katetothek
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1971 Shasta Compact
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Post by katetothek on Jul 23, 2017 18:17:20 GMT -8
We are nearly 4,000 miles into a cross country trip and yesterday a tire blew. Luckily a nice local helped us locate a new one. Today, thankfully in a town this time, the other tire blew. I heard the metal scraping as we limped to a gas station.
I've had my 1971 Shasta Compact for a year with no issues. We love camping in her! And now, two tires, gone! We're trying to figure it why. Were they just old? Wrong? Overused?
I've been searching online, on these boards, and all over my trailer and I can't find the carrying capacity for my little compact. Maybe we're carrying too much weight?
We are towing with a 2008 Toyota Sienna.
The new tires put on yesterday and today are Akuret ST175/80R13. Maybe these aren't the right tires?
Any advice ya'll might have about the carrying capacity of a Compact or tire type would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by danrhodes on Jul 23, 2017 18:51:05 GMT -8
What brand and how old?
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katetothek
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1971 Shasta Compact
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Post by katetothek on Jul 23, 2017 19:47:42 GMT -8
The old ones were Golden Bear-Gillette PI 85/80R13. I don't know how old they were, they were on when I Bought it.
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katetothek
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1971 Shasta Compact
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Post by katetothek on Jul 23, 2017 19:49:25 GMT -8
Just to be clear the tire shop today put on Akuret 6 ply ST175/80R13. They seem fine so far. Just want to ensure sure the new ones don't blow too.
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Post by danrhodes on Jul 23, 2017 19:52:08 GMT -8
Trailer tires have a safe life of about 4-6 years regardless of milage. Using tires that came with your trailer without a purchase date was probably a contributing cause to the blowouts.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Jul 23, 2017 20:07:14 GMT -8
Just about any trailer-duty tire will be rated high enough to handle a Compact. Most are load rated to handle the whole (empty) weight with one tire. The tires' load rating is displayed on the sidewall of the tires. (Your Compact empty weight should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 lbs, plus gear and cargo of course.)
I suspect that your problem with the tires that blew out was age related or improper inflation, rather than weight rating. Tires will dry rot, and it can happen at varying rates depending on environmental conditions. Under-inflation can cause heat, and cause tire failure. And of course there is always the hazards of the roadway.
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katetothek
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1971 Shasta Compact
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Post by katetothek on Jul 24, 2017 6:09:01 GMT -8
Thanks to you both for the information! We are headed into Glacier National Park today and then south to Los Angeles with my two kids so I was worried about safety. With new tires on we'll make sure to check the pressure more often and I will set my worries aside. Appreciate the help.
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Post by danrhodes on Jul 24, 2017 7:28:52 GMT -8
Thanks to you both for the information! We are headed into Glacier National Park today and then south to Los Angeles with my two kids so I was worried about safety. With new tires on we'll make sure to check the pressure more often and I will set my worries aside. Appreciate the help. Stop after your first few miles and periodically to make sure your hubs aren't overheating as well.
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katetothek
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1971 Shasta Compact
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Post by katetothek on Jul 28, 2017 16:43:47 GMT -8
Thanks to you both for the information! We are headed into Glacier National Park today and then south to Los Angeles with my two kids so I was worried about safety. With new tires on we'll make sure to check the pressure more often and I will set my worries aside. Appreciate the help. Stop after your first few miles and periodically to make sure your hubs aren't overheating as well. Will do. By hubs... you mean, check tire pressure?
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Post by vikx on Jul 28, 2017 22:00:02 GMT -8
The wheel hub assemblies are in the middle... cover the bearings, have little caps as a cover. Just feel the whole wheel, especially the middle. And have the bearings checked as soon as you can. They probably need to be repacked. (re-greased)
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Post by bigbill on Jul 30, 2017 5:18:41 GMT -8
To help insure trouble free trailering every year you should have wheel bearings checked and repacked with grease or replaced as needed. Tires should be checked before a trip and daily during a trip for signs of deterioration such as cracks, lumps, tread wear or any thing looks different than previous. I personally check air pressure daily. A trailer tire weight rating is list at maximum air pressure, both are listed on side of tire, the drops off quickly as air pressure drops plus low air pressure allows the tire to flex much more causing heat build up which can lead to early tire failure. Every time I get out of the car I take a walk around the trailer checking that everything looks as it should. This includes things such as the hitch, all doors and windows, tires, and anything bolted or tied on. I also touch the tires and wheels to check for heat build up. After you do this a few times you will figure what temperatures are normal and what is unusual. Note when checking tires for cracks look in tire tread grooves many times tires will show cracks/splits there first. This sounds complicated but once you are used to it it only takes a minute or so to do. I also do a quick walk around when I come out from someplace checking for any tampering or hazards that might cause a problem as I leave. This probably sounds excessive to a newby but I have been around trailers almost 3/4s of a century and I don't like changing tires or making repairs along the side of the road or having accidents. Also when buying tires I like to have a weight capacity twice the weight I am towing. Also make sure your tow vehicle tires are inflated for towing, many times this is higher than for routine driving.
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Post by bigbill on Jul 31, 2017 6:12:09 GMT -8
katetothek Looking at your old tire size I think the were just passenger car tires not trailer tires so that may have been part of the problem.
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pathfinder3081
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1971 Shasta Loflyte
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Aug 3, 2017 12:41:43 GMT -8
I was coming out of Asheville NC. after the 4rth and had a flat at about 65 MPH and before I could get over good, the tire was shot.. So I got busy with a solution when I got home. I have always hated the way my tires balloon out and swayed from left to right while traveling. We are careful not to load her up and I always stress to the wife that I’d rather have the gear in the truck over the rear axle and not in the trailer.. Still though, running a 6 ply "C" rated trailer tire at 45 psi still looked weak and ballooned. I could not find a 8-ply tire at 175/80R13 local but I surfed on line and found these: Kenda Karrier st175/80r13load Range D. I love them! 65 PSI.. I have to fill them with my house air compressor because my hand held air gauge stops at 50 PSI.. Yes Really! Now my trailer has little or no floating down the road. The side walls stay tall and stiff and do not looked bulged.. They cost me $39 a piece! simpletire.com E-trailer wants $100 each I think, other stores on line the same.. I love them.. Tire store charged me $25.00 to switch two out and speed balanced them.. 98% of the reviews I saw on them are good. They are dated fall of last year..We'll see, but I love they way the drive and load..
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