Lets talk about trailer tires

[Ken]

Of the say twenty mates I sail with in the last two years we've had 14 blow outs. Now these aren't the folks out there with no spares, no jacks and no clue. These fellows know what there doing and have been doing this a long, long time. I myself have had two blow outs on the same trip home from Fl. I've been pulling boats for more than forty five years.... Never had this much trouble nor have I ever before seen anything like it.
I'll be the first to agree that the single axle trailer is border line overloaded, I changed the springs and went to 215 tires on my old style boat with the single axle trailer. So far I've not had any trouble on the MK but I did go to a tandem axle trailer. I just put a new set of Marathon radials on it.

For clarification, there were at least four different tire manufacturers.

No doubt this thread is toward those that pull long distances, but blow outs are blow outs.

Anyone else had trouble with tires lately?

 

[CaptDon01]

Ken,

I've have my first blow-out issue earlier this year towing our MK-II. Tires looked to be in excelent condition, no cracking, tire pressure correct, and WHAM! Started checking things out and they are load range-C 14" tires. That makes them right at maximum payload for our wing keel MK-II. So I planned on going to load range-D tires, not normally available in 14" except on the internet. So I would have to go to 15" wheels and tires. We're still playing with the idea of taking the trailer back up to Trail-Rite and have them install a tandem axle set-up. I had a tandem axle set-up on our original C-22 and it sure was nice to tow. When I retire, we plan on doing some extensive trailering, and the tandem axle will be a lot nicer. Also thinking about going to the oil-lube bearings. Still using the 14" tires right now, but we don't tow the boat often,(next trip would be next February), and we only tow the boat about 50 yards to the crane at the club where we dry-sail the boat.

Don

Don

 

[shipwreck66]

Pulling heavy loads is what I do for a living, and when I really started looking at my trailer tires I realized how piss poor they were. The tires made for a car or truck are NOT suitable for a catalina trailer and will blow out. I replaced mine with a set of heavy duty TRAILER tires similiar to what you see on military trailers. They are not for cars or trucks but will handle up to 2 tons, which, with a fully loaded Catalina 22 and gear will leave you a little safety room. I picked up a pair of slightly used ones for about $80, well worth the money. The Army Sargent I sold the boat to has towed it about from Dallas - Killeen and reported no problems.

 

[Ken]

Like your tires Don, the two tires that blew out on me looked great, tread was good, no dry rot, but BAM!!! Back on the road but now I've used the spare now no spare (words can't explain that feeling once you've used the spare) and in AL on Saturday...... shaking head... First stop looking for a spare I was told "everyone knows, everything closes at 12:00 in Alabama" No!!! everyone didn't know that!! LOL Another 75 -100 miles then BAM.....!!!
I was lucky enough to have a local help me find a shop that would stay open for me but it was 65 miles WEST of where I was... Nothing I could do but leave the boat take the first tire then return for the boat. I will forever be indebted to the shop owner.... He could have held me up but didn't.. You got to love small towns and Honest store owners..

 

[jfrench]

Two comments on this topic:

1. When I purchased my boat/trailer last fall, I had to have a State-required safety inspection performed prior to getting the trailer tagged. Luckily, I had a knowledgable vetern inspector who pointed out that the trailer had auto tires installed, rather than trailer tires. He explained that trailer tires have beefier sidewalls to handle the sway loads. He required that the tires be replaced.

2. I used the trailer for the first time yesterday (first boat launch, yay!). Upon returning home from a 35 mile drive to the marina, I happened to place my hand on one of the tires while inspecting the boat bunks. It was surprisingly hot. I've pulled two boats and several other trailers over the years, and I've never noticed so much heat from a tire, especially considering it was after dark with outside temps in the seventies. These were new tires, on brand new wheels, running on new, freshly-greased bearings. I agree with the earlier comment that single-axle trailers are working at or beyond their design limits pulling these boats.

 

[Ken]

On our last cruise three of us ended traveling together, all use trailer tires and have long ago added "D" rating tires. It was HOT the day we were on the road. Both the single axle trailer's tires got extremely HOT. The tires on the tandem, not so bad (we didn't have a temperature gauge only touch) But one couldn't hold a hand on either of the single axle's tires.. While there was no problem touching any of the tires on the tandem. We were pulling around sixty four, slowing down to fifty nine - sixty this made a huge difference and the tires cooled down....

Of the eight boats attending the cruise all skippers seemed to be in agreement, if one can get four years (that's a huge if) regardless of the condition of the tires at this point replace them.

That's not saying any of the blow outs were in the fourth year. But several of them seemed to occur right around that point.

One has to wonder, did moving tire factories away from the US have anything to do with it?

The folks pulling horse trailers seem have put their faith in Hercules brand.
Anyone used them?

 

[shipwreck66]

The rule of thumb is the same with RVs, 1 ton per axle per set of tires, after that you go dually tire or dual axle. A stripped down no frills C22 is 2000 lbs and all of us carry way to much gear, so figure 2500 lbs. Personally, I'd go dual axle on the next trailer. You should see the setup we use to get my C27 out, 3 axles and 36 ft. with two axles being dual tires.

 

[jfrench]

So, if the tires are working that hard, it would make sense to ensure they are fully inflated before you hit the road. Too little air makes the side wall flex from straight (at the top) to bowed out at the bottom with every revolution of the wheel. The lower the pressure gets, the more flex occurs and the more abuse the tire takes.

 

[Ken]

I agree, in fact when I knew for sure I was going to buy the MK (it had no trailer) I'd already made my mind up I didn't even look at single axle trailers. While most of my stuff got loaded in the truck I was absolutely SHOCKED at all the things that had gotten slipped into the old style over the years I'd owned it.
Gas mileage suffered some with the tandem, but I can't say how much is caused because the MK is a wing keel and sitting up so much higher or the second axle. Our last trip to the coast we averaged 13.5 mpg. I'll can't complain too much..

We check our tires before each trip, figure good habits in the beginning make good habits later on... Besides, it only takes a few minutes..... When I bought tires this last go around I bought them mounted on rims which gave me four more spares...... Yup, I carry three spares, they just don't weigh that much.... and remember Saturday in Alabama? LOL While my route to the coast is not always on Saturday, it is always through AL...hehe

 

[BJW]

I have a Catalina trailer with the drop axel.

I put new 20 x 8 x 10 load range E 90 psi tires on it and it does not sway and tows great. I think the wider tire surface and the E load range makes a good ride for a single axel trailer.

 

[cwkemp]

I believe that heat is a huge factor in tire failure. Took a motorcycle ride from NY to FL and back a couple of years ago. I noticed substantially more road debris from semi tires delaminating once I hit the southern and significantly hotter road surfaces, enough to make me intent on keeping a good distance between me and the trucks. Being fragged by a retread coming apart could potentially affect my control of the bike.
Heat is an enemy whether generated by the friction in the tire construction or absorption from the road surface.
My trailer came with car tires on it and it was obvious that they were near capacity. I fitted trailer tires the second season but I still proceed cautiously without speeding and am especially sensitive to cornering and sway. I've had bowouts on cars but it must make your heart skip to feel your boat buck and weave behind you!
Clint