Traveling home from a month-long trip to Florida with the 5er......we had a blowout on the trailer. Left back tire completely tore up the tire and while tire was coming apart it busted bottom of slide and fender.
Thanks to God we were coming up on a rest area so was able to pull off safely and with no rim damage.
2 hours later we are back on the road....with spare.....praying that it is not too old or unsafe.
GENECOP said
11:52 PM Feb 26, 2012
Glad you maintained a safe situation..... A good reminder for everyone....how old was the tire?, what caused the blowout? Any ideas.....
Melstar said
12:09 AM Feb 27, 2012
I guess the age of the trailer....we will be buying a new set. Last trip we busted out the rear window of the truck.....this trip besides the blow out....the battery & converter had to be replaced the second day.....then a few days later someone busted the rear fender of my truck while parked in Disney parking lot.
Now new tires and body work to be done on 5er & truck!! I'm whining I guess! But, am thankful we are safe.... Not quite home as I write this!! :))
MaryBee said
12:31 AM Feb 27, 2012
The trailer can be fixed.....the pick-up can be fixed....you can get new tires.....
The good thing is that YOU ARE ALL SAFE! Thank God!
Everytime I read a forum post like this it scares the Beejesus out of me. Reminds me how easy and fast things can happen....
Take a deep breath.....I am glad you are all safe and sound!
Melstar said
12:44 AM Feb 27, 2012
Thanks Ken and Mary....I am settled down now...just wondering if God is trying to give me a message....like sell!!
Terry and Jo said
12:58 AM Feb 27, 2012
I don't know that the message would be "sell," but perhaps developing a systematic and logical progression of inspection and maintenance. Back when I drove 18-wheelers for a living, several of the guys we worked with would pull up to a location to pump off their load into storage tanks.
While that was being done (1 1/2 hour job) they would walk around their truck with a specific sized wrench (different size at each stop) and tighten every nut or bolt that was of that size. Not only did they keep bolts and nuts tightened, but it gave them an opportunity to visually look at everything that might need attention.
You'd be surprised as to what one finds. Looking at water connections for leaks might allow one to see a loose or frayed electrical wire in the same area.
I'd not give up the idea just on a whim. Lots of folks have gone through just what you are now experiencing and are still on the road. Jo and I envy most of you because we are sitting in one place for years yet to come.
Oh, and not that I'm complaining or anything, but could you do at least a little bit of blogging? I keep looking at blogs of folks that haven't posted in weeks or months and get worried as to how they are doing.
Terry
MaryBee said
02:01 AM Feb 27, 2012
Terry,
Good point. Maybe we should together as a group come up with a "inspection check list" all you guys would be especially good at doing that with all your expertise!
We haven't got on the road yet, but when we do you can bet there will be checks and inspections all thru-out our travels.
Actually, we are only going to travel 2 times per year....once to the South in the fall and back here to Michigan in the late Spring....that is good enough for me!
Workinrvers said
03:16 PM Feb 27, 2012
Mel,
Glad you got it worked out and were safe doing it. We had a blow out on the 5th wheel on the way to Florida last fall and another on the truck on the way to Texas a few weeks later. Never a fun time.
The one on the trailer was caused by scuffing a curb getting into a boon docking spot at Wal Mart, I think since it was the same tire. That one blew out the next day after 300 miles on the road. I inspected it in the morning before leaving but no sign of damage. The one on the truck was an older tire that was probably past it's usefull age, had plenty of tread just getting old.
Both caused excitement I would not like to have again!
Hope you have a safe travels,
Phil
Bill and Linda said
04:44 PM Feb 27, 2012
I guess I will chime in a bit on Terry’s comment.Also, I have no idea if my comment below had anything to do with the blow out.Probably not, but I’ll make the comment anyway.
Obviously I check the tire pressures, cold, before each move in spite of the fact that my tires “never” loose air.But I check them anyway as we change locations and altitude.
