TIRES, WHEELS, AXELS

[COLJDM]

ALL, recently, we experienced a double blow out on the passenger side of our 36FL. We traveled 20K miles with our coach since 1 June 2012 so we gave it a work out. We experienced a bad tire (inside tread down to the steel belt on the rear passenger axel. tire had less than 10K miles) in Sep and replaced it. Were instructed to have axel recambered. We did that. Had to return to the Factory for warranty issues and making a long story short, Redwood installed 2 new axels and rotated the wheels/tires (Redwood really stepped up to the plate on this issue).. We drove 929 miles and a double blow out on the passenger side occurred 3 hours from our home.After sitting on the side of the road for 6hours, we had one tire replaced, spare installed and we were on our way. We had purchased the tire road hazard insurance when we bought our coach. American Warranty Corp is replacing one wheel, and two tires including labor. Our insurance (Progressive) is replacing the other wheel, and repairing $6300 worth of damage. Needless to say, after meticulously checking our tires while traveling, THE GOODYEAR MARATHONS just can't do the job. They literally blew apart. I have purchased new wheels (Sendel T04's model 66867BM, rated at 3750 lbs) and am purchasing Sailun G rated 14 ply tires which also have a weight rating of 3750lbs. My insurance company is now "reviewing" the case with Goodyear for tire failure.We expect to have our coach repaired and fully operational by the 1st week in Dec. RECOMMENDATION to all, dump the Goodyear Marathons and the Sendel T03 wheels (original factory wheel rated at 3580lbs) and purchase heavier tires and wheels. On a happier note, during our visit to the Factory, the Redwood team did an outstanding job fixing our issues. Brian, Linda and Russ and their team members should be commended for their customer service and support. If any of you need to visit the factory, stay at the Elkhart County Fairground, not fancy, but is a few miles from the center of Goshen and about 15 miles from the factory (has full hook up and 50 amp svc, no cable, $28.89 per night.

[COLJDM]

Also, we thought we had an issue with our axels so we paid for a laser diagnostic review of the alignment. Both axels were within standard specifications regarding alignment so we did not have an axel issue but a tire issue. Another note regarding the Goodyear Marathons, we have replaced 3 of them in 20K miles and as a result of their failure we are dealing with repair of our coach and a $500 deductible cost. So if you are traveling extensively, we highly recommend you replace the Goodyear Marathons with a G rated tire and replace the wheels with a wheel that can support the G rated tire. The Sendel wheel we are using is an acceptable replacement for the standard wheel that comes with the Redwood according to the Tredit Tire Co as they supply the wheels to Redwood.

[5th_Time]

John,

Why do you have two different claims?. Why didn't Progressive handle the entire incident?. We have Progressive and wonder how we would submit such a seemingly related claim... Also, what kind of body damaged occurred to contribute to a $6,500 claim?

[COLJDM]

Mike, we have a claim for the tires and wheels with our road hazard insurance company, American Warranty Corp, as they cover the tires and wheels. Progressive does not cover the tires however they cover the wheels under "resulting damage" due to tires blowing out. That same reason allows covering the damage to the coach. The reason for the claim expense is $4500 labor, the rest is parts and paint. I have found a website for wheels (Sendel wheels which are the type that come with our Redwoods) and have ordered 4 wheels (currently on backorder due in last week of Nov). I have also researched tires and am planning to purchase Sailun tires (out of Canada) which are G rated 14 Ply. I have an estimate from Tire Kingdom that is $1174.38 for 4 tires, mounted, balanced and installed. Some of that labor and tire cost is reimburseable by American Warranty Corp under our road hazard tire & wheel policy. On a good note, I get the nicks fixed on the passenger side from the seam down from door to door!!

[5th_Time]

Wow, it sounds like that tire went off like a grenade...



Don't forget that you actually need (5) wheels/tires - as you you would want the matching spare in case you get a flat in E. Overshoe or somewhere equally remote and have to put significant miles on the spare.



I have the factory G614s with the heavier wheels and noticed that the spare is a steel equivalent which might save you a few dollars.

[Beechguyjim]

That's why I put H load range 125 psi good years on mine from day one

[5th_Time]

I don't think any standard Redwood-supplied wheels can accept H-rated or 125psi...

[jrgkfg]

We had a blow out also although it was a recalled BF Goodrich that blew before I got them changed out. Goodrich(Michelin) really has suprised me, will repair the damage as soon as the estimates are in. Mine was the right rear and damaged the fender,lower panel,jack and hose and also took off the bottom of the ladder. Wonder how the guy behind me felt when he got home and found that big chunk of tread in his grill!
I have some other issues and I'm seriously considering having it fixed at the factory in March after we leave the valley.Don't know if I can stand to look at it that long. Two months old and wrecked!

[COLJDM]

JRGKFG we feel for you. It is disturbing. Mike, thx for the reminder about the spare. I will purchase a steel equivilent and tire for the spare as well. I can tell all that the Redwood Service dept does an outstanding job on body and paint work. We had some done and you cannot tell what was repaired and what was original. For information the standard wheels and tires provided by Redwood handle 80psi, 3580lbs weigh limit and E range tires. On our 36FL model the standard wheels are Sendel T03 model.

[Dave&Ginny]

John,

I'm really sorry to hear of your tire problems. I hope Redwood considers this in the future as they put tires on their rigs. In my opinion, I really love my Redwood but it's unacceptable that customers have to worry about their tires after less than a year of towing. I'm glad I bought the "G" rated tires even though it was discouraged and seen as overly cautious by both the dealer and the company.

[RollsRoyce]

After hearing these tire related incuidents it dowsn't seem overyly cuatious to me it sounds intelligent.....And just think a new trailer with over $6000 in damage and a deductible to pay as well as the time you are without your home if you are a full-timer unless you never go anywhere. Redwood needs to step up wit h at least G rated equipment as standard

[Dave&Ginny]

I'm fearful that if the tires remain a problem.....Redwood's reputation will suffer greatly. Safety is a VERY important element in the sale of RVs

[Tobys Home]

Right on Dave, God forbid a rig getting totaled and someone getting hurt. At seventy MPH on a major multi-lane highway??? Hmmmmm. Hope my G's do the job when we get to tow next year.

[Campers]

Just a question John. Would a tire presure monitoring system have helped you in this case?

[Beechguyjim]

That's why I got wheels and tires from a place in Ohio about $2200 delivered

[Tall-Pines]

First thing I did when I got my rig is to buy a Tire-Minder system with 10 sensors. 6 on the truck and 4 on the trailer. Probably should have got 3 more and added the 2 spare tires and the Trail-Air pin too!

There is a signal booster that I installed inside the battery compartment of the trailer. Just a simple screw mount and 2 wires to run to the positive and negative terminal strips.

Interesting that the front tires on the truck that are set at 75 psi go up to about 80 when driving.
The rear tires set at 65 psi stay just about there and don't change much.
The G-rated trailer tires that are set for 110 go up to almost 125 psi on the road!



Edited by: Tall-Pines

[UNDRPSI]

Sorry to here you had a blow out John. Glad she was able to get off the road safely with out anything else happening.
I just don't under stand why manufactures like Redwood don't dump the lower rated tires and make the G rated tire standard with the option of a 17.5" wheel and tire for heavier 5er's. I just don't not understand why a manufacture would subject themselves to the ridicule of a safety matter like fixing a tire blowout .
Alot of people think the tire blows out because of the highway speed's and I know that most are only rated for 60 MPH. But from all the checking that I did pryer to ordering our Redwood. Alot of it is from extreme tire scrub that we subject our coaches to backing into and pulling out of where we park our coaches. Tires like the Marathon have a steel belt on the tread side of the tire and has cloth belt on the side walls of the tire. Where as the Goodyear G rated tire has a steel belt where the tread is and also has steal belt on the side walls. Thus making it more suited for the weight and side loads that we all subject our tires to from time to time backing into and pulling out of our sites. I was told by my tire guy that tires like the Marathon tires blow because they get damaged because of</span>the heavy weight andturning. Our coaches can be turned very sharp and the tires side walls actually tear from the tires scrubbing when jack knifing into and out of our sites</span>. Most times not showing any damage until reaching high way speeds. Then the big blow out causing alot of damage. If you ever get a chance to feel the difference in tires before they get mounted you will say to your self why do they even offer such a light weight tire. The G rated tire weights about twice what the Marathon tire weights. I feel if the 5er can be towed with a 1/2 ton pickup then you could probably get away with the Marathon type tires because of the low weigh of the 5er. But for anything the size of our coaches it should be a no brainer for the manufactures. G rated tires standard and the 17.5 wheel and tire combo as a option. The $2200 to $2500 more for a standard Redwood to make a safety item like G rated tires standard should make the buyer happier to think the manufacture is actually thinking more about their customer safety then the bottom line. Just my 2 cents.</span>

[Campers]

Ian, what kind of tpms do you have. I have an Nvision and not pleased at all with it. Many false alerts, I unhooked one day and drove home from the storage area and hadn't selected truck only and i did't get an alarm that all four tires were not registering.

Time for a new one.

[Beechguyjim]

I have the Tire Minder they are great people

[lillyputz]

I've had the TST Truck System Technologies 706-531-0044, for four years. just transfered it over to the RW. It has payed for it self, more than once.



lillyputz