motor home safety

[JWhalen58]

My system monitors pressure and heat. I will never leave home without it. Our tires are 5 years old, ordered new set of 6 today. Had my butt on side of the road in South Mississippi for 14hrs one Saturday night. Going to take as many precautions as I can.

[sc4400]

One thing to look at is weight on the tires. I went across the scales with my toter and the front weight was 12000 lbs. That's a bunch. Weight X speed = heat= sudden failure. I always keep my tires at the max allowable listed on the sidewall. You would be amazed how many DON'T do this cause they want a better "ride". Just doesn't seem the best plan to me?

Get well soon Jeff...I'll bet he shows up in Belle Rose! :-)

RIP

[Darrel Goheen]

Originally Posted by sc4400

One thing to look at is weight on the tires. I went across the scales with my toter and the front weight was 12000 lbs. That's a bunch. Weight X speed = heat= sudden failure. I always keep my tires at the max allowable listed on the sidewall.

I use to do the same but tire manufactures recommend inflating based on weight on tires so I weighed my axles and inflate according to tire manufacture recommendation. I just read a few minutes ago to inflate based on tire pressure increase from cold to max pressure after driving. Never heard of that before but will be checking more into that idea. Makes sense.....larger increase in pressure from cold to warm indicates tire working more due to not enough pressure. My motorhome tires increase about 5-8 lbs. from cold to warm. Trailer tires increase about 8-10 but I have them at max pressure because of trailer weight.

[cicero819]

I own a Bluebird Wanderlodge, many years ago I attended a seminar put out by Goodyear tire company for Bluebird owners. They showed us that the main reason for tire failure in motorhome was excessive speed. One of the reason we were told to stay at 55mph limit, now motorhome can easily reach 70mph for long periods of time. The other important thing they told us is once you feel the blowout apply full throttle(foot to the floor) and drive out of the problem. Consider all those episodes of Cops and watch all the bozos who continue to drive on flats after having their tires shot out from them, they can still steer the vehicle. Check the youtube video. Thank God Jeff made it through and I hope that he gets away from those crooks in Florida.Claude

[Dick Butler]

I believe we should adjust air pressure when tires are cold. It was my understanding that what they increase to is not the issue when hot. Probably should all be about the same when warm but....I do not believe we are expected to adjust then.

[chester]

why not run nitrogen? I do in my slicks, pressure never changes from day to nite

[600ci]

thats true and the don't leak nitrogen molecue's are larger than air

[600ci]

they run cooler also

[davebw31]

I have been racing since 1962. I retired after 36 years with the State Of Florida as a School Bus Fleet manger. My last seven years I managed the four largest School Bus Fleet in the national. I have been using a Class A motor home towing my 1994 Pace American since 1994. I have had both diesel (2) and gas (2). I sold my 1998 38' diesel Holiday Rambler class A in 2003 when diesel fuel went thru the roof. I bought my current RV, a 2004 National RV Dolphin 36' with the 8.1 chevy fuel injected engine and Allison trans., and 22.5 Michelins. I have towed over 300,000 miles and never blew a front tire, however I have destroyed many, many rears. Here is what I have done in "preventive maintenance and added systems":

I always buy USA tires. Prefer Michelins.
I always run my tires at max rated cold air pressure (dual or single) So screw the ride with lower air pressure. Heat is the death of a tire plus UV rays.
Since my RV and trailer are parked outside I always cover my tires when parked.
I have a Tire Monitoring System, both temp. and air press.
At 3 yrs I buy new fronts, then I rotate my used front tires to the rear, and I usually get another 4 + years of service life. At this time I have my toe checked and set at zero toe with front end on the ground.
I have installed a "Steer Safe System". They do work. I have never lost a steer tire, but I know several racers/RV'ers who have and their coach was badly damaged because they lost control. Also hard braking is a no-no, it just makes it worse.
I have taken a Class A CD driving course and have had a Class A license since 1985 and in 2000 I took a CDL Safety Course.
Most 22.5 tires have a speed rating of only 70 mph. I drive 65 mph, except going down hill getting ready to go up a hill I speed up to 70 mph.

Can it happen to me like it happened to Jeff! Well yes, however I think I have the odds in my favor of it not happening.

Jeff, I know of you and I am very glad you survived. It was not your time to go! Please Jeff install a Steer Safe System. They are not cheap, but next time it may keep you from another catastrophic accident, injury, or your life. Get well soon!

[PLankford]

Outside of my lack of familiarity with the steer safe system, I'd agree with what dave is saying above.

Almost exclusively when a customer tells us he is having an issue with blow outs, we can track it right back to lack of appropriate tire pressure. We see it all the time, people not understanding how important pressure is to keeping heat down.

Most tire manufacturers will only rate tires at the max pressure and if you are under pressure, technically your rating is zero. Those that do rate tires at lower pressures, you can see that the rating reduces almost linearly to the pressure to about 40% reduction in pressure from max. In other words- if you are running 125psi tires at 100psi, your rating is 20% or so lower. At 60,000lbs of tire rating, you've just taken 12,000lbs of capacity off of your axles. We see people running them at car like pressures (60-80psi) thinking that it's something other than maintenance that is causing their issues.

Between tire pressure monitoring and age/condition monitoring a lot of problems could be avoided. That being said, sometimes bad things just happen even if you are careful.... It's another risk in the racing that we love...