I carry a torque wrench in the rear cab of the truck with a socket already installed.When we stop, every time we stop, I check the lugs on the trailer until I no longer get any additional tightening of the lugs with the torque wrench set to the proper value. “Depending” it can take 500-700 miles for all 32 lugs to seat properly on the trailer.Then I check less often, but I still keep checking. I check the temperatures on each tire by hand but also have a small infrared temperature sensor to backup that hand check. I check all the temps on the 10 tires – 6 on the truck and 4 on the trailer.I double check the hitch, umbilical connection and do a general walk around of the rig looking to see that everything is in place.
This all just comes from training as a driver, but also as a pilot.I know it is pretty basic and simplistic, but you would be surprised at what you find over time.Some will say I overdo the checking.uMaybe so.But it can’t hurt and besides, only one can use the water closet at one time.So, just saying . . .
Make sure those tires are rated for the load they are carrying – or perhaps upgrade them as H & L, and others have done. Especially if you are going to travel a lot. It may be well worth it. It was for us.
Safe travels
Bill
RVRon said
08:04 PM Feb 27, 2012
Melstar wrote:
I guess the age of the trailer....we will be buying a new set.
If those tires are original to the 2006 model unit it is probably time to retire (no pun intended!) them. The tires very well could have been manufactured in 2004 or earlier so that would make them anywhere from 6-8 years old - about the safe age limit for tires of most any kind. Here's your opportunity to get really good quality heavy duty tires and cross the tire worry off your list.
Dreamers said
10:45 PM Feb 27, 2012
Hi! We just suffered a blow out on our 2009 Montana last October 9th, 2011. We do not know why except that they were the original tires. My DH checks tire pressure before we leave anywhere where we've been parked a few days. We had left Jackson, MS that morning on I-20 headed to our home base in Tuscaloosa, Al - a distance of approx 200 miles. We knew they were showing some wear but still had plenty of tread. However, 50 miles outside of Tuscaloosa, the blowout occurred. It damaged the side of our rig along with the fender over the tire. Luckily it was an outside tire so damage underneath except to tear the undercover. Luckily we had a spare and AAA came out and changed the tire and got us back on the road to get in to destination - after dark. That's always fun.
No doubt, we no longer have any of the original tires. We upgraded those suckers in Tuscaloosa - all 4 of them.
So don't be discouraged. Blow outs have happened to the majority of us.
Judy
Waggin Tails said
02:57 PM Feb 28, 2012
Mel, Glad things turned out OK. Don't let a blowout discourage you one bit. It is gonna happen. We had an issue back in December with a flat tire inside dually on our truck. Did not notice it until we hitched up the trailer. Problem was I failed to check the tire pressure before hitching. I knew to do that, I just did not. Now I check.
A couple of days ago, I noticed the front end of the truck shimmied around 45 mph. I kept putting it off. After reading on another forum of a friend who had a blowout, I was reminded to be safe first. So we took the time to have it checked out. Rebalanced two tires and problem is gone. That delayed our departure time, but it certainly made me think more about safety.
The Bear II said
06:20 PM Feb 28, 2012
There are a few things besides age that will help a tire to early demise:
-----> Low pressure is the biggest tire killer
----->Make sure if you drive up on blocks the blocks are wider and longer than the contact patch of the tire. Some folks use 2X4 for blocks. A single 2X4 is too narrow and will cause stress on the belts within a tire as it sits on top of the 2X4. If you use 2X4 makes sure you arrange multiples so they provide support for the entire tire contact point (patch).
------> Too much weight
dream reachers said
04:46 AM Feb 29, 2012
Our first year fulltiming in a fifthwheel we had 2 blowouts. Our weight was within limits, air pressure correct the tires were 3 1/2 years old. I replaced all 4 tires after 2nd blowout. The tires were the correct 14 ply Goodyear, just like old tires. It was recommended to change tires on fiver after 3 years regardless of how good they look. I have heard that motorhome tires last longer, between 5 and 6 years if they have been used properly. I'm sure others may not agree but I would error on the side of safety
dream reachers said
05:33 AM Feb 29, 2012
Praise the Lord that you came through unharmed, it can get scarey to have a blowout. Personally I would not sell an rv because I had a blowout . It might be a warning sign to check your individual wheel weights, tire age and condition and keep tire pressure correct as well as lug nuts tight and wheels hubs greased. Eliminating possible problems can improve chances that things won't go wrong. I stated before that our blowouts happened on our first year on the road. We have been traveling for 4 years and have traveled from 6,ooo to 20,ooo miles a year so don't get discouraged. Many people have been RVing much longer than we have.
