Installed 17.5" wheels and tires on my 3818 - Dutchmen Owners
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Old 12-02-2014, 09:54 PM   #1
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Installed 17.5" wheels and tires on my 3818

Howdy All,

Back In the middle of October I attended a rally in Kansas for folks who tow their RV trailers with HDT's, at this rally I had my truck and trailer weighted. The truck was weighted by itself as was the trailer, each axle was weighted, each tire and wheel position was weighted, this gave a very accurate picture of just how much weight was anywhere on the rig and if one side, axle or particular tire and wheel assembly was over stressed.

Armed with this information, I can't say I was shocked however it did confirm my suspicions that my trailer as it came equipped from the factory was held up off the ground with tires and wheels that were in my opinion and based on the document provided by the DOT approved folks who did the weighing of the unit barely adequate for the job and left next to NOTHING as a safety factor.

The cost of the new tires and wheels were NOT cheap, I could have gone with cheaper wheels and I darn sure could have gone with cheaper tires but as I tow anywhere from 15,000 20,000 miles a year skimping on the new setup just didn't make any sense. So now I am stuck with the stock 16" wheels and the stock Westlake tires, my plan is to put the old tires and wheels in a far corner of the garage and leave them there, down the road when it comes time to sell the trailer I'll reinstall the 16" tires and wheels, then sell the 17.5" setup to someone who wants to upgrade their trailer.

I can say this, towing the trailer with the new much stronger sidewall tires made a difference that could be felt going down the road, buffeting from side-winds, going around corners, passing or being passed were all improved. These new tires are rated for 75mph, I tow at 62mph thats where my truck gets the best mileage going up and down mountains but I often times pass at speeds up to 75mph just to get the pass done which is safer for all concerned.

Long story short, a lot of money but I feel a lot better after having spent it.

Dave
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Old 12-02-2014, 10:41 PM   #2
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Did that after I had nine () 16" American Made 14 ply tires fail on my 2003 Teton. Yes I should have done it sooner but I figured I couldn't afford the $ for the 17.5 tires & rims. Talk about penny wise & pound foolish that was me. Those rims & tires are now on my Voltage & the Voltage 16" are on my Teton which doesn't get towed any more.
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Old 12-02-2014, 10:52 PM   #3
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Did that after I had nine () 16" American Made 14 ply tires fail on my 2003 Teton. Yes I should have done it sooner but I figured I couldn't afford the $ for the 17.5 tires & rims. Talk about penny wise & pound foolish that was me. Those rims & tires are now on my Voltage & the Voltage 16" are on my Teton which doesn't get towed any more.
Howdy DesertRat,

Sorry, forgot to mention in my post that that it was one of your posts and the information in it that provided me with what I needed to get this done. The folks at Trailer Wheel & Tire Superstore. We offer trailer rims, trailer tires with Free Shipping over $50. were great to work with and made it easy.

I made the deal over the phone in Kansas and while visiting friends who live in Hespria California, stopped into their shop and had the new tires and wheels installed before heading back home to the Nor-Wet.

Its COLD and RAINING here now, sure wish I was back in the southwest, if I can ever talk my wife into retiring I'll turn into a snow bird so fast it'll smoke the tires on my Freightliner.
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Old 12-02-2014, 11:36 PM   #4
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I don't think it is just the big trailers, I am convinced they are pulling the same stunt on the smaller single axle ones too...

My Coleman CM16FBS comes with C rated 14" tires. Hard to find quality D rated tires in the 14" size. I will be upgrading to 15" wheels in the spring.

I haven't had my trailer on scales yet, but the basic calculations don't make me very happy at all.

Aaron
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Old 12-03-2014, 12:05 AM   #5
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I don't think it is just the big trailers, I am convinced they are pulling the same stunt on the smaller single axle ones too...

My Coleman CM16FBS comes with C rated 14" tires. Hard to find quality D rated tires in the 14" size. I will be upgrading to 15" wheels in the spring.

I haven't had my trailer on scales yet, but the basic calculations don't make me very happy at all.

Aaron
Howdy Aaron,

As one who has been towing a long time and has had more then enough experience with crap tires, save your self some money and regret by upgrading ASAP. You do NOT want this to happen to you as it did to me last summer, 150 miles from home at the beginning of a 5,000 mile plus trip.


Those were 15 inch tires and wheels that were on my old toy hauler, over two years I lost 5 of the 6 tires on that trailer. I was going to upgrade the tries and wheels on the old trailer to 16 inch but there wasn't enough room to do it so I replaced them with 6 new Gladiator tires, I was told these tires were the strongest tire locally available in the size that would fit my old trailer. As we were on the road at the start of a trip, I agreed to having these tires mounted.

At the end of that trip, I traded that old trailer in on the new 3818, when traded the tires on the old trailer had 5,600 miles on them and when you looked close you could see they were already starting to go bad. Cheap tires will cost you a lot of money in the long run, my advise put the best tires and wheels on your trailer that you can afford, it could save your trailer, your tow vehicle, maybe your life.

Dave
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Old 12-03-2014, 02:53 PM   #6
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Got to agree with Mr. Cobb, and Desert Rat, I didn't want to wait for failure due to the fact I have a full paint model, and didn't need it to sit and wait for paint. Besides all of the other warranty issues. Purchased the 17.5's in July from the same company as Desert Rat. Trailer Wheel and Tire or Shadow Trailer Wheels, the same. Great people to deal with!!! Worth the money and piece of mind.
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Old 12-03-2014, 03:37 PM   #7
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I just replaced mine this weekend, two of the Westlakes developed goose eggs in the sidewalls. I did not go with the 17.5, we went with the Sailun S637 tires. Those tires are really beefy. Did not see going much more than that, as the axles are rated for 7k, the tires are 3750 each...

