Last weekend, while on our way home from our week in the Keys, we were about 2 hours into our 7 hour drive home when we had a blow out. DH put the spare on and we were back on the road with only a 20 minute delay. About 30 minutes later we had another blow out! We figured it was the spare since the tires that were originally on the camper when we set off on our trip were less then 2-1/2 years old. Wrong...it was the other side that time. We were stunned. We spent a good part of the day getting 2 new tires and let's say the remaining 5 hour drive home was just a little nerve racking. We have an appointment to bring the camper in next week because when the passenger side tire blew, it did some damage to the copper pipe that supplies propane to the hot water heater. DH can fix pretty much anything, but this is out of his numerous areas of expertise. Anyway, we plan on asking the mechanics if they have any idea what would cause both of our tires to blow within 30 minutes of each other, but thought I would ask on here first. Also, this isn't our first tire issue. We had the entire passenger side tire, wheel and hub come off the camper less then 3 years ago and a flat on the other tire about 3 months after that...hence the 2 tires that just blew last weekend. We really need to find a solution. I can't be worried every time that we take off on a trip that we're going to have tire issues. We camp once a month and that's just too much stress! Any ideas?
Wow!!! sounds like you had an eventful trip.
My first thought is tire pressure. Did you check the tire pressure before you left? Second thought is are they the correct weight rating / was the trailer overloaded? Also, what kind of tires were there? Walmart specials? I have WalMart Specials on my utility trailer for 10 years and never had a problem although I have heard of people having trouble with those tires.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
What Matt says.
Look for the tire sticker on the side of the pup. It should specify the following.
1st) Make sure the load range on the tires is correct for that pup.
2nd) Make sure it is the correct size and has an ST (Special Trailer service tire) in the tire size.
3rd) Make sure they are at the maximum pressure on the sidewall.
4th) Get the pup weighed to make sure you are not exceeding the GVWR of the pup.
The weight of the pup should be less than the maximum load for both tires.
Good luck.
Yep, DH checks the tire pressure before we left. He does that before every trip we take in an attempt to not have any issues. The tires that blew were purchased at Firestone and although they weren't a brand that I've ever heard of before, they were $60 a piece. Of course they came with a "no mileage warranty". 🙁 (The new tires cost more.) We do load the camper up pretty good. That was actually something we were thinking as well.
It was a looooong day. The first flat was on the interstate in Miami. Yikes. The second flat was right at the beginning of Alligator Alley. Which was a blessing that it happened there and not 1/2 into Alligator Alley since that's a stretch of highway about 80 miles long with nothing on it. Once we were back on our way, there was a huge brush fire at the other end of Alligator Alley and they ended up closing the highway the next day. Thank goodness we got through. We also had to pull the camper up the Sunshine Skyway Bridge which is about 430 feet high! Scary on a good day with no problems! As a friend of mine always says....it makes for a good story.
That is such a gorgeous drive. We did it quite a few years back. We flew into Miami and drove down to Key West.
Just spectacular.
BTW, if you have any truckstops nearby, you can get the pup weighed on their scales usually for about $8.
Just google "Cat Scales". I just checked and there are 3 of them with 25 miles of Miami.
Good luck.
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