Tire Wear |
Post Reply | Page <123> |
Author | |
Keith-N-Dar
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Topic: Tire Wear Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 5:59pm |
My pod is in storage so I can't look, but I understood they had independent suspension instead of a straight axle.
|
|
techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 5:41pm |
I checked my tires a few minutes ago, and mine show even wear on both tires. Like I said a few posts ago I should see uneven wear by now if it was occuring.
|
|
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
|
|
this_is_nascar
Senior Member Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Location: NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 466 |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 4:20pm |
I think some of you are missing the point here. What you're seeing has nothing to do with tire pressure, age of tires, speed in which their driven, etc. This issue is they are not wearing correctly, as shown by the big wear down of the outside edge. That's being caused by the tire not having a full and even patch on the roadway, as others have mentioned. The problem is, trying to figure out what's causing it to occur, meaning, why is the tire not resting properly on the road surface.
|
|
"Ray & Connie"
- 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
|
Tucker
Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2011 Location: Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 1:10pm |
I agree that tire pressure is often a problem and the first thing to look at. It could have been a contributor in this case because I didn't check it every day we were out. However, I would expect wear on both the edges of the tire if low pressure were my primary problem and I only have it on the outer edges.
I also agree that it is time to take it to a trailer place to get the alignment checked. It is a 100+ mile round trip for me so it will be a while before I can make that happen. I'll post the results whenever I get them.
In the meanwhile, I did a rough check on my own by centering a 4 foot straight edge on the bottom of the axle and measuring the rise at the 2 foot mark - got 11/32 inch. Not very precise, but the best I could figure out with what I have to work with. If my math is correct, it calculates to about a .82 degree bend in the axle tube.
Perhaps more interesting is that I made the same measurement on a utility trailer that has a very similar axle (3,500lb Dexter Torflex) and came up with the same rise. The utilty trailer was on its wheels, but without any cargo when I made the measurement. I had the r-pod axle hanging from the frame with jackstands under the trailer frame - so no load on the axle. The utility trailer has not exhibited any strange wear patterns on its 14 year old tires so I am inclined to think that it has to be something other than the bend in the axle that is causing problems with the r-pod tires.
Thanks for all your input. I'll let you know if I come up with any useful answers.
|
|
techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 7:54am |
Welcome. Definitely interested in hearing what you find out. I've made a note to check out my tires tonight. We've done approximately 2500 miles over the last 2 years, 1500 just this past summer, so if the tires are going to wear oddly I should see it by now.
Some vehicles just wear out tires due to their design. I've had cars that cup and chew through tires no matter how often you rotate and align and switch tire brands, and some that go 50,000 miles on a set with barely a rotation in sight. In general I've found the ultralight cars are the ones that do the damage (especially on the rear axle where there is no weight at all) and the heavier ones ironically do better. I'm guessing due to more skipping around on the road. We could see the same thing with the pods, they are light. Even with sway bars trailers bounce back and forth a little - which would put extra wear on the outer edges of the tires...
|
|
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
|
|
Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 7:11am |
In looking at the pictures the first thing that came to mind was a camber issue. I had to ask about the tire pressures, however. Typically, for the average user, the tires will dry rot before the tread wears out.
I agree that it may be time for a professional second opinion. I am not familiar enough with straight axle/torsion bar set ups to give much advise. Good luck!
|
|
Goose
Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672 |
Posted: 04 Oct 2011 at 1:39am |
Tucker, I would take the trailer to an RV dealer or a good trailer dealer that sells the type of axle that you have. It could be an axle issue or the axle could be out of alignment. Goose
|
|
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
|
|
sfish
Senior Member Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Location: Bloomington Mn. Online Status: Offline Posts: 134 |
Posted: 03 Oct 2011 at 10:45pm |
Driving under 65 mph will make a big difference in how long your tires will last . Tire pressure is also very important.
|
|
sjf
|
|
Tucker
Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2011 Location: Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 03 Oct 2011 at 10:36pm |
We ordered it with the axle risers and I think they were installed at the factory during the initial build. |
|
TheDogHouse
Newbie Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Location: Ohio Online Status: Offline Posts: 33 |
Posted: 03 Oct 2011 at 9:49pm |
Just curious, did someone install axle risers?
|
|
Steve and Rosa
11' 173T 09' Silverado Extended Cab |
|
Post Reply | Page <123> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |