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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
  
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Some of you probably remember my post about insurance claims due to tire blow out. I believe it was approx two months ago we had our first blowout in our brand new Lakota, ripping off the fender, bending drop downs and anhilating the siding. The insurance company JUST cut the check to have it fixed last week.
On Saturday, we had another blow out. Other side, same damage.  So here we go again with the insurance.
I had many responses about tires. Some said the ones we have (Towmax) were junk, some said they were good quality. Manufacture date on them is march 2014. So Lakota put old tires on a new trailer. Not a great concept, but the tread is at 85%. Would like opinions on tires whether to go commercial grade or truck tires. Load range, etc.
Now, my second issue is truck height and resulting trailer ride height. I believe it was FLITASTIC who said his trailer rides higher in the front??? I had posted a picture when we lifted the truck and didn't get too much negative reports, so wasn't too concerned. I understand that it puts more weight on the rear axle, but seemed like a lot of people haul that way without incident. We very rarely haul fully loaded anyways, and put horses in the front most stall/s.
Would you guys think the ride angle is causing the blowouts or the tire age/quality combination? |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Here's a pic. 
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Ugh. we plan to put 14ply's on our Lakota as soon as we can. We just have to pick our financial battles at the moment the dually needed new rubber. Hopefully luck doesn't force our hand in the meantime.
Do you have a picture of how your trailer rides? Both blowouts were on the rear axle? That makes me a little suspicious of how the trialer is riding. You could haul it to the scales and axle yourself to see how much more or less each axle is carrying. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-22 11:59 AM Some of you probably remember my post about insurance claims due to tire blow out. I believe it was approx two months ago we had our first blowout in our brand new Lakota, ripping off the fender, bending drop downs and anhilating the siding. The insurance company JUST cut the check to have it fixed last week. On Saturday, we had another blow out. Other side, same damage. So here we go again with the insurance. I had many responses about tires. Some said the ones we have (Towmax ) were junk, some said they were good quality. Manufacture date on them is march 2014. So Lakota put old tires on a new trailer. Not a great concept, but the tread is at 85%. Would like opinions on tires whether to go commercial grade or truck tires. Load range, etc. Now, my second issue is truck height and resulting trailer ride height. I believe it was FLITASTIC who said his trailer rides higher in the front??? I had posted a picture when we lifted the truck and didn't get too much negative reports, so wasn't too concerned. I understand that it puts more weight on the rear axle, but seemed like a lot of people haul that way without incident. We very rarely haul fully loaded anyways, and put horses in the front most stall/s. Would you guys think the ride angle is causing the blowouts or the tire age/quality combination?
The trailers that I knew of that had blow outs all the time was due to bent axles or not right tires for the load that you will be pulling and I would think if your trailer was riding at a higher angle is would but put more pressure on the back axle, I like level riding trailers and my trailers had never had a blow out. |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Trying to attach pic of truck/trailer.
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 Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: On My Horse! | I'd definitely drop the nose on the trailer. It should be level and balanced. When it rides at an angle it puts pressure on the rear axle and the horses ride at an angle. But super nice rig! |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| If both blowouts were on the back I have a strong suspicion that the angle of the trailer is a contributing factor. If you look at how much higher the front end of the trailer box is vs the rear end...you've got a lot more pressure on your rear tires.
If I remember correctly you wanted to keep the truck lifted. Therefore the trailer axles need to be blocked to level out the ride.
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7613
Location: Dubach, LA | A.X.L.E. Something is wrong with an axle. I had blow out after blow out on my CM. Even had an axle company check it. They said axles were fine. Within a year, one broke. When it broke, it bent the one that was left, so I'm riding on two new axles and haven't had a single blow out. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-22 9:59 AM
Some of you probably remember my post about insurance claims due to tire blow out. I believe it was approx two months ago we had our first blowout in our brand new Lakota, ripping off the fender, bending drop downs and anhilating the siding. The insurance company JUST cut the check to have it fixed last week.
On Saturday, we had another blow out. Other side, same damage. So here we go again with the insurance.