Cale
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Old 12-03-2014, 05:47 PM   #8
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Just curious how much the 17.5 tires and rims cost you.
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Old 12-03-2014, 06:11 PM   #9
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Just curious how much the 17.5 tires and rims cost you.
Howdy azdryheat,

Here's my invoice, like I said I could have gone cheaper but I wanted to do this once and be done with it. They only had (6) of the Goodyear tires in stock, if they had had (7) I would not have bought the Hercules that is now used as a spare. I could have saved some money and bought a plain steel wheel for the spare but I bought (7) of the nice wheels.

From what I have read the Hercules seems to be a good tire, but as I travel a lot I went with the Goodyears as their warranty is honored nation wide, they are sold just about anywhere and getting a replacement tire if needed should not be a problem.

When you knock down as many miles as I do not having to deal with a tire seller in California who works with the Hercules tires and does the warranty work is important, if I have a tire problem I want to be able to deal with it locally where ever that may be.

Dave


ST-756246567 LT215/75R17.5 Goodyear Radial G114 LHT Tire LR H 4,805 lb Capacity
$415.00 x 6
$2,490.00
ST-TDW59545 ST215/75R17.5 Hercules H-902 Radial Trailer Tire LR H, 4806 lb Max Load
$244.00 x 1
$244.00
ST-0777865B 17.5x6.75 HWT Series 07 Aluminum Trailer Wheel, 8x6.50 Center Cap Included
$216.27 x 7
$1,513.89
Subtotal: $4,247.89
Discount: $0.00
Shipping: $0.00
Sales Tax: $0.00
Total: $4,247.89
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Old 12-03-2014, 07:20 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Cob View Post
Howdy Aaron,

As one who has been towing a long time and has had more then enough experience with crap tires, save your self some money and regret by upgrading ASAP. You do NOT want this to happen to you as it did to me last summer, 150 miles from home at the beginning of a 5,000 mile plus trip.

Dave
I only have one or possibly two short trips planned between now and high camping season next year. The tires that are on there are barely sufficient capacity wise. But taking into consideration it is winter, the trailer will be lightly loaded and the trips are under 100 miles one way I will wait until spring to do the upgrades on wheels and tires.

I have towed a lot in the past for my job and one company I worked for was notorious for having crap tires on their trailers. I always whacked them a few extra dollars because I knew I would have trouble with their trailers. Too bad it isn't possible to bring a class action lawsuit against the RV companies for putting marginal, crap tires on their products. But that is how they roll.

I am considering putting an aluminum wheel on my unit vs the current steel ones, just haven't made up my mind yet. Tires WILL be Maxxis M8008 radials.

Aaron
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Old 12-03-2014, 07:26 PM   #11
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With the cost of the Goodyears and the great luck I had with the ones on my Teton I went with these tires. New Hankook TH10 215 75 R17 5 100 16PR TL BSW Tires | eBay

We run Hankooks here at work & I've had them on my F-350 and had no problem at all with any size. Hankooks are also standard on my diesel Passat.
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Old 12-03-2014, 07:30 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cob View Post
Howdy azdryheat,

Here's my invoice, like I said I could have gone cheaper but I wanted to do this once and be done with it. They only had (6) of the Goodyear tires in stock, if they had had (7) I would not have bought the Hercules that is now used as a spare. I could have saved some money and bought a plain steel wheel for the spare but I bought (7) of the nice wheels.

From what I have read the Hercules seems to be a good tire, but as I travel a lot I went with the Goodyears as their warranty is honored nation wide, they are sold just about anywhere and getting a replacement tire if needed should not be a problem.

When you knock down as many miles as I do not having to deal with a tire seller in California who works with the Hercules tires and does the warranty work is important, if I have a tire problem I want to be able to deal with it locally where ever that may be.

Dave


ST-756246567 LT215/75R17.5 Goodyear Radial G114 LHT Tire LR H 4,805 lb Capacity
$415.00 x 6
$2,490.00
ST-TDW59545 ST215/75R17.5 Hercules H-902 Radial Trailer Tire LR H, 4806 lb Max Load
$244.00 x 1
$244.00
ST-0777865B 17.5x6.75 HWT Series 07 Aluminum Trailer Wheel, 8x6.50 Center Cap Included
$216.27 x 7
$1,513.89
Subtotal: $4,247.89
Discount: $0.00
Shipping: $0.00
Sales Tax: $0.00
Total: $4,247.89
That's exactly double what I paid to put 6 Michelin XPS Rib's on my 3600.

Now you have no worries about the Chinese tires blowing up on you.
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Old 12-03-2014, 07:41 PM   #13
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With the cost of the Goodyears and the great luck I had with the ones on my Teton I went with these tires. New Hankook TH10 215 75 R17 5 100 16PR TL BSW Tires | eBay

We run Hankooks here at work & I've had them on my F-350 and had no problem at all with any size. Hankooks are also standard on my diesel Passat.
Howdy DesertRat,

There is a vast difference between the 16" and the 17.5" Goodyear tires, the ones I am now using are a "commercial grade" tire that is used on many commercial trailers used to haul heavy loads. I too read of the horrors of the 16" Goodyears, not so with the tires I have chosen for my trailer. Time will tell, if I have problems I'll be sure to let folks know.

Dave
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Old 12-03-2014, 07:43 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by azdryheat View Post
That's exactly double what I paid to put 6 Michelin XPS Rib's on my 3600.

Now you have no worries about the Chinese tires blowing up on you.
Howdy azdryheat,

Only time will tell but I feel good about what I am now running, but I have had it with cheap chinese tires.

Dave
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