Rotation of Tires

[charlesk]

We have a 2018 Classic and full-timing around the country.

1. How often are you supposed to rotate tires (10,000 miles)?

2. What is the tire rotation pattern (Same side switch front and back)?

3. How do you safely rotate the tires?

Thanks,

Chuck

[GMFL]

Here you go

[Airhead2018]

Excellent info! I would also like to ask if there is any special nut or tool that is needed to remove the tires? I was told buy a fellow Airstreamer that when he took it to get inspected they couldn't get the tires off and he ended up going back to the dealer. I think he said it was a special nut? Anyway I never heard of anything like that and the tire lug nuts look standard. I have to get our 2018 Classic inspected is why I'm asking.

[charlesk]

GMFL,

Thanks. Thought that was what I read in the manual.

Do you use the spare to rotate one at a time or jack up the side and do both at once? Little concerned about the safety factor of two a once.

Chuck

[GMFL]

Mine take 3/4” socket. I jack up one side at a time from under the rear axle with a floor jack.
Re-torque lug nuts to 110 ft/lbs
I do not rotate the spare in

[68 Overlander]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Mine take 3/4” socket. I jack up one side at a time from under the rear axle with a floor jack.
Re-torque lug nuts to 110 ft/lbs
I do not rotate the spare in

That's the way I've always done it too. The spare never gets added to the rotation.

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Mine take 3/4” socket. I jack up one side at a time from under the rear axle with a floor jack.
Re-torque lug nuts to 110 ft/lbs
I do not rotate the spare in

Uh, I always was led to believe that you should never jack up the trailer using an axle. Am I misreading this?

[GMFL]

The axles hold the weight of the trailer when it is on its tires, so should not be a problem. I place floor jack under axle where it attaches to the frame. All Good.

[Bill M.]

Do you really need to rotate trailer tires? I personally do not and with my rig it works just fine with no unusual wear. I do replace the tires every 4 years for age and have not seen worn tread. I would watch the first set and see how they wear.

[thiel]

Originally Posted by GMFL

The axles hold the weight of the trailer when it is on its tires, so should not be a problem. I place floor jack under axle where it attaches to the frame. All Good.

NOT GOOD. Don't do this!

While it is true that axles support the trailer when it's on the ground, when you jack by the "axles" you are actually pushing up on the metal box that CONTAINS the axles--not the axles themselves. Deform that box and you're in trouble.

Use the jack points (clearly labeled!) for the trailer. If you leave the trailer attached to your TV, you can easily jack it up and pull both tires simultaneously.

Don't jack on your axles!

[charlesk]

So, would a 5 or 6 ton bottle jack due? Full timing, we can carry around a floor jack.

I’m a little nervous about bottle jacking up the entire side of the trailer and taking off both tires.

Would you also want to support with jack stands? But where would you put those under the trailer!

[az-streamer]

Originally Posted by Airhead2018

Excellent info! I would also like to ask if there is any special nut or tool that is needed to remove the tires? I was told buy a fellow Airstreamer that when he took it to get inspected they couldn't get the tires off and he ended up going back to the dealer. I think he said it was a special nut? Anyway I never heard of anything like that and the tire lug nuts look standard. I have to get our 2018 Classic inspected is why I'm asking.

Ours is a 2015 FC 25’- we just had new tires put on and found out we had two-piece lugs- aluminum cap over steel - and several had split and started to rust. I had all of them changed to solid one piece lugs.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Airhead2018

I would also like to ask if there is any special nut or tool that is needed to remove the tires? I was told buy a fellow Airstreamer that when he took it to get inspected they couldn't get the tires off

Mine, 2017 FC, has solid nuts (no covers) and uses a 13/16" socket. However, a lug wrench won't fit because the machined aluminum rims have the nuts recessed in cutouts, so I needed a 13/16" thin wall deep socket to get them off. I also added a 3" extension and my Harbor Freight breaker bar to the tool collection under the rear seat.

Originally Posted by charlesk

So, would a 5 or 6 ton bottle jack due? Full timing, we can carry around a floor jack.

I’m a little nervous about bottle jacking up the entire side of the trailer and taking off both tires.
Would you also want to support with jack stands? But where would you put those under the trailer!

A bottle jack will be fine. I have a floor jack too but it weighs 90 pounds, so I don't bring it on trips.
You may want to carry a square of plywood too. I use the frame rails that the axles attach to. If they're strong enough to support the trailer bouncing down the road they should support the trailer on a jack! Yes, I used jack stands too, but they never ended up touching the rail. (because the jack didn't sag.)
I know Airstream puts the "Jack" logo under the belly pan, supposedly where the frame is but there's plumbing and gas lines there and it requires you to lay on the ground to see under there. Thats not always practical on the side of the road in the rain.

The other advantage of a bottle jack is it does not scootch forward as it raises, like a floor jack does. Floor jacks don't work well on gravel or dirt.
Make sure it fits under your chosen jack point, especially if the tire is flat.......and last but not least, you'll like the bottle jack when your tongue jack fails.