I had many responses about tires. Some said the ones we have (Towmax ) were junk, some said they were good quality. Manufacture date on them is march 2014. So Lakota put old tires on a new trailer. Not a great concept, but the tread is at 85%. Would like opinions on tires whether to go commercial grade or truck tires. Load range, etc.
Now, my second issue is truck height and resulting trailer ride height. I believe it was FLITASTIC who said his trailer rides higher in the front??? I had posted a picture when we lifted the truck and didn't get too much negative reports, so wasn't too concerned. I understand that it puts more weight on the rear axle, but seemed like a lot of people haul that way without incident. We very rarely haul fully loaded anyways, and put horses in the front most stall/s.
Would you guys think the ride angle is causing the blowouts or the tire age/quality combination?
That was me! My trailer does ride 2" high in the front because my new truck is just higher. I can lower the nose to make it ride level but I am pretty worried that if I need to go someplace with a little angle to the road/driveway I will make contact with the bed of my truck and I am scared to try it. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Did you not replace the tires after the first blow out? Age of that tire could very well be the issue and not worth a risk for me. When one goes...soon the others tend to follow either from stress or from possible damage from debris or whatever caused the first one to go.
And yes...that really is too high in the front. We too have a lifted truck but got zero degree axles on the trailer which essentially accomplishes the same thing as blocking the axles to raise the clearance on the trailer and prevent that nose high angle.
With older questionable tires...and that angle...I'm really not all that surprised this happened again. I hate that for you...having a new trailer damaged like that is no fun.
We ordered our Lakota 3H w 11ft short wall in 2016 with the zero degree axles...and the dates on our tires were just a couple of months old when the trailer was built. We have had no issues so far, and it rides nice and level with good clearance that we need where we camp/haul. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | oh dang! That did some damage, I'm thankful for my steel trailer. I've blown several tires out on my trailer and it just scrapes the paint lol, no fender rip off
Edited by hoofs_in_motion 2017-05-22 1:11 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | On the other thread about this you got alot of good suggestions, I would get this trailer leveled out and see how it gos from there and I would put new and right size tires all the way around. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Nose down. Level out the trailer.
Get the appropriate sized tires with appropriate tread for your trailer and weight of the trailer fully loaded.
Again, look into a place like Discount Tires Found here: https://www.discounttire.com/ To get a warranty on tires. Even if you don't have one near you, they ship to tire shops all across the US. The tires would be warrantied through them and the work would be warrantied through whatever shop you deem most competent to mount and balance the tires.
At least then it would be one of their faults if a tire blew and one of them would have to pay for the damage, not the insurance company. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | Yes when you travel with the trailer at an unlevel height you cause more wear and tear and unven wear on the axles. They can bend, etc. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Windoming | Wow, I recently had my first blowout on my 15 year old Exiss, and it barely bent the bottom of the fender. Hubby just bent it back into shape. It was a back tire, and it was shredded. I was going down a big hill going 75 mph. Not fun. |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5408
| I have had front tire blow outs before but most are on the back because of the front tire picking stuff up and throwing it into the back tire. We went to 16 ply tires on the trailer and had the axle's fixed. |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | We didn't end up buying new tires as it was deemed a defective tire. We were planning on buying all new, but just put new rubber on hubbys work truck, his trailer, and the bumper pull just prior to the initial blow out. So was basically just waiting for the trailer to get fixed and a bit of replenishment to our bank account before forking out even more for tires. Granted, we should have just done it, but hindsight...
The nose can't be dropped due to the grade of our driveway. It would crunch our tailgate/bedsides.
So, trailer will not be used again until it has new tires for sure. We didn't know the manufacture date on the tires until Saturday. We've never had blowouts before this, and didn't realize a brand new trailer wouldn't have had new tires. Obviously, we have learned a valuable lesson!!!
Aside from that, looks like we will be contacting the shop and see about having blocks installed. I appreciate everyones thoughts and information. |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | If you're having repeated blow outs the first thing I would check is axle alignment . A good axle/spring service place can check to make sure the axle isn't bent or out of line. |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Liana D - 2017-05-22 1:26 PM
If you're having repeated blow outs the first thing I would check is axle alignment . A good axle/spring service place can check to make sure the axle isn't bent or out of line.
