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Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Yahoo Message Number: 66874
Does anyone have any tips for driving an 87 LD that I just bought about 380 miles, but it's been stored for about a year. It runs well, but just wondering if anyone has done this and learned anything. Tires are good and it seems ready for the trip. I will have to take the Grapevine in California. Mildly concerned.
Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66875
Might want to have new tires put on.  We bought a 2000 in San Antonio and my husband had two flats driving it home to ABQ.  The tires looked great and the coach only had 13,800 miles on it but the tires were six years old.

CK
Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66876
I have to agree, you can't judge the tires by their appearance.  Nor even by their age, entirely, if they're been sitting still for a year.  The tire date code is located on the sidewall next to the letters DOT, followed by the tire's serial number. The last four digits indicate the week and year the tire was manufactured. So if the last four digits are 0704, the tire was made during the seventh week of 2004. But tires don't last as long if they're not used, which I suspect is what went wrong with the Halls' tires and could also be the case wtih yours.
 I would certainly get an oil change and a checkup of all the most vulnerable stuff (hoses, belts, wipers. etc.) before hitting the road.

The Michelin RV Tire Guide is excellent:
 http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrvtires/hom_us.jsp

Joanne in Boston 1994 teal TK NE-44
Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66880
"Does anyone have any tips for driving an 87 LD that I just bought...Tires are good..."
 Like CK and Joanne, I strongly recommend replacing all six tires...unless you can prove from the date codes that they are less than five years old. A blowout on one of these rigs is not just a safety hazard; it can badly tear up the underside of your rig. Then you'll not only need tires, but expensive repairs as well. Don't risk it!
 Yes, I know it's a lot of money and a hassle, but that's why the experts say you should set aside $3,000 for repairs when buying an older rig. New tires will cost you less than half that much. Recommended: Michelin XPS RIB.

Andy Baird
Tijeras, NM
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66883
Quote
"Does anyone have any tips for driving an 87 LD that I just
bought...Tires are good..."

Quote
Like CK and Joanne, I strongly recommend replacing all six
tires...unless you can prove from
 
Quote
the date codes that they are less than five years old. A blowout on
one of these rigs is not
 
Quote
just a safety hazard; it can badly tear up the underside of your
rig. Then you'll not only need

Quote
tires, but expensive repairs as well. Don't risk it!

Yes, I know it's a lot of money and a hassle, but that's why the
experts say you should set
 
Quote
aside $3,000 for repairs when buying an older rig. New tires will
cost you less than half that

Quote
much. Recommended: Michelin XPS RIB.

Andy Baird Tijeras, NM
Well I would certainly replace the tires if they are Goodyears. They seem to be the worst tires on the planet. The previous owner of my rig had the driver's side rear wheel well destroyed by a Goodyear tire. The second sidewall failure happened just months ago sitting at the Mothership while having that wheelwell replaced. It too was a Goodyear. I will be using Michilin or HanKooks in the future.

I could be wrong, but are the majority of sidewall failures seem to be with Goodyears?

Terry and Peggy 92 23.5 TK "Dazy Roze"
Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for Trip
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66885
"Terry Terzian"  wrote: I could be wrong, but are the majority of sidewall failures seem to be with Goodyears? ---- All Goodyear tires (and tires from most manufacturers) are not created equal(ly); tire line and model quality, application, and construction vary. I haven't heard of any "failures" with the all- steel G647RSS.

There's usually no way to *really* know why a tire sidewall failed, but in *many* cases, I strongly suspect "operator error", i.e., the wrong tire for the use, underinflation (or improper inflation for the load), overloading, old/damaged tires and/or all of the above.
An inside dual may be particularly susceptible to failure because it's essentially out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. The best inspection methods (for duals) are to pull the tires and carefully examine each or "rack" the rig and view the tires from there. If neither of these methods is practical, getting under the rig with a flashlight and looking for potential problems works, too.  ;-)

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready f
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66888
Thank you. I changed the route to avoid crossing the desert and Grapevine. I am concerned about the tires, but if that's all that goes wrong, I can handle it. I got a good deal on an 1987 and the owner is being great. It's got a rebuilt with 21K, so I think it can make the now 355 mile trip.
 CK and David Hall ckndave@...> wrote:  Might want to have new tires put on.  We bought a 2000 in San Antonio and my husband had two flats driving it home to ABQ.  The tires looked great and the coach only had 13,800 miles on it but the tires were six years old.

CK

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Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready f
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66897
Thank you so much for the great tire info. I will check that tomorrow and I think getting the fluids changed before setting out is wise. I will do it. My brother is a semi mechanic and he's going with me. So if something goes wrong, I have another person there helping. I pray to god the 400 mile trip goes well. I don't care if it blows up in my home city, just please, not in the desert.  Take care

=)

joanne0012 joanne0012@...> wrote: I have to agree, you can't judge the tires by their appearance.  Nor even by their age, entirely, if they're been sitting still for a year.  The tire date code is located on the sidewall next to the letters DOT, followed by the tire's serial number. The last four digits indicate the week and year the tire was manufactured. So if the last four digits are 0704, the tire was made during the seventh week of 2004. But tires don't last as long if they're not used, which I suspect is what went wrong with the Halls' tires and could also be the case wtih yours.
 I would certainly get an oil change and a checkup of all the most vulnerable stuff (hoses, belts, wipers. etc.) before hitting the road.

