Reisender
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Hello all. We are closing in on ordering our little 18 foot teardrop trailer. We chose to not get the high profile larger rim size tires as we want to keep a low profile and the tires add a couple inches, not to mention the chihuahua will have a hard time with the higher step. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") We are also pulling with an SUV so lower is better.
But for conversation sakes, it seems really common nowadays to see little trailers with big storky tires on them. I can't help but think there would be significant mileage hits because
a. the trailer is higher and bigger going thru the air
b. it seems those kinds of tires would be less efficient being dragged down the road.
c. Finally, are they easy to find if one has a bad string of blowouts?
Cheers all.
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Skibane
San Antonio, TX
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True, true, and maybe - depends on which particular tire size they are.
One advantage of them is higher ground clearance, which reduces the chances of rocks and other objects snagging something on the underside of the trailer.
In some cases, they're sold with a "high-lift" axle option that also increases ground clearance a bit.
Some trailers have low-hanging dump valves which are prone to road damage, so a couple extra inches of height can be worthwhile - particularly if you like to take the trailer off paved roads.
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Reisender
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Skibane wrote:True, true, and maybe - depends on which particular tire size they are.
One advantage of them is higher ground clearance, which reduces the chances of rocks and other objects snagging something on the underside of the trailer.
In some cases, they're sold with a "high-lift" axle option that also increases ground clearance a bit.
Some trailers have low-hanging dump valves which are prone to road damage, so a couple extra inches of height can be worthwhile - particularly if you like to take the trailer off paved roads.
Yah I suppose clearance can be good for some more extreme type towing. I think we’ll be fine without the extra 2 inches of clearance. We’ll be dragging it on and off ferries quite a bit though. Hmmmm.
Thanks for the input.
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wnjj
Cornelius, Oregon
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The larger diameter the tire, the slower the wheel bearings have to spin. If they aren’t too stiff, a larger tire may be smoother on bumps.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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But the mud tire look on little campers is 99% just that. The look.
Looks cool, in reality, when’s the last time anyone needed mudders on a travel trailer?
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Unobtanium
NY
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Larger wheels and tires put more stress on everything else, I found that out the hard way with lifted trucks over the years. RV manufacturers are not beefing up the RV construction when they do this, they just use taller springs or taller brackets. It's still the same frame and axles, and usually a pos Lippert frame at that. Nothing more than additional bling, it looks cool.
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NamMedevac 70
Reno
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If you plan on camping/boondocking on the vast BLM lands of western USA then I would definitely go with the higher clearance off-road package. I have spent years of camping in the BLM with and without TT.
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Not sure that all the height increase is in the tires. Often they make other changes, some of which might be needed to clear the larger tires. Now, if the tires are wider, they will pull harder on pavement, but on soft ground will cut in less, roll easier.
Unobtanium wrote:Larger wheels and tires put more stress on everything else, I found that out the hard way with lifted trucks over the years.
You might want to check that when talking about wheels that are not driven. Much of the stress you saw was from driving the larger tires. If trailer tires are the same width and hardness, the larger diameter will roll over things easier.
(Safety regulations require taller berms on mine roads where vehicles with taller wheels run)
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Unobtanium
NY
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JRscooby wrote:Not sure that all the height increase is in the tires. Often they make other changes, some of which might be needed to clear the larger tires. Now, if the tires are wider, they will pull harder on pavement, but on soft ground will cut in less, roll easier.
Unobtanium wrote:Larger wheels and tires put more stress on everything else, I found that out the hard way with lifted trucks over the years.
You might want to check that when talking about wheels that are not driven. Much of the stress you saw was from driving the larger tires. If trailer tires are the same width and hardness, the larger diameter will roll over things easier.
(Safety regulations require taller berms on mine roads where vehicles with taller wheels run)
I've looked closely at a few on lots or at shows. Looked like they used taller spring hangers. Seen one, forget brand, with torsion axles and they stitched a 4x2" piece of tube to the bottom of the paper thin machine welded frame rail. Looked really cheesy. The point is most have frames made by Lippert and they're garbage. They're lucky to hold together if babied along let along dragging them up and down goat trails no matter what size tires are installed. Look at how the box is mounted out at the end of those flimsy outriggers. I am sure someone makes a true off road one but not sure who. It's not coming out of Indiana by Thor or Forest River, Winnie/GD, etc.
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Unobtanium wrote:JRscooby wrote:
You might want to check that when talking about wheels that are not driven. Much of the stress you saw was from driving the larger tires. If trailer tires are the same width and hardness, the larger diameter will roll over things easier.
(Safety regulations require taller berms on mine roads where vehicles with taller wheels run)
I've looked closely at a few on lots or at shows. Looked like they used taller spring hangers. Seen one, forget brand, with torsion axles and they stitched a 4x2" piece of tube to the bottom of the paper thin machine welded frame rail. Looked really cheesy. The point is most have frames made by Lippert and they're garbage. They're lucky to hold together if babied along let along dragging them up and down goat trails no matter what size tires are installed. Look at how the box is mounted out at the end of those flimsy outriggers. I am sure someone makes a true off road one but not sure who. It's not coming out of Indiana by Thor or Forest River, Winnie/GD, etc.
What you are pointing out is, just like large tires on a 4X4, people with large tires on their trailer are likely to do stupid snot with the vehicle.
But that does not make your statement "tall tires stress vehicle" true when talking about trailers. Same weight, same tire width and hardness, the taller tire will roll over the same obstruction easier.
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