We did have the axle checked, and they couldn't find an issue with it. |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Block that trailer! Lol
If the nose can't come down, the back must go up Lol. Sending positive vibes your way. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 586
| The newer Chevrolet/ GMCs sit, I believe, like 4" higher than the old one's. My trailer sits higher in the front and I was told to block the axles since I can't lower the nose without the chance of messing the truck bed up when I haul it. As far as the tires go, I went with a Gladiator 14 ply and my trailer is an Elite 3H with 10' Outlaw Conversion.... it's HEAVY but those tires have made the biggest difference and so far, no blow outs!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1955
Location: Ky | I've had many blowouts on LQ trailers and on vehicles. Never had that kind of damage. The right load range tire and properly inflated will help. But I would say it's a coincidence that you had two of these. Those aren't "old" tires. Made in 2014 are not old.
And those are good tires. Made by Goodyear.
Heat is the enemy. Are you keeping the wheel bearing packed? Just put your hand on the wheel after hauling a few miles. If the wheel hot to the touch? It's normal to be warm. Is it hot?
Under inflated tires will heat up too. It the tire recommends 80 psi, put 80 lbs in the them. Or at least 75. Look at how the tires are wearing. If all 4 wearing evening then all is in alignment.
But the main thing is check the temp. And check all 4. If one is warmer than the others then that's the problem. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-22 11:59 AM
Some of you probably remember my post about insurance claims due to tire blow out. I believe it was approx two months ago we had our first blowout in our brand new Lakota, ripping off the fender, bending drop downs and anhilating the siding. The insurance company JUST cut the check to have it fixed last week.
On Saturday, we had another blow out. Other side, same damage. So here we go again with the insurance.
I had many responses about tires. Some said the ones we have (Towmax ) were junk, some said they were good quality. Manufacture date on them is march 2014. So Lakota put old tires on a new trailer. Not a great concept, but the tread is at 85%. Would like opinions on tires whether to go commercial grade or truck tires. Load range, etc.
Now, my second issue is truck height and resulting trailer ride height. I believe it was FLITASTIC who said his trailer rides higher in the front??? I had posted a picture when we lifted the truck and didn't get too much negative reports, so wasn't too concerned. I understand that it puts more weight on the rear axle, but seemed like a lot of people haul that way without incident. We very rarely haul fully loaded anyways, and put horses in the front most stall/s.
Would you guys think the ride angle is causing the blowouts or the tire age/quality combination?
I am so so sorry for you. We have had blowout after blowout and caused quite a bit of damage to our trailer fenders, but to have two on different sides of a brand new trailer is heartbreaking. (Ours wasn't new, but it still hurt me bad when it happened!)
We blocked the axles and went with heavier ply commercial grade tires. We've not hauled but a time or two since then, but hoping that has our problems fixed.
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2017-05-22 8:47 PM
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| IRunOnFaith - 2017-05-22 3:33 PM
Block that trailer! Lol
If the nose can't come down, the back must go up Lol. Sending positive vibes your way.
This! It will make it taller to step into, but I would level that trailer out. |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Thank you everyone! Yes, the plan is to block it! I LOVE this trailer and have had nothing but good experiences with it... aside from this of course. We take care of it like a baby. There wasn't a scratch on it, meticulously maintained after every use, which makes it all the more devastating. But I think we also learned a huge lesson and will be smarter from here on out. Level trailer + better tires = not so many blowouts.
Oh! And someone mentioned that early 2014 tires weren't old. How often do people replace their trailer tires? We've been told several times to never run them past three years. Like I said, we have never had a blowout until this trailer... all of our past trailers have been used, we only replaced when the tread was lower than we liked or they were dry rotting. |
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Location: in the ozone | ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-23 8:59 AM
Thank you everyone! Yes, the plan is to block it! I LOVE this trailer and have had nothing but good experiences with it... aside from this of course. We take care of it like a baby. There wasn't a scratch on it, meticulously maintained after every use, which makes it all the more devastating. But I think we also learned a huge lesson and will be smarter from here on out. Level trailer + better tires = not so many blowouts.
