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06-17-2011, 08:41 AM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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WD hitch and tire wear...
hello
i have a 25ft CCD (double axle) with 1000# equilizer hitch, tow veh is a 2500 silverado...
i kinda had it all dialed in when i first got it about 1 1/2 years ago, did the scales and all, was pretty equal distribution...
now after towing many miles, my rear tires on the truck did wear much more than the front ones... and the REAR tires on the AS are worn more too...
so how much does tire wear tell you about proper or improper setup?
i increased the tension on the bars by moving the brackets up one notch (one bolt hole higher), driving it seems now i have solid wheight on the front tires but it takes A LOT to get the bars on...
also i am confused why the rear tires on the trailer are worn more than the front ones...?
thanks for your help
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06-17-2011, 09:20 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flmgrip
hello
i have a 25ft CCD (double axle) with 1000# equilizer hitch, tow veh is a 2500 silverado...
i kinda had it all dialed in when i first got it about 1 1/2 years ago, did the scales and all, was pretty equal distribution...
now after towing many miles, my rear tires on the truck did wear much more than the front ones... and the REAR tires on the AS are worn more too...
so how much does tire wear tell you about proper or improper setup?
i increased the tension on the bars by moving the brackets up one notch (one bolt hole higher), driving it seems now i have solid wheight on the front tires but it takes A LOT to get the bars on...
also i am confused why the rear tires on the trailer are worn more than the front ones...?
thanks for your help
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First of all, your equipped to tow the Queen Mary.
Lighten the bars to 600 pounds, and then pull up some chain links.
Your bars are so heavy that they are not transfering any load.
If you pull up some links on your bars, you will transfer much more road shock to the trailer, which in return will award you with expensive damages.
Lighten the bars, is your only answer.
Andy
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06-17-2011, 09:33 AM
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#3
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More than one rivet loose
Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flmgrip
hello
i have a 25ft CCD (double axle) with 1000# equilizer hitch, tow veh is a 2500 silverado...
i kinda had it all dialed in when i first got it about 1 1/2 years ago, did the scales and all, was pretty equal distribution...
now after towing many miles, my rear tires on the truck did wear much more than the front ones... and the REAR tires on the AS are worn more too...
so how much does tire wear tell you about proper or improper setup?
i increased the tension on the bars by moving the brackets up one notch (one bolt hole higher), driving it seems now i have solid wheight on the front tires but it takes A LOT to get the bars on...
also i am confused why the rear tires on the trailer are worn more than the front ones...?
thanks for your help
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Do you rotate your tires?
When you hit the scales was the front axle of the truck on one scale and the rear on another?
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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06-17-2011, 11:55 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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More wear on the trailer rear axle seems to indicate more weight on that axle. Is the trailer level when hooked up and loaded? Do the truck and trailer get loaded heavy with gear and fluids towards the back?
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06-17-2011, 12:32 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
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step #1 is to weigh each axle, each vehicle separately and the tongue.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
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06-17-2011, 01:23 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flmgrip
hello
i have a 25ft CCD (double axle) with 1000# equilizer hitch, tow veh is a 2500 silverado...
i kinda had it all dialed in when i first got it about 1 1/2 years ago, did the scales and all, was pretty equal distribution...
now after towing many miles, my rear tires on the truck did wear much more than the front ones... and the REAR tires on the AS are worn more too...
so how much does tire wear tell you about proper or improper setup?
i increased the tension on the bars by moving the brackets up one notch (one bolt hole higher), driving it seems now i have solid wheight on the front tires but it takes A LOT to get the bars on...
also i am confused why the rear tires on the trailer are worn more than the front ones...?
thanks for your help
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Another thought, however unpleasant.
Although it should not happen, some rubber rods could have failed in one of the axles.
We have seen that now in two very new model Airstreams.
Andy
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06-17-2011, 02:01 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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So much is made here of weight scales here and Equal-I-Zer does not even mention it as part of their setup procedure. Just before and after wheel well measurements to check truck wt distribution, and trailer measurements to ensure it is level. This can be done easily at each hookup with different loads. What does weighing do for adjustment that this procedure cannot do?
doug k
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06-17-2011, 02:05 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
So much is made here of weight scales here and Equal-I-Zer does not even mention it as part of their setup procedure. Just before and after wheel well measurements to check truck wt distribution, and trailer measurements to ensure it is level. This can be done easily at each hookup with different loads. What does weighing do for adjustment that this procedure cannot do?
doug k
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Knowing the trailer weight, the tow vehicle weight and exact make and model, along with the brand of hitch and it's weight rating, allows a fine tuning of any issues, being them good or bad.
Other than that, it's pure guesswork and assumptions.
