20-footers

[Glenn T]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Option 7 - put a camper top on the truck and keep them out of the weather - I have nice bikes and when traveling with them outside they get pretty cruded up

I agree - this is the best solution.

We used a 2x4 and screwed in a pair of quick release brackets for the front bike forks. Secure in the brackets, the bikes will ride upright and steady under the camper top. They'll be locked, out of the weather, within view, and you won't have to change anything before heading out to the trailhead.

Glenn

[Rovin Raven]

Peter,
We recharge it with a portable solar panel, and when home or plugged into electricity we plug it in to an outlet to recharge. FYI, this is a Yeti 400. I can’t imagine traveling without it anymore.

Having replaced a side window, I now know how easy it is to remove and replace the windows...if you are tall! Not so much for the rest of us on a step tool.

Anne

[Skip Stone]

Randy, Rovin, and Ken,
Thanks for your replies. I do like the idea of somehow protecting the bikes. I may try to move the bikes from the second seat of the truck to the covered truck bed, and determine what I can move from the bed to the truck.

The truck bed has cooler, firewood (sometimes when camping locally), equalizer WDH parts, hookup materials, and tools. If weather permits, I may try today.

Who like advise on the over the propane tank options.

Skip

[OTRA15]

Thanks Anne about the GZ400.

Peter

[centennialman]

Ok 20FC Friends.....please tell me I have ordered the right tires:

ST225/75R-15 GOODYEAR ENDURANCE TRAILER USE ONLY E

If so, am I going to run these at the 80psi? I know there has been quite a few posts re: these tires and I am hopeful to learn from those of you that have had them for a while. Also, is our max tow speed still 65? I, of course, will still run at around 60mph...just trying to learn.

Thanks!

[switz]

Use the load table for those tires and run them at a much lower pressure. Running at 80 psi on a light trailer will cause damage from road shock due to stiff side walls at full inflation.

55 psi = 2,270 pounds
60 psi = 2,380 pounds
65 psi = 2,540 pounds
70 psi = 2,620 pounds
75 psi = 2,720 pounds
80 psi = 2,830 pounds

Take the trailer across the scales and see what the real axle load is and set tire pressure accordingly. Remember the 15" GYM previous model tire was rated 2,540 pounds at 65 psi and was used on nearly all models of Airstreams (except 14" GYM tires on our 23D that were upgraded to 15". We installed the 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels and 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires and we run them at 44 psi on our 23D with a GVW of 6,069 pounds actual and a tongue weight of 928 pounds. We also ran 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires on our 2013 25FB with a GVW of 7,300 pounds at 44 psi.

The new model GYE tire is not side wall restricted to 65 mph.

[centennialman]

Thank you Switz!!! That is really helpful. I have done quite a bit of reading today. I, too, was concerned about a very stiff ride at the higher pressure. There are 3 Cat Scale facilities in my area. I have to take the Airstream in for bearing service in another week and will weigh it then.

[Native143]

55 psi = 2,270 pounds
60 psi = 2,380 pounds
65 psi = 2,540 pounds
70 psi = 2,620 pounds
75 psi = 2,720 pounds
80 psi = 2,830 pounds



This load table is per axle or tire? My single axle 20' FC weighed in at

4520 lbs. fully loaded. I have Michelin LT225/75R15 tires rated at 80 psi. Fill them to 55 psi right now. Can go softer? Thanks.

[switz]

Table above is pressure equals load per tire. I would suggest the minimum pressure be set at 60 psi for some load margin as next trip out you might carry more stuff.

[centennialman]

Has anyone put Endurance on the 16 inch rims? Maybe I should upgrade from 15 inch to 16 inch while I am at it? Can you tell I am a tire dummy??

[OTRA15]

Unless you need a fractional increase in ground clearance, stick with the 15" IMO. The rush to 16" happened years ago when Michelin stopped making its best tires in 15" I believe. Given that only GYM's were available for 15" lots of folks made the jump to 16."

The new 15" GYE appears to be a much better tire, and is what we intend to get in the next few months.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it?"

Peter

[Glenn T]

Originally Posted by centennialman

Has anyone put Endurance on the 16 inch rims? Maybe I should upgrade from 15 inch to 16 inch while I am at it? Can you tell I am a tire dummy??

I'm not a tire expert. Here's what I've picked up on Air Forums:

The only advantage to upgrading to 16 inch wheels is that there are far more tire choices available in that wheel size.

There are advantages to using LT (light truck) tires rather than ST (trailer) tires on a camper. There are very few LT tire choices for 15" wheels, so if you want to run them, you pretty much need to upgrade to 16" wheels.

The biggest problem with ST tires is that they are commonly limited to slower speeds. The Good Year Marathon that was, until recently, the standard tire that came on all new Airstreams, has a maximum speed rating of 65 MPH.

Good Year Marathons have a bad reputation for blowing out when they get older, especially if you push the 65mph limit. For that reason, it is recommended to replace them every 5-6 years, regardless of mileage.

