Tire Wear

[nufdt]

I have a Jayco 25RB jay feather with about 6000 miles on it. I recently noticed some very uneven wear on the inside of both of the rear axle tires. The tire people said it was most likely a bent axle. I went to the rv dealer and they told me it would cost $200 for them to inspect the axle and determine the cause. I am pretty fastidious about making sure the air pressure is kept what is stated on the sidewall of the tire. I know from reading that I need to check the levelness of the trailer when on the truck.The dealer installed the hitch (with anti sway bars) and I am assuming they did it correctly (I will be checking once I get the new tires on). I have read some of the threads on this issue but thought I would ask to see if anyone has had this specific issue.


Thanks,


NUFDT

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Hopefully this doesn’t turn into 120 comments. Do a search here for the numerous discussions. Having said that, I would jack it up a little and make sure the wheel bearings are not too loose. Jiggle top and bottom in and out. If it moves, they are too loose. If not, bent axel possible. The pressure on the sidewall is Maximum pressure. You should air up to the label placed in the RV. It is based on the weight of the RV on the tires it came with. If different tires, weigh the trailer, and check tire manufacturers charts.

 

[nufdt]

Tire wear

Kevin,


Thanks for the reply. What is the best way to weigh the RV, Truck Scales? Is there anything you can buy to weigh at each wheel?


Thanks


NUFDT

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Scales at truck stop. But if you have the same tire size and ratings as original ones, you can just use the factory label. If you bought higher load rated tires, then you may need to weigh it. Hopefully, did not buy lower load ratings!

 

[N Saban]

I had the same thing happen to driver side rear tire...completely bald on the inside after 17,000 mile. Only 1 tire though. I hope its not the axle. I'm thinking That tire takes all the pressure when I make tight left turns. I make tight u turns on my street to park rig in front of my house. I replaced it and will will do better job of rotating tires.

What do you guys think about my reasoning...feasible idea?

 

[nufdt]

Same tires; rv labeled press is the same as the on the tires (65 psi.). Checked for level when hooked to the trailer not perfect but not more than 5% off.
Will check into ways to evaluate the axel and maybe ways to determine if there is a different load on the rear vs the front axel.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

You might call an alignment shop and see if they will look at it.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

I have a Jayco 25RB jay feather with about 6000 miles on it. I recently noticed some very uneven wear on the inside of both of the rear axle tires. The tire people said it was most likely a bent axle.

Have you, or a tire shop jacked up the trailer by using a jack under the axles? When you visually look at the axles they should have a slight bow towards the belly of the trailer. You can confirm this by using a long piece of something straight, like a piece of wood or pipe laid along the axle.

Many recent threads in the last few days about using a jack under the axle or spring hangers. Just proves there is a lot of bad advice given out on the Internet....just sayin....

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f41/making-a-jack-to-use-under-axle-110138.html#post1182349

 

[Ttlanders]

You can buy a camber gauge pretty cheap and watch videos on how to use that will tell you if you have axle problems. It is a simple process to check!

 

[nufdt]

Interesting results

After reading the reply about a camber gauge and looking at what a camber gauge is, I went to grab my wixy angle finder off of my table saw and check the camber of the wheels. It turns out that the wheel with the worn tire is the same angle as the wheel with the not worn tire (about 0.1 degrees). I am still going to do some measurements on the Axel itself but I am starting to think that it may not be a bent axle. I checked the bearings and there is no wobble in the wheels.


I may still end up at the shop but want to try and rule out as much as I can.

Next I will try and figure out a way to measure the load on each tire.


Thanks to everyone for their advice.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

You are not going to believe this, but put the same pressure. Take two pieces of paper on the parking surface in from and behind a tire. Slide them in until they stop. Measure it as exact as you can. Then put them on both sides right to tire and measure. After writing the measurements down, multiply the width time the length in inches and decimal, then multiply square area times the tire pressure. The answer will be within 10% of the weight. Minimum you will know if one takes way more weight than the other.

 

[nufdt]

Thanks Kevin

I will give it a try

 

[Jayco198RD]

sitting on the ground you should see a slight bow towards the belly of the trailer. If it is bent the axles will be strait and the tires will sit slightly tilted inward at the top of the tire. There are spring shops around that could help you straiten it (put the bend back) for you and the cost would not be overly expensive.

 

[nufdt]

Tire wear

Thanks

There is a bow on the axel. I am going to check if the two axels have the same deflection in center once it warms up.its freezing outside at the moment.