as well.

msieber109 · 03-13-2009, 09:39 AM

Boy, I'm not sure about filling in the low spots. My driveway is pretty smooth all the way to the road (gravel). I have already made arrangements with my neighbor to put it in her backyard if I can't get it up the driveway. But I don't want to leave it over there.
Thanks for all the imput.
Kristi Foster... please let me know how the landscape stones go.

krlajwvater · 03-14-2009, 10:33 AM

This is my solution to my incline of driveway, the bumper would drag before I had put on the dolly wheels. If interested on mounting, I could post pics and directions on how I mounted my wheels. By mounting your wheels back on the bumper you lose clearance height, this is why I mounted mine where I did and as you can see they work.

Kristi Foster · 03-14-2009, 02:35 PM

Please post more pictures and directions. Our driveway looks like yours!Thanks.

msieber109 · 03-14-2009, 04:19 PM

Yes, please post pics and directions. Also if you could post the size of the "dolly wheels". Do those rotate or are they in a fixed position?

Road Ruler · 03-14-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krlajwvater

This is my solution to my incline of driveway, the bumper would drag before I had put on the dolly wheels. If interested on mounting, I could post pics and directions on how I mounted my wheels. By mounting your wheels back on the bumper you lose clearance height, this is why I mounted mine where I did and as you can see they work.

Nice!!

HowieE · 03-15-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msieber109

HowieE, how wide are your 16 inch rims?

7in.

They are the 6th wheel down the right side of this page.
16" ALUMINUM TRAILER WHEELS FOR FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS, TOWABLE RV'S, CARGO TRAILERS, HORSE TRAILERS, LIVESTOCK TRAILERS AND MORE
A 3960lbs. rated wheel.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-15-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Here's an old trick they used to use on low slung custom cars. Mount a pair of heavy duty casters under the back bumper. Your trailer will roll smoothly onto your steep driveway with no dragging.

Casters at the rear bumper will damage the rear quarter panels, the first time you use them.

Mounting wheels or casters forward on the frame forward of the last main bow, will "not" damage those quarter panels.

Andy

msieber109 · 03-15-2009, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the advice Andy.
So I understand that the way the krlajwvater has them installed should be okay.

krlajwvater...do you have any more pics of your setup?

Gene · 03-15-2009, 01:50 PM

It may be simpler to find a way to bridge the gutter. A lot of towns have really deep gutters, especially in the west. They do this to carry the water for gullywasher instead of putting in storm sewers. Maybe they will allow you to put in a steel grid as a bridge. That'll let water coming down your driveway to get into the gutter too. Or maybe, just do it, but check local ordinances to see what trouble you might get into.

Of course the casters are good for other such problems where the angle of departure is more than that of the trailer.

Gene