Melstar said
03:56 AM Mar 1, 2012
Thank you everyone! We have our coach in the shop for repairs....and will be replacing all of the tires before going on another trip. I checked the tires.....made in the 42nd week of 2005. They looked good and we had the whole trailer checked out before we had left. The tires are only 5/ply...so we will be buying a 10/ply. They were printed with 3520 lbs each....have no idea if that is enough to carry our load....but the ply and the age was probably the reason for the blow out. By the way....how much pressure do you keep in trailer tires as well as how much pressure do we put in the truck tires when pulling? I have heard and read all different amounts.
By the way....when we had the trailer checked ...they said the tires were good!
RVRon said
05:06 AM Mar 1, 2012
Melanie ought to meet up with Howard and Linda somewhere and have them weigh your 5er and tow vehicle. When they're done you'll know exactly how much air to put in your tires and how well load is balanced on each tire. It will be the best $60.00 you ever spent!
Bill and Linda said
03:42 PM Mar 1, 2012
Melstar wrote:
By the way....how much pressure do you keep in trailer tires as well as how much pressure do we put in the truck tires when pulling? I have heard and read all different amounts.
Melaine:
In the case of the truck – there is a tire inflation specification on the driver’s door or door frame.Put that number in the truck tires.If you have duals on the back it is likely the rear duals will be a bit less on pressure rating than the front.For example, mine are 70 front and 65 in the rear duals.Cold tire pressure – meaning not having driven the truck.
In the case of the trailer – until you know for sure what the weight of the trailer is – put the amount listed on the side wall of the trailer tire. That should also be cold tire pressure.In the case of the trailer all 4 tires get the same pressure regardless of the individual weights on each tire.
You really need a compressor at the campsite to do this.If you tow the trailer with the truck the tires aren’t “cold” anymore.
This is the safest and best procedure for now until you can have the trailer weightedIf you can’t have it weighed this will be fine and safe assuming the tires are not overloaded.You can have it weight on a CAT scale at a truck stop.Problem is that is not a tire by tire weighing and you can have one tire overloaded without knowing it because the trailer weight given on the CAT scale will be the sum of all the 4 tires, not individual weights. Ron's advice is a good suggestion.
Bill
Bill and Linda said
01:52 PM Mar 2, 2012
Camper_Boy wrote:
Hey Bill,
Just a side question if you can answer. I was wondering about tire pressure gauges. I have several and get different readings all the time. Is there a brand or type you recommend? Just concerned with getting accurate readings. Thanks...Tom
Tom:
Funny you should mention that.I just went and bought a new one from Northern Tools with a long arm for the truck duals and just threw it away. It was the store brand.I checked 5 tires and couldn’t get the same reading on any one tire twice.In the trash – my bad
I’ve used a “Victor” for years that has been extremely consistent and matches the pressure gauge on my compressor tire filler and also matches extremely well two others I have checked it against and carry for “backup.” (Also my repair shop's guage.)So, I will try spending even more money and see if I can find one that matches these.“Victor” makes what I need and they are not expensive at all.So I’m going to try and find one of those in a long arm “truck gauge” model.(The new dual rims are so big and deep I can’t reach the inner tire with the short arm one I have.)
I’m sure someone has a brand and model that costs much more that they can recommend.But I’ve always compared mine to others and if they all are within a pound or two I’ve considered them “close enough” when we’re talking 65 -120 psi type numbers. Besides, you can get a two pound variation between "cold" tires that are in the shade and the ones that are in the sun. This isn’t NASCAR. :)
Bill
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 2nd of March 2012 02:50:18 PM
Camper_Boy said
07:56 PM Mar 2, 2012
Hey Bill,
Just a side question if you can answer. I was wondering about tire pressure gauges. I have several and get different readings all the time. Is there a brand or type you recommend? Just concerned with getting accurate readings. Thanks...Tom
Terry and Jo said
11:05 PM Mar 2, 2012
Tom,
Back many moons ago, I worked a lot with different jobs of working on tires. One of the largest suppliers for the service stations at that time was a company called Milton.