The new(er) Good Year product is the Endurance. It has a higher speed rating and, as far as I know, a good reputation for not blowing out. It's the tire that comes standard on most, but not all, new Airstreams, and it's available on 15 and 16 inch wheels.

The most expensive AS models come with Michelin LT tires on 16" wheels. I assume that's because they're better, but I don't know.

My own 20FC has 4 year old Marathons on it... I'm considering replacing them before driving to Florida in April. They're not quite old enough to require replacement, but I'd like to keep up with traffic now that I'm towing with a big pickup truck with a diesel engine.

Should I:

1. Buy two Endurance tires, to be safe, and leave the completely unused Marathon spare tire under the camper?
   
2. Buy three Endurance tires, and throw away the completely unused spare?
   
3. Replace my two 15" wheels with 16" wheels and get Michelin LT tires, keeping the old spare for emergency use?
   
4. Replace all three wheels and tires?

All thoughts & opinions are appreciated!

Glenn

[OTRA15]

Glenn -- IMO -- Get 3 15" GYE and be done with it, including much less worry/risk carrying an ancient spare. As a percentage of your overall investment, including the value of the lives of you and your family, the cost of the extra tire is negligible.



This is our intended path.

Peter

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by Native143

I have Michelin LT225/75R15 tires rated at 80 psi.

Which Michelin tire is that? I've looked but can't find a 15" Michelin that size.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Native143

. . .
I have Michelin LT225/75R15 tires rated at 80 psi.
. . .

Have you checked the DOT date of mfg. for these tires?

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=11

Chances are good they are old enough to be replaced IMO.

Peter

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by smithcreek

Which Michelin tire is that? I've looked but can't find a 15" Michelin that size.

See Post #2431, as Michelin stopped making most of their 15" tires a while ago IMO.

Peter

PS -- For everyone's information, there are tons of old threads/posts about tire sizes, GYM's and Michelin 15"/16", in the Tires sub-forum:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438/

For instance:
GYM: https://www.google.com/search?q=GYM&...=airforums.com
GYE: https://www.google.com/search?q=GYE&...=airforums.com
Michelin 15": https://www.google.com/search?q=Mich...=airforums.com
Michelin 16": https://www.google.com/search?q=Mich...=airforums.com

[twbucksr]

Whatever you decide, don’t forget to include a TPMS for the piece of mind while driving down the road.

[CruizinDux]

My numbers are pretty similar re tire load. However the michs are an LT tire and the gye's are st's. I run my gye's at 75 psi because I'm adding a 10-15% buffer which is needed fir the st's if you fun over 65mph.

I'm on my kindle in Willcox,az heading for key west and then the Carolina's (3 mo tour). On my laptop i have a link to a great gye thread with some great psi discussion by capri racer and tireman9 as it relates to margins and speed ratings of st's. I'll try to find and post.

I'm with peter, go with the 15 gye E's. I have had mine for a year and have almost 20k on mine. 75psi seems to be my groove and i generally drive at 60-65...with the occasional spurt. I originally thought they looked like weenie tires with thin tread (as compared to the 235/15E Nokians which i planned to buy), but it apparently is the thinner tread that allows it to run cooler. I' down with the gye's...plus they hold pressure wonderfully!
Bob




QUOTE=Native143;2197911]55 psi = 2,270 pounds
60 psi = 2,380 pounds
65 psi = 2,540 pounds
70 psi = 2,620 pounds
75 psi = 2,720 pounds
80 psi = 2,830 pounds



This load table is per axle or tire? My single axle 20' FC weighed in at

4520 lbs. fully loaded. I have Michelin LT225/75R15 tires rated at 80 psi. Fill them to 55 psi right now. Can go softer? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[CruizinDux]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...-167187-3.html

I think this is it...there were 3 or so similar threads at the same time.

I searched gye cruizindux capri racer tireman9 and the above was at the top.

For the record, no complaints on the mich's defenders, i'm running them on my tv and love them and had planned to follow suit on the tt.

IMO, no need to buy new rims. I had planned to go with the nokians as i see them a lot here on horse/work trailers. But when the gye's came out...and i wasn't sure if the 235 would fit without mods in the spare rack (last min purchase before nashville trip last yr)...plus good reviews surfacing, subfan1 the first and most applicable, i went for the gye's and and totally pleased.I

Bob

A good read
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...-166511-5.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...-157249-9.html

P.s. Peter, 25 at mt vally rv park in tehachapi the other night...some rain and no shortage of 40-50'in pho...looking for warmth a across tex

[CruizinDux]

P.s. It was 25 when i picked up the tt on day of departure. As usual first dropped in the batts, then ice blocks in the refer, the fire the puppy up. Hmmmm won't fire...juice - check...propanr ck...deal killer...badzo!

Dropped by the dealer on the way home...seems the thermister was also reading 25. Held it in the palm of my hand for a few minutes....barrrrrumph.

Duh...wouldn't fire because it was already cold (er than it usually runs). Beer chilled pretty quickly

What a start to a 3 month trip.