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Thread: Swapping tires

  1. #1
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    Swapping tires

    When getting new tires, do folks take their unit to an RV dealership for the job or to a tire store? Do tire stores know the correct location point to jack up the trailer? Or am I over thinking this?

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    Rolling Along RVRunners's Avatar
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    We use a tire store that sells all types of tires but does specialize in tires for trailers and big trucks. I find that the techs tend to be more career oriented at these type of places and therefore have more experience. Also they have bays large enough for semis so they can work on our fifth wheel tires inside. Good luck!
    The Adams - 2017 Reflection 367BHS, 2019 F-350 6.7L PSD 4x4 CC DRW, B&W hitch on Ford pucks, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 Ultimate Plus air bags, "Rupert" the Weimaraner.

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    Long Hauler D2Reid's Avatar
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    Do not assume a tire store knows how to change an RV tire. I took my former RV to a reputable tire store that does a lot of truck tires. The slid a huge jack under an 18 wheeler trailer right in the middle, jacked it up, the team changed the tires in about 5 minutes. My RV was next, tech ran the big jack under the middle of the axle and I looked like screeching mother monkey whose baby was about to be eaten by a crocodile. Okay, I embarrassed myself, but that fella would have bent my axle real good.

    A discussion with the folks is good for both of you, if they don't really know how they may not admit it but at least they will be real careful. And don't assume RV dealers are much better, if they have new people who have not done this before they can make a mistake.

    Just ask the sales rep, Do you guys do many heavy 5th wheels? How do you jack them up? Idiots who don't know will hesitate and feed you bs where people who know will just tell you.
    Dallas
    2017 Momentum 376TH, 2019 Ford F450, Dual Rear Wheel, 4x4, diesel.
    2015 Harley-Davidson Street, XG750

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    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AZCM98 View Post
    When getting new tires, do folks take their unit to an RV dealership for the job or to a tire store? Do tire stores know the correct location point to jack up the trailer? Or am I over thinking this?
    I would not let any "tire store" jack up the RV unsupervised. Chances are that they will get this wrong . . . simply because it is not their everyday experience. My preference is to remove the trailer wheels myself and take them to the tire store.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  5. #5
    Gone Traveling
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    Quote Originally Posted by D2Reid View Post
    Do not assume a tire store knows how to change an RV tire. I took my former RV to a reputable tire store that does a lot of truck tires. The slid a huge jack under an 18 wheeler trailer right in the middle, jacked it up, the team changed the tires in about 5 minutes. My RV was next, tech ran the big jack under the middle of the axle and I looked like screeching mother monkey whose baby was about to be eaten by a crocodile. Okay, I embarrassed myself, but that fella would have bent my axle real good.

    A discussion with the folks is good for both of you, if they don't really know how they may not admit it but at least they will be real careful. And don't assume RV dealers are much better, if they have new people who have not done this before they can make a mistake.

    Just ask the sales rep, Do you guys do many heavy 5th wheels? How do you jack them up? Idiots who don't know will hesitate and feed you bs where people who know will just tell you.
    I think you’re better off changing your own tires, just because, as you point out, tire dealers are clueless about RV’s. Use the Level Ups to jack it up, take one side to the tire store, have them swap the skins and then reinstall them yourself. You can do the same thing on the road. Before we go down the “can’t use the Level Ups” path, I’ve used them to jack the trailer many times without problems, the total capacity of the jacks far exceeds the weight of the fiver and I personally think (don’t get upset - just my opinion) the only reason Lippert tells you not to do it is to cover themselves legally. I’ve installed two sets of disc brakes on two different fivers using the Level Ups without any problems whatsoever

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    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cate&Rob View Post
    My preference is to remove the trailer wheels myself and take them to the tire store.
    This is what I plan to do to have the Ford TPMS sensors installed on our Solitude wheels.

    When we replaced the Westlake tires on our Reflection, the tire shop stripped two of the lugs. They said they couldn't do the repair so they asked us to drive to a repair shop. We were at the repair shop for four hours. I learned later when checking the lug nuts for tightness that they used different sized lugs and nuts for the repair. A total botched job. I won't make that mistake again.

    This is just another reason why I do as much work as I can myself.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

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    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    If you find a tire shop that owns a torque wrench . . . that would be highly unusual . Even then, you can be sure that wrench has been in a bottom drawer left cranked up to whatever last torque it was used at . . . and no one will have any idea if it was ever calibrated. Tire shops are even less capable of correctly torquing wheel nuts than they are of correctly jacking trailers. Limit them to only the tire removal/installation/balancing . . . if you can.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

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    Thanks for all the replies. I should be coming home next week with a new 303rls and will run the Westlakes for a while and then go with another set. Rob, I thought the same about a tire shop and someone jacking in the wrong location and causing damage. I will ask a few shops, but will probably do it myself, I need a new torque wrench anyway. 😊

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    Long Hauler D2Reid's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AZCM98 View Post
    will run the Westlakes for a while and then go with another set. ��
    I did that.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Dallas
    2017 Momentum 376TH, 2019 Ford F450, Dual Rear Wheel, 4x4, diesel.
    2015 Harley-Davidson Street, XG750

  10. #10
    Seasoned Camper
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    I've had very good luck with Discount Tire over a span of many years. And they do torque the lug nuts.

    I've also lifted one side of my trailer with the Ground Control and not had any issues. It was kind of an emergency when I did it. I've found that at times in an uneven pad the Ground Control will basically lift one of more tires off the ground anyway, so I don't know what it hurts.

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