Milton is big in all kinds of air products, including inflators for compressors with guages built in. We used a number of those in the stations because as soon as you released the lever when filling the tires, you got an instant readout on the gauge part.
Now, that said, I haven't been able to bring myself to buy one of the inflators with gauge and just use a regular dual foot Milton truck tire gauge.
They are higher than the Victors, but some prefer the Milton over all the others.
After trying different gauge's without success I just relied on my tire pressure monitoring system.
Laura and Bunk said
03:18 PM Mar 6, 2012
Blow outs must be going around. On our way south on 75 from the Gainesville area to Sarasota last week and saw total of 1 RV and 3 5th wheels pulled over. None were newer vehicles. Had not seen any debris on the road, but the speed limit is 70, think that creates a bit of heat? I am a stickler for walk arounds (DH doesn't think its that important). Always looking for different safety hints from everyone, you all are great. Had a professional do a safety check when I bought the rig and plan on doing that once a year. Can hardly wait until I know the rigs normal sounds and feel. I am the one who drives it so I will be the one to make sure everything is right. The rig is now my only home and do not want it to be a safety hazard :)
Laura
Yonnie said
09:20 PM Mar 6, 2012
We were coming back from Michigan a few months ago and the truck in front of us switched lanes and behold part of a retread was in front of me. Tried to swerve but caught my front right tire and kicked up and dented front basement door and scuffed the right side of my coach. $785 later it was as good as new. Other than driving a hundred or so feet behind vehicle in front of me not sure how to avoid.
Stay safe
RVRon said
02:16 AM Mar 7, 2012
Laura and Bunk wrote:
Blow outs must be going around. On our way south on 75 from the Gainesville area to Sarasota last week and saw total of 1 RV and 3 5th wheels pulled over. None were newer vehicles. Had not seen any debris on the road, but the speed limit is 70, think that creates a bit of heat? I am a stickler for walk arounds (DH doesn't think its that important). Always looking for different safety hints from everyone, you all are great. Had a professional do a safety check when I bought the rig and plan on doing that once a year. Can hardly wait until I know the rigs normal sounds and feel. I am the one who drives it so I will be the one to make sure everything is right. The rig is now my only home and do not want it to be a safety hazard :)
Laura
Laura, you and I are of the same opinion about vehicle safety. After driving semi trucks for 7 years doing a pre-trip walk-around inspection was ingrained in me so much that I to do it with the RV as well. I check all the lights, the tire air pressures, the engine fluid levels and just in general look for anything that doesn't look or sound right. As a trucker I knew that even if I didn't own the equipment I was driving I was still 100% responsible for the equipment's safety, especially if I was involved in an accident.
Now new tires and body work to be done on 5er & truck!! I'm whining I guess! But, am thankful we are safe.... Not quite home as I write this!! :))
The good thing is that YOU ARE ALL SAFE! Thank God!
Everytime I read a forum post like this it scares the Beejesus out of me. Reminds me how easy
and fast things can happen....
Take a deep breath.....I am glad you are all safe and sound!
I don't know that the message would be "sell," but perhaps developing a systematic and logical progression of inspection and maintenance. Back when I drove 18-wheelers for a living, several of the guys we worked with would pull up to a location to pump off their load into storage tanks.
While that was being done (1 1/2 hour job) they would walk around their truck with a specific sized wrench (different size at each stop) and tighten every nut or bolt that was of that size. Not only did they keep bolts and nuts tightened, but it gave them an opportunity to visually look at everything that might need attention.
You'd be surprised as to what one finds. Looking at water connections for leaks might allow one to see a loose or frayed electrical wire in the same area.