Andy
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06-17-2011, 02:06 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,655
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
So much is made here of weight scales here and Equal-I-Zer does not even mention it as part of their setup procedure. Just before and after wheel well measurements to check truck wt distribution, and trailer measurements to ensure it is level. This can be done easily at each hookup with different loads. What does weighing do for adjustment that this procedure cannot do?
doug k
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That's because if hitch mfrs. discussed the lengthy process of proper hitching the customer would run away from trailering so fast that they wouldn't sell anything (including trailers!).
Once you get it all down, it aint no big deal.
Scales ARE important! That's why the big trucks have to run over them. Mechanics are a little different, but the principles are the same and the safety component is the same.
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06-17-2011, 02:53 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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I won't comment on the trailer tire wear but it is normal for the rear truck tires to wear faster than the front since they are subject to the stress of acceleration. It is also not uncommon for one side to wear more than the other if you don't have alimited slip differential
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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06-17-2011, 07:14 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
First of all, your equipped to tow the Queen Mary.
Lighten the bars to 600 pounds, and then pull up some chain links.
Your bars are so heavy that they are not transfering any load.
If you pull up some links on your bars, you will transfer much more road shock to the trailer, which in return will award you with expensive damages.
Lighten the bars, is your only answer.
Andy
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i think i was told before that the bars are to big, but the 600 bars have a different diameter so i would need to buy an entirely new hitch setup... i was pressed into the 1000# bars
btw i don't have any chain anywhere... so not sure what you are reffering too
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06-17-2011, 07:16 PM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecatsandi
Do you rotate your tires?
When you hit the scales was the front axle of the truck on one scale and the rear on another?
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no i havn't rotated my tires because the rear was wearing more allready...
havn't hit the scales in a long time but when i did yes i did it the right way...
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06-17-2011, 07:17 PM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
More wear on the trailer rear axle seems to indicate more weight on that axle. Is the trailer level when hooked up and loaded? Do the truck and trailer get loaded heavy with gear and fluids towards the back?
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it looks very level and measured within 1/2 inch difference between front and back... (measured at the frame)
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06-17-2011, 07:20 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
That's because if hitch mfrs. discussed the lengthy process of proper hitching the customer would run away from trailering so fast that they wouldn't sell anything (including trailers!).
Once you get it all down, it aint no big deal.
Scales ARE important! That's why the big trucks have to run over them. Mechanics are a little different, but the principles are the same and the safety component is the same.
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big trucks have to run over them for one reason... to make sure any axel is not overloaded... sorry that has nothing to do with WD for recreational purposes...
i did weight my truck and load properly and it all checked off good, but still no proper tire wear... so real simple and no big deal?
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06-17-2011, 07:21 PM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickDavis
I won't comment on the trailer tire wear but it is normal for the rear truck tires to wear faster than the front since they are subject to the stress of acceleration. It is also not uncommon for one side to wear more than the other if you don't have alimited slip differential
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it's a BIG difference in tire wear (front to back) side to side is the same, i ain't racing my truck/trailer
to tell you about the wear i would say fron tires have 25k miles left, rear tires have 3k left, never put the rear in the front...
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06-17-2011, 07:26 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
2009 25' SS International
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 156
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sorry for all the replies... but i can't be the only one to tow a "small" trailer with a "big" truck...
do i need a complete new hitch setup?
thanks for all the input
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06-17-2011, 07:55 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flmgrip
hello
now after towing many miles, my rear tires on the truck did wear much more than the front ones... and the REAR tires on the AS are worn more too...
so how much does tire wear tell you about proper or improper setup?
thanks for your help
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Nothing,, not until we see how they are wearing.
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06-17-2011, 08:29 PM
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#18
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flmgrip
sorry for all the replies... but i can't be the only one to tow a "small" trailer with a "big" truck...
do i need a complete new hitch setup?
thanks for all the input
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Maybe, maybe not...
Do you know the tongue weight? You need to know how much weight is available to transfer.
We tow 25' Classic, loaded for camping, 1175 tongue weight, with a 2500 Burb. The Auto-ride is considerably softer than your 2500 p/u. We are using 1000# bars and pass the CAT test, all #'s good and trailer level. (measured at the belt line molding and thru the center of each tire to the edge of the wheelhouse opening)
With your P/U, you should go to a lighter bar, if they aren't available for your hitch, consider a new set-up along with a new set of tires rotated every 6k.
Get a base weight for the TV, get several TV/AS weights at different bar settings. A level rig, (TV & trailer), with the proper weight transferred to the TV str axle is the goal.
Good Luck
Bob
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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06-17-2011, 08:47 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Andy makes a useful comment about failed rubber rods in one of the axles. Airstream uses axles of different load rating on different trailers. Would it be worth crawling under there to ensure you have matching axles? Could they make such a mistake?
doug k
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06-17-2011, 08:59 PM
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#20
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
.... Could they make such a mistake?
doug k
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YEAH....our Classic 7300lb GVTW, with two 3500lb axles. We start out 300lb behind.
That's normal folks, Airstream didn't consider that a problem.
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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