What an experience December 10, 2008, 10:39:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97816Well I finally decided to get the front end aligned today. My 2000 30 IB has 45,000 miles on it. It has been pulling to the left. Larry W recommended Tru-Line located at 14920 Delano St Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 780-1288. Tracy quoted $120.00, so I said let's do it. About 15 minutes after they started the tech came into the office and said I have to `go see this'. Whoa, was I shocked. The left front tire had 6 x4 chunk of rubber missing on the inside sidewall just below the tread area, and a giant bubble near the rim. I would have never seen this if just walking around the MH looking at the tires or even when checking the pressure. This is a Firestone 225 load range `D' tire with a lot of tread left on it. The previous owners told me that the front tires had about 500 miles on them and I put 20,000 on them over 1 ½ years. I need to check the manufacture date and see how old they really are. I had them put the spare tire on but it too is in bad shape, the inside edge is worn down. My first question is should I get load range `E' tires as replacements? They quoted me $209.16 for BF Goodrich load range `E' tires plus $72.00 to mount and balance all 6 tires. What do you think of BFG tires? Is this a good price?Back to the alignment, the tech then pointed out that the tires are wearing on the inside edge and that the adjustment is all the way. They installed a new adjustable camber/caster kit on both sides. Adjusted the steering gear box to remove excessive lash, then completed the alignment. The pull to the left is gone and the steering is nice and tight!I was also told that the stock Ford steering stabilizer is shot. Should I replace it with an after market stabilizer? I am happy with their service and would recommend them for front end work. I am very happy to have found the defective tire as that could have been a disaster if it blew while on the highway. Just last weekend I was out in the desert off the 395 about five miles from the highway, sure glad it didn't blow then!Regards, Jerry in Simi Valley 2000 30 IB
Re: What an experience Reply #1 – December 11, 2008, 01:35:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 97817Jerry:Your rig never should have had Load Range D tires on it. Get load range E all around. BF Goodrich is not a bad tire. Also I have always been pleased with the Ford steering stabilizer, though there are many who would swear by some other brand. Obviously you lucked out and avoided a potentially dangerous situation with a blowout. Consider yourself fortunate.Good luck and safe riding on your new tires. That alignment shop appears to be most competent.Gus Weber
Re: What an experience Reply #2 – December 11, 2008, 08:18:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 97818"Jerry" wrote: This is a Firestone 225 load range `D' tire with a lot of tread left on it. --- Jerry, you might want to read the "About Your Tires 2" document in the Files section; the path is Files > Maintenance and Repairs > "About Your Tires (2)". The document offers several currently available *E* load range tires that are appropriate for your rig.Joan
What an experience Reply #3 – December 11, 2008, 08:56:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 97820Re: BFG Tires on 30'I have had BFG Commercial load range E tires on my 2000 31' SOB w/slide for 3 years and about 15,000 miles and have been very please with them.Glen[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: What an experience Reply #4 – December 11, 2008, 10:37:26 am Yahoo Message Number: 97823Quote from: Jerry"My first question is should I get load range `E' tires as replacements? They quoted me $209.16 for BF Goodrich load range `E' tires plus $72.00 to mount and balance all 6 tires. What do you think of BFG tires? Is this a good price?Jerry, We have BFG E tires on our '89 22' TB. The first time we replaced the tires we bought the same Michelin range E that the previous owner had installed. We couldn't tell the difference. Our logic could be off kilter but the ride feels smooth and Ladybug gets bounced around a LOT when we visit my brother who lives 6 miles off the highway in Montana. We don't want to bounce on weaker tires. Karen
Re: What an experience Reply #5 – December 11, 2008, 11:55:26 am Yahoo Message Number: 97824Budster, very happy indeed that you did not have to go through a flat tire
Re: What an experience Reply #6 – December 11, 2008, 11:57:45 am Yahoo Message Number: 97825"Your rig never should have had Load Range D tires on it. Get load range E all around."Amen! This was an accident waiting to happen. The previous owners should have known better.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: What an experience Reply #7 – December 11, 2008, 09:40:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97837Once you get new tires on the front end I would have them recheck the alignment. My opinion is that they should have told you that it would be better to do alignment on new tires instead of old ones and and offered the recheck for free.