Oh! And someone mentioned that early 2014 tires weren't old. How often do people replace their trailer tires? We've been told several times to never run them past three years. Like I said, we have never had a blowout until this trailer... all of our past trailers have been used, we only replaced when the tread was lower than we liked or they were dry rotting.
2014 tires are old - there is a reason they put the dates on them. (I don't agree with the above comment that they are not). I had a tire place try to sell me tires that were 4 years old for my truck & I caught him in his BS & he back peddled big time. I went elsewhere to buy tires & will never buy from him again (and had dropped a huge bundle there within the past year on tires for various rigs here). Just because they haven't been mounted on something, they still rot and will limit your usage of them. If the trailer is a 2016, I would ask Lakota about that.
Most people that I know replace trailer tires every 3-4 years at least - depending on how many miles they cover.
I think blocking your trailer will help too, although it can make the trailer really high for the horses to hop in to unless you have a ramp. |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | If you bought a tire for your pickup that they said was only good for 3 years would you buy it. That is just a bunch of bull crap. Trailer tires are just not made to the quality of Light truck tires. Follow the liablility of who makes the tires. Look what happened to Firestone when they had that happen to them. DO NOT RUN ST TRAILER TIRES EVER. All the new ST tires that are made outside of the US are junk. I bought a new goose neck flat bed trailer and blew 3 of the new tires in less than 100 miles. Want to know the brand of them. Thats right Towmaster. Want to know what the warrenty was. Tough Titty. It now has Firestone Light Truck tires and they are 7 years old and still running with the same load. 235/85-16R. How many 6 year old LT tires do you see that blow the tread off. None. Way too much liability exspouser. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I made the other thread about the 10 ply tires on a LQ trailer. I had 2 blowouts within a couple of months of each other. My trailer had been blocked because it wasn't sitting level. I truly think the tires are the answer. Why does the manufacturer puts 10 plys on them? To get by as cheap as they can.
My trailer will be going in for new 16 plys as soon as I can get the funds together.
And thanks to all who posted the tire info. I hope it helps the OP as much as it helps me. |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | level your nose
buy heavier ply tires
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
Location: south central usa | Concerning the tires…initially you'd question why a new 2016 trailer would have tires that are two years old....you'd need to look at the trailer manufacture date before going down that road though. Lakota had 2018 model s on the lots several months ago…using the same logic, a 2016 model trailer may have been built in early to mid 2015…I’d check and see how close the manufacture dates are on both the remaining original tires and the trailer… |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | runnink - 2017-05-24 7:55 AM
Concerning the tires…initially you'd question why a new 2016 trailer would have tires that are two years old....you'd need to look at the trailer manufacture date before going down that road though. Lakota had 2018 model s on the lots several months ago…using the same logic, a 2016 model trailer may have been built in early to mid 2015…I’d check and see how close the manufacture dates are on both the remaining original tires and the trailer…
This does make sense. How would I find the manufacture date of the trailer? The tires are early 2014, so even then they would've been a year old at least. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-24 8:15 AM
runnink - 2017-05-24 7:55 AM
Concerning the tires…initially you'd question why a new 2016 trailer would have tires that are two years old....you'd need to look at the trailer manufacture date before going down that road though. Lakota had 2018 model s on the lots several months ago…using the same logic, a 2016 model trailer may have been built in early to mid 2015…I’d check and see how close the manufacture dates are on both the remaining original tires and the trailer…
This does make sense. How would I find the manufacture date of the trailer? The tires are early 2014, so even then they would've been a year old at least.