I'd not give up the idea just on a whim. Lots of folks have gone through just what you are now experiencing and are still on the road. Jo and I envy most of you because we are sitting in one place for years yet to come.
Oh, and not that I'm complaining or anything, but could you do at least a little bit of blogging? I keep looking at blogs of folks that haven't posted in weeks or months and get worried as to how they are doing.
Terry
Good point. Maybe we should together as a group come up with a "inspection check list" all you guys would
be especially good at doing that with all your expertise!
We haven't got on the road yet, but when we do you can bet there will be checks and inspections all thru-out
our travels.
Actually, we are only going to travel 2 times per year....once to the South in the fall and back here to Michigan
in the late Spring....that is good enough for me!
Glad you got it worked out and were safe doing it. We had a blow out on the 5th wheel on the way to Florida last fall and another on the truck on the way to Texas a few weeks later. Never a fun time.
The one on the trailer was caused by scuffing a curb getting into a boon docking spot at Wal Mart, I think since it was the same tire. That one blew out the next day after 300 miles on the road. I inspected it in the morning before leaving but no sign of damage. The one on the truck was an older tire that was probably past it's usefull age, had plenty of tread just getting old.
Both caused excitement I would not like to have again!
Hope you have a safe travels,
Phil
I guess I will chime in a bit on Terry’s comment. Also, I have no idea if my comment below had anything to do with the blow out. Probably not, but I’ll make the comment anyway.
Obviously I check the tire pressures, cold, before each move in spite of the fact that my tires “never” loose air. But I check them anyway as we change locations and altitude.
I carry a torque wrench in the rear cab of the truck with a socket already installed. When we stop, every time we stop, I check the lugs on the trailer until I no longer get any additional tightening of the lugs with the torque wrench set to the proper value. “Depending” it can take 500-700 miles for all 32 lugs to seat properly on the trailer. Then I check less often, but I still keep checking. I check the temperatures on each tire by hand but also have a small infrared temperature sensor to backup that hand check. I check all the temps on the 10 tires – 6 on the truck and 4 on the trailer. I double check the hitch, umbilical connection and do a general walk around of the rig looking to see that everything is in place.
This all just comes from training as a driver, but also as a pilot. I know it is pretty basic and simplistic, but you would be surprised at what you find over time. Some will say I overdo the checking.u Maybe so. But it can’t hurt and besides, only one can use the water closet at one time. So, just saying . . .
Make sure those tires are rated for the load they are carrying – or perhaps upgrade them as H & L, and others have done. Especially if you are going to travel a lot. It may be well worth it. It was for us.
Safe travels
Bill
If those tires are original to the 2006 model unit it is probably time to retire (no pun intended!) them. The tires very well could have been manufactured in 2004 or earlier so that would make them anywhere from 6-8 years old - about the safe age limit for tires of most any kind. Here's your opportunity to get really good quality heavy duty tires and cross the tire worry off your list.
No doubt, we no longer have any of the original tires. We upgraded those suckers in Tuscaloosa - all 4 of them.
So don't be discouraged. Blow outs have happened to the majority of us.
Judy
Glad things turned out OK. Don't let a blowout discourage you one bit. It is gonna happen. We had an issue back in December with a flat tire inside dually on our truck. Did not notice it until we hitched up the trailer. Problem was I failed to check the tire pressure before hitching. I knew to do that, I just did not. Now I check.
A couple of days ago, I noticed the front end of the truck shimmied around 45 mph. I kept putting it off. After reading on another forum of a friend who had a blowout, I was reminded to be safe first. So we took the time to have it checked out. Rebalanced two tires and problem is gone. That delayed our departure time, but it certainly made me think more about safety.
-----> Low pressure is the biggest tire killer
----->Make sure if you drive up on blocks the blocks are wider and longer than the contact patch of the tire. Some folks use 2X4 for blocks. A single 2X4 is too narrow and will cause stress on the belts within a tire as it sits on top of the 2X4. If you use 2X4 makes sure you arrange multiples so they provide support for the entire tire contact point (patch).
