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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. Â  Â
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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