There will be a metal plate on the Gooseneck part, usually by your propane tank area that will show a manufacture date with month/Year. |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | FLITASTIC - 2017-05-24 9:09 AM
~BINGO~ - 2017-05-24 8:15 AM
runnink - 2017-05-24 7:55 AM
Concerning the tires…initially you'd question why a new 2016 trailer would have tires that are two years old....you'd need to look at the trailer manufacture date before going down that road though. Lakota had 2018 model s on the lots several months ago…using the same logic, a 2016 model trailer may have been built in early to mid 2015…I’d check and see how close the manufacture dates are on both the remaining original tires and the trailer…
This does make sense. How would I find the manufacture date of the trailer? The tires are early 2014, so even then they would've been a year old at least.
There will be a metal plate on the Gooseneck part, usually by your propane tank area that will show a manufacture date with month/Year.
Thank you! |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Manufacture date of trailer is 5/16 |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I contacted the tire representative and we are going to try to submit a claim thru the Towmax manufacturer, who is in Canada. Our insurance isn't too happy with us and says we need to have axles and tires examined... which we already have. Plus, we really don't want to pay out another deductible seeing as how we definitely need new tires at this point. Has anyone ever dealt with submitting a claim they a tire manufacturer? They're having us ship our tire to them for inspection.
Also, the lady mentioned calling Lakota directly and informing them of our blowouts and the time span... not sure how that will help. |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | The trailer Mfg needs to be aware so they can inspect more carefully. It's how car companies keep track of when to recall, what to recall, and why to recall. It would be helpful for Lakota to be aware in case other owners are having the same issues.
If the tire company refuses to pay then at least your insurance knows you aren't trying to scam them. You woul dhave exhausted all possibilties in their eyes, leaving them the only ones left to pay. Looks good on your end so you aren't inspected for insurance fraud.
My friend had 3 wrecks and totaled each vehicle in the time span of 3 months. He was investigated for insurance fraud. Turns out he was just terribly unlucky and got hit by 3 different people without insurance. He was on hold from getting any insurance for a new car for about a month. |
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Location: in the ozone | BS Hauler - 2017-05-23 9:47 PM
If you bought a tire for your pickup that they said was only good for 3 years would you buy it. That is just a bunch of bull crap. Trailer tires are just not made to the quality of Light truck tires. Follow the liablility of who makes the tires. Look what happened to Firestone when they had that happen to them. DO NOT RUN ST TRAILER TIRES EVER. All the new ST tires that are made outside of the US are junk. I bought a new goose neck flat bed trailer and blew 3 of the new tires in less than 100 miles. Want to know the brand of them. Thats right Towmaster. Want to know what the warrenty was. Tough Titty. It now has Firestone Light Truck tires and they are 7 years old and still running with the same load. 235/85-16R. How many 6 year old LT tires do you see that blow the tread off. None. Way too much liability exspouser.
Well, I did. Had 5 year old 235/85R 16's on my LQ trailer ... not a lot of miles on them, had been protected from weather checking. Those suckers started blowing/peeling on me & ripped up fender on each side in one long trip I made - had to get a whole new set of tires.
There is a new trailer tire that has come out recently that is getting good reviews/ratings. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | I disagree with the statement St trailer tires are junk. That's all we run is 14 ply ST tires on our trailers. We change out every 2 years. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | ~BINGO~ - 2017-05-24 11:48 AM I contacted the tire representative and we are going to try to submit a claim thru the Towmax manufacturer, who is in Canada. Our insurance isn't too happy with us and says we need to have axles and tires examined... which we already have. Plus, we really don't want to pay out another deductible seeing as how we definitely need new tires at this point. Has anyone ever dealt with submitting a claim they a tire manufacturer? They're having us ship our tire to them for inspection. Also, the lady mentioned calling Lakota directly and informing them of our blowouts and the time span... not sure how that will help.
I would contact Lakota, they may be way more helpful than you think. We had the same issue with our Hart we bought new, at first they questioned everything from the size and number of horses we were hauling to the possibility of us running over something on the road.
?They eventually had us take our trailer to a dealer to be sure the axles were ok. When they confirmed the tires were most likely the problem, Hart bought us five brand new, heavier tires and paid to have them installed. We paid to fix the damage (which was minor) and the new tires fixed the problem. |
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