------> Too much weight
By the way....when we had the trailer checked ...they said the tires were good!
Melanie ought to meet up with Howard and Linda somewhere and have them weigh your 5er and tow vehicle. When they're done you'll know exactly how much air to put in your tires and how well load is balanced on each tire. It will be the best $60.00 you ever spent!
Melaine:
In the case of the truck – there is a tire inflation specification on the driver’s door or door frame. Put that number in the truck tires. If you have duals on the back it is likely the rear duals will be a bit less on pressure rating than the front. For example, mine are 70 front and 65 in the rear duals. Cold tire pressure – meaning not having driven the truck.
In the case of the trailer – until you know for sure what the weight of the trailer is – put the amount listed on the side wall of the trailer tire. That should also be cold tire pressure. In the case of the trailer all 4 tires get the same pressure regardless of the individual weights on each tire.
You really need a compressor at the campsite to do this. If you tow the trailer with the truck the tires aren’t “cold” anymore.
This is the safest and best procedure for now until you can have the trailer weighted If you can’t have it weighed this will be fine and safe assuming the tires are not overloaded. You can have it weight on a CAT scale at a truck stop. Problem is that is not a tire by tire weighing and you can have one tire overloaded without knowing it because the trailer weight given on the CAT scale will be the sum of all the 4 tires, not individual weights. Ron's advice is a good suggestion.
Bill
Tom:
Funny you should mention that. I just went and bought a new one from Northern Tools with a long arm for the truck duals and just threw it away. It was the store brand. I checked 5 tires and couldn’t get the same reading on any one tire twice. In the trash – my bad
I’ve used a “Victor” for years that has been extremely consistent and matches the pressure gauge on my compressor tire filler and also matches extremely well two others I have checked it against and carry for “backup.” (Also my repair shop's guage.) So, I will try spending even more money and see if I can find one that matches these. “Victor” makes what I need and they are not expensive at all. So I’m going to try and find one of those in a long arm “truck gauge” model. (The new dual rims are so big and deep I can’t reach the inner tire with the short arm one I have.)
http://www.victorautomotive.net/pages/items/vtg.html
I’m sure someone has a brand and model that costs much more that they can recommend. But I’ve always compared mine to others and if they all are within a pound or two I’ve considered them “close enough” when we’re talking 65 -120 psi type numbers. Besides, you can get a two pound variation between "cold" tires that are in the shade and the ones that are in the sun. This isn’t NASCAR. :)
Bill
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 2nd of March 2012 02:50:18 PM
Hey Bill,
Just a side question if you can answer. I was wondering about tire pressure gauges. I have several and get different readings all the time. Is there a brand or type you recommend? Just concerned with getting accurate readings. Thanks...Tom
Tom,
Back many moons ago, I worked a lot with different jobs of working on tires. One of the largest suppliers for the service stations at that time was a company called Milton.
Milton is big in all kinds of air products, including inflators for compressors with guages built in. We used a number of those in the stations because as soon as you released the lever when filling the tires, you got an instant readout on the gauge part.
Now, that said, I haven't been able to bring myself to buy one of the inflators with gauge and just use a regular dual foot Milton truck tire gauge.
They are higher than the Victors, but some prefer the Milton over all the others.
Milton website
Milton inflator gauges
Tester gauges (see bottom of page for dual foot gauges)
Terry
Laura
We were coming back from Michigan a few months ago and the truck in front of us switched lanes and behold part of a retread was in front of me. Tried to swerve but caught my front right tire and kicked up and dented front basement door and scuffed the right side of my coach. $785 later it was as good as new. Other than driving a hundred or so feet behind vehicle in front of me not sure how to avoid.
Stay safe
Laura, you and I are of the same opinion about vehicle safety. After driving semi trucks for 7 years doing a pre-trip walk-around inspection was ingrained in me so much that I to do it with the RV as well. I check all the lights, the tire air pressures, the engine fluid levels and just in general look for anything that doesn't look or sound right. As a trucker I knew that even if I didn't own the equipment I was driving I was still 100% responsible for the equipment's safety, especially if I was involved in an accident.