Re: What an experience Reply #8 – December 12, 2008, 12:23:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 97840Thanks to all for the input. I spoke with Chuck `The Tireman' today and he recommends Goodyear RSS tires, but at approximately $300 each that is a lot to think about before jumping on that one, plus it's a 300 mile round trip to Ridgecrest, but then you get coffee and donuts…"Gus Weber" wrote: QuoteYour rig never should have had Load Range D tires on it. Get load range E all around. BF Goodrich is not a bad tire. Also I have always been pleased with the Ford steering stabilizer, though there are many who would swear by some other brand. Obviously you lucked out and avoided a potentially dangerous situation with a blowout. Consider yourself fortunate. Good luck and safe riding on your new tires. That alignment shop appears to be most competent. Gus, thanks for the input on the stabilizer, I will probably stick with the Ford one"Andy Baird" wrote: Quote"Your rig never should have had Load Range D tires on it. Get load range E all around." Amen! This was an accident waiting to happen. The previous owners should have known better. And I should have been more diligent in questioning the use of `D' range tires Thanks Andy"jctaylor1941" wrote: QuoteJerry, you might want to read the "About Your Tires 2" document in the Files section; the path is Files > Maintenance and Repairs > "About Your Tires (2)". The document offers several currently available *E*Quoteload range tires that are appropriate for your rig. Thanks Joan, that was good reading"Glen R. Fotre, CCIM" wrote: QuoteI have had BFG Commercial load range E tires on my 2000 31' SOB w/slide for Quote3 years and about 15,000 miles and have been very please with them. Thanks for the reply Glen"Karen" wrote: QuoteWe have BFG E tires on our '89 22' TB. The first time we replaced the tires we bought the same Michelin range E that the previous owner had installed. We couldn't tell the difference. Our logic could be off kilter but the ride feels smooth and Ladybug gets bounced around a LOT when we visit my brother who lives 6 miles off the highway in Montana.QuoteWe don't want to bounce on weaker tires. Thanks Karen, good to hear another vote for BFGs"Larry" wrote:QuoteI had a "SteerSafe" system put on my LD, for just such a scenario. My advice would be to put the best possible, load range "E" tires on the rig, especially on the front end.Thanks Larry, that's my plan."Kent" wrote: QuoteOnce you get new tires on the front end I would have them recheck the alignment. My opinion is that they should have told you that it would be better to do alignment on new tires instead of old ones and and offered the recheck for free. Yes they did, and I will, thanks KentJerry in Simi Valley 2000 30 IB
Re: What an experience Reply #9 – December 12, 2008, 09:27:19 am Yahoo Message Number: 97845Thanks to all for the input. I spoke with Chuck `The Tireman' today and he recommends Goodyear RSS tires, but at approximately $300 each that is a lot to think about before jumping on that one, plus it's a 300 mile round trip to Ridgecrest, but then you get coffee and donuts.Look around and see if you can get the tires for less someplace else...Costco, Discount Tire, Les Schwab, etc. Whatever you end up buying or where you end up buying, be sure to check the date codes on each tire before they are mounted on your rig. Ideally, you don't want anything over 6 months old and younger would be better. You may have to wait for the tire dealer to order fresh tires, but I wouldn't take the chance that they might put tires on my rig that had been laying around their shop for several years (20/20 did a report earlier this year and found that many tire shops had tires that were 10 years old or older that they were selling as new...just because they've never been mounted on a vehicle, doesn't mean they're *new*).Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: What an experience Reply #10 – December 12, 2008, 03:19:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97871I second Linda's opinion on looking around. Costco seems like a good choice and you wouldn't have to make the drive up here to R/C. I've got the XPS Michelins on my 05 and have no complaints.Dick
Re: What an experience Reply #11 – December 12, 2008, 05:00:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97876Jerry, I had 6 new Goodyear RSS tires installed, including *Borg* valves, for $1200.00. (in Louisiana) two years ago. Of course I don't recommend going to Louisiana for your tires, but even the 300 miles to Ridgecrest is overkill, IMHO. Even if the $300. per tire includes good ol' boy Chuck's valves, that coffee better be top-of-the line Peet's!!! With gold flecks floating in it instead of sugar!Lorna Santa Cruz
Re: What an experience Reply #12 – December 12, 2008, 06:28:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97878Getting the best tires is a good idea, but there's no need to pay $300 a tire to Chuck Carvitto if you can find the same tires for less elsewhere. Figure out what brands and models (e.g., Michelin XPS RIB) are suitable, then shop around. Don't overlook discount chains like Costco. As for Chuck's stems, they're great--but you can order the kit from him for a hundred bucks or so, and then have any competent local tire shop install them. That's what I did.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: What an experience Reply #13 – December 17, 2008, 02:44:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97981Quote Jerry:Your rig never should have had Load Range D tires on it. Get load range E all around. Does this apply to all LDs, or only to speficic models? Mine is a 22' FL. Do I need load range E as well? I did not pay attention to load range on my tires. They are less than 3 years old, look new, have 6 plies, and a maximum pressure of 65psi. LD recommends 50psi front and 40psi rear.Sam
Re: What an experience Reply #14 – December 17, 2008, 04:23:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97985The plack on the door panel of my 82 says load range D.Michelle
Re: What an experience Reply #15 – December 17, 2008, 04:44:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97986Quote The plack on the door panel of my 82 says load range D.Michelle Great! Thank you, Michelle.Sam
Topic: What an experience (Read 8 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: What an experience (Read 8 times)
previous topic - next topic