Three bent steel rims???

[JaceBeck]

I have my '99 25C at the dealer for some minor repairs, and a new set of tires, having just pulled it out of winter storage without issue. The dealer said that 3 of 4 rims are bent and that they won't mount new tires unless I buy new rims at $135.00 ea.

I think it is baloney...this trailer has been pampered ever since I bought it new. I said forget it...doesn't seem probable to me that 3 out of 4 rims would be bent.

But...I might be wrong and I thought I would check...has anyone heard of this before? The rims are the original 14"steel with stainless trim rims. Thoughts? Experience?

[2airishuman]

hi jace

sure they can be bent.

under inflation combined with curbs or potholes = bent rims.

the dealer price for replacement rims is high, shop and u can find much better prices, even for alloy rims.

got a spare tire? that rim could become one of your regulars; now only 2 new ones are needed.

have you LOOKED at the reportedly bent rims with a tire off 2 see what the 'bent' issue looks like?

take one/all of the rims to another shop (tiresnwheel shop) and get a 2nd opinion.

lastly IF you no longer trust this dealer/shop it's time to look elsewhere ....

cheers
2air'

[JaceBeck]

Thanks for the reply...I haven't driven the 75 miles back to the dealer to look at them yet...this week. I would have thought that I would have noticied something when towing at some piont, but it pulls like the day it was new.

I appreciate the pothole/underinflation concept, but not likely in my case...never have underinflated tires and few potholes ever hit at more than low speed. I was wondering if it could have been from cranking the trailer too tightly when backing?

Regardless, just does's seem to add up to me to have three of four bent on a tandem axle trailer...but I have been wronfg before (just not very often!)

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by JaceBeck

..I would have thought that I would have noticied something when towing at some piont, but it pulls like the day it was new...

doubtful you'd notice any issues from the rims, without riding IN the trailer...

if an axle alignment has been altered, then the tire wear pattern would give clues.

and it's possible all of the rims could have been 'bent' from new...

or perhaps the tech is just overly cautious on this detail,

what is the 'bent report' based on, visual inspection, failure to balance or some other criteria ?

until the wheels are personally inspected, it's all sort of guessing....

are these the original tires from 1999?

and are u suggesting that in 8-9 years of travel not one single tire has ever been 5-10 psi low?

or the trailer wheels have never hopped a curb?

in no way am i attacking your driving or maintenance or rv'n skills...

my point is that according to goodyear,

ANY tire that's been 20% under inflated (10-12 psi) should be treated as a FLAT and replaced.

the rims are protected by the VOLUME of air inside a tire and

that last 10 psi is ~ 30-50% of the total air volume depending or tire size...

when ever i knowingly hop or climb or scuff a curb, i stop asap and look everything over for signs of the edge contact.

then i make a note for that specific tire/wheels and axle history,

should an issue develop months later after i've forgot about the curb climbed at the walmart last year...

cheers
2air'

[HowieE]

Where are you located? I have 6 steel rims at $20.00. Or you can buy new Aluminum ones for $105.00. That was my cost rims nuts and caps.

http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com...78/page/549659

They don't call them "Stealers" for nothing.

[Excella CM]

Mis-use of a tire machine changing tires can bend rims.

[JaceBeck]

I'm in MN...

The tire machine makes a little more sense to me...I had the original Marathons changed out at a local Goodyear shop due to the Marathon tire recall several years ago.

I can understand one bent rim for the reasons posted above, maybe even two on the same side, but logic does not allow me to get 3 out of 4 without something else intervening.

I'll get my own look at them when I pick up the trailer later this week and can take it to another tire dealer and watch while they check to see how true they are.
Jace

[Fyrzowt]

If you think you may have to go after the current dealer for replacement, take good photos of the wheels and the dealership's shop. They may come in handy. Photos may keep the first dealer from blaming the second, etc.

[JaceBeck]

Well...as I suspected the rims are not bent. The tires bad...yes, I knew that. But no bent rims.

I need to get new tires ASAP and have seen several threads about putting light truck tires on instead of replacing the Goodyear Marathons I have now. The current tires are 205 / 75 (14" stock A/S steel rims).

What is the consensus of the group for the best LT tires for this configuration? Thanks for any advice...

[easyride]

Does Anyone make14" LT tires? Dave

[JaceBeck]

BF Goordrich makes a 14" LT called the Long Trail, but from searching all day it seems that that may be it.

So, I may simply have to stay with the Marathons, in spite of continued negative feedback. The current ones are replacements for the recalled ones that came on the trailer...