A survey done in 2011 showed that there were approximately 8.9 million American households that owned an RV. One of the maintenance concerns for RVers is taking care of the tires so that the conditions of the tire over time are able to maintain safety and present less of a possibility of a blowout on the road. With 49 percent of mobile families having children who are under the age of 18, safety can become a major concern.
So if you and your family are out on the road in your fifth wheeler RV, here are a few tips for proper tire maintenance for your vehicle.
Tires and weight bearing
While many fifth wheel RV owners might err on the side of caution and decide to use the same type and size of tire that was on the vehicle when purchased, this might not be the optimal way to determine the best tire for your RV, especially if you have had modifications done to it. The best tire would be one that can maintain the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the RV. Even if you have not had modifications done, you need to ensure that GVWR of your fully loaded RV and the tires are compatible by checking with an RV tire dealer or the RV manufacturer.
In addition to this, the tire pressure also needs to be checked at least once per month to ensure that they are inflated correctly, as either an over-inflated or under-inflated tire can lead to a blowout. If you are only on the road for vacation periods then you need to check the tires before going out, especially if the RV was stationary for long periods. Bear in mind that even under normal conditions a tire can lose as much as 1 to 3 psi per month.
Checking for more than tread wear
Proper maintenance of the tires on your RV requires that you check for more than just the loss of tread in the tires. This is especially true for seasonal travelers who may end up having the same tire for years due to lack of frequent mileage. However, a tire can become brittle and crack, which can lead to problems on the road. It is recommended that you check the age of your tires and change them after every 6 to 10 years regardless of how often you use them.
One thing that impacts the speed at which tires age and crack is the dressing that is used on them. Dressings should not contain any petroleum or alcohol products, so items like WD-40 can do more damage to your tire over time. The best way to dress the tires is simply to keep them clean with soap and water and to keep them covered from the sun when they are not in use.
For more information about fifth wheel RV tire care, speak with a representative from a business like Brad's Trailer Supply.
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