Trailer troubles?

[Highbeam]

Trailer makers can be a sleezy bunch of crooks. THey want to offer low prices but still make money. Used wheels and tires is very common on bargain trailers. Single axle braking is also a sleezy way to save money. The manufacturers that I've seen that sell their base model as described seem to always offer optional upgrades to tandem brake axles and new tires.

I found that using a real trailer manufacturer like big tex or PJ made for a superior finished product. Much more superior but I recognize that there will always be a market for the cheapy trailers.

 

[George2615]

Yeah I know there are cheap trailer makers. Mines made by H&H trailers. You can't get any trailer over 7K without brakes on both axles. Before I bought my HH trailer I saw an 18' PJ at an auction but was out bid (wasn't going to spend over 2500 for a used trailer that size). They also had a 20' 10K 5th wheel unit I didn't bid on. It sold for a good price $3500. But I didn't have a 5th wheel hitch. Wish I could go back in time now, I should have bought that 5th wheel and bought the hitch for my truck. The 18' flatbed was made in Mexico but looked sturdy.

 

[sparkkky]

The tires are new same brand and almost same pattern and 10ply rated, the trailer is a Texas Bragg. Looks very well built and if there's any fault besides the different tires its the one brake axle.

 

[BarryinMN]

My trailer was made by a small Wisconsin shop. It came with 10 ply 3085 lb tires made in China. In the first year the tires developed bubbles sticking out the sidewall. On one trip home carrying a new tool one tire literally blew off shearing all 6 lugs. Dark rainy night I heard a bang but nothing seemed different.

Pulled in a rest stop got out to do the customary walk around and was staring at a exposed brake drum without studs /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I had checked all studs on the trailer about 50 miles earlier. Took awhile but I scrounged up new studs, wheel and tire before continuing.

The Manufacturer thru the dealer traded 3 tires for 4 new Taiwan manufacture ones at no charge. The nearest tire dealer of that brand was out in Montana or Idaho. I was not alone as there were other complaints on that same brand on a RV forum I ran across.

 

[jimainiac]

Boy, nothing says "high quality" like used tires and brakes on one axle. Can't imagine doing business with an outfit like that.

 

[BarryinMN]

This was a new tandem trailer with 4 brakes. The tires were all new still showing nubbies.

Most trailer mfgr's simply say go to the tire dealer for warranty. These guys went the extra step and we swapped at the dealership.

When I was looking for trailer tire defects the RV forums had a lot of Goodyear horror stories. Similar to a blowout throws the rig into the ditch. Not to pick on Goodyear they may have a greater market share than others.

My intention was to replace all the tires as the remaining 3 were run overloaded 25% for some distance. The single tire on one side was probably overloaded closer to 100%.

As stated earlier the trailer handling was no different which points to the trailer engineering and workmanship as top notch.