The Michelin RV Tire Guide is excellent:
 http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrvtires/hom_us.jsp

Joanne in Boston 1994 teal TK NE-44

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[Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for T
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66899
Tim -
 You don't say if you are traveling north or south on the Grapevine.. have you considered going around, on 58 (near Bakersfield) to the 14 to avoid the Grapevine?

I'm just curious.. to avoid the Grapevine in the hot weather I am wondering at your alternate route.  At least you have a mechanic at hand!  And I speak from experience, have a 1" socket along if you don't get your tires changed (see Blues photos - I blew a right front)

Good Luck

Lisa and Blue 1990 MP
2005 RB
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready f
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66911
Great idea. Thank you! Going South to Southern California.

carrerachic99 stonehouse24@...> wrote:  Tim -
 You don't say if you are traveling north or south on the Grapevine.. have you considered going around, on 58 (near Bakersfield) to the 14 to avoid the Grapevine?

I'm just curious.. to avoid the Grapevine in the hot weather I am wondering at your alternate route.  At least you have a mechanic at hand!  And I speak from experience, have a 1" socket along if you don't get your tires changed (see Blues photos - I blew a right front)

Good Luck

Lisa and Blue 1990 MP

SPONSORED LINKS Recreational vehicles   Automotive maintenance   Recreational vehicle dealer     Used recreational vehicles   Automotive radiators

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Re: Tires; another reason for failures
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66923
Quote
There's usually no way to *really* know why a tire sidewall failed, but in *many* cases, I strongly suspect "operator error", i.e., the wrong tire for the use, underinflation (or improper inflation for the load), overloading, old/damaged tires and/or all of the above.
An inside dual may be particularly susceptible to failure because it's essentially out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. The best inspection methods (for duals) are to pull the tires and carefully examine each or "rack" the rig and view the tires from there. If neither of these methods is practical, getting under the rig with a flashlight and looking for potential problems works, too.  ;-) Joan
As usual, Joan is right on target! I'll offer up another possible reason for rear tire failure.

Many RVs are improperly leveled at campsites by someone putting leveling blocks under only one of their rear duals. Sometimes its even worse; they only have part of one tire on the block and you can see those sidewalls straining under all that weight. I remember that Andy posted a picture from one of the LD gatherings that showed exactly that scenario.

Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready f
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66961
Hi Lisa and Blue,
 We took the San Jose 101 to the 152 East to the 5 fwy South. We did this to shave off two hours of driving time. The 1987 handled the Grapevine with no problems at all and stayed above 50mph most of the time. We risked the desert and Grapevine, because we had the transmission flushed and oil changed before we left San Jose, California. The trip would have taken 7+ hours on the 101 and 5 1/2 on the 5 fwy. My main concern was tires. They were in great condition, but they've been parked in storage for a year. I highly suggest, unless you great an amazing deal on a LD and I mean amazing, like my 1987 in good condition with new engine w/ 21K on it, plus gen, tv, micro for $2,000,  I think you should really plan the trip and make sure it's worth the risk. If you're in the used market, sometimes it's better to wait for a LD to come up for sale locally, unless you get an amazing deal and then it suddenly becomes worth it. Thanks for all your well wishes on the trip, believe me, I was thinking of all the kind words of the LD club members as I started on the Grapevine.

carrerachic99 stonehouse24@...> wrote: Tim -
 You don't say if you are traveling north or south on the Grapevine.. have you considered going around, on 58 (near Bakersfield) to the 14 to avoid the Grapevine?

I'm just curious.. to avoid the Grapevine in the hot weather I am wondering at your alternate route.  At least you have a mechanic at hand!  And I speak from experience, have a 1" socket along if you don't get your tires changed (see Blues photos - I blew a right front)

Good Luck

Lisa and Blue 1990 MP

SPONSORED LINKS Recreational vehicles   Automotive maintenance   Recreational vehicle dealer     Used recreational vehicles   Automotive radiators

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.

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Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for T
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66886
Jason,  I just went through the same scenario and had two rear tires blow up on my 1986.  My Tires were  3 years old.  I ended up putting new tires on in mid-trip.  Check the date code as suggested, if they are very old I'd change them out.  Take a good tool boxs as well, the lugs are 1".  Have fun and good luck.

Jingle
 
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Getting stored Lazy Daze Ready for T
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66889
Thank you for the tip.
 JE Bell jingle5616@...> wrote:  Jason,  I just went through the same scenario and had two rear tires blow up on my 1986.  My Tires were  3 years old.  I ended up putting new tires on in mid-trip.  Check the date code as suggested, if they are very old I'd change them out.  Take a good tool boxs as well, the lugs are 1".  Have fun and good luck.

Jingle