Popup Camper Tire Maintenance
Taking Care of Your Popup Trailer Tires
When it comes to your popup camper, maintaining your tires is crucial to allowing you to have the freedom to camp anywhere you desire. Major damages can occur to your popup camper when you don’t take proper care of the tires. Perhaps you may have not thought much about your tires or just don’t know where to start. In this post, I will give a simple yet easy way to check for tire wear and tear along with techniques to fix or replace them.
Trailer Tires
Trailer tires are not the same as regular automotive tires, in fact, trailer tires are different in that they need to have a more rigid sidewall for stability, as well as provide a stronger weight load for the structural surface above them. All this can prevent swaying on the highway as the tires are designed for extra traction for breaking. It is recommended that you only use (ST) tires, Special trailer, on your trailer.
While automotive tires don’t do the same functions, they are required to maintain traction throughout all varieties of driving conditions. For example, pulling, turning, stopping, or swerving. These types of tires are regulated to provide more flexibility in the tire sidewalls and to provide more time for road contact. Passenger car tires designation is (P) and light trucks are (LT).
ST tires feature materials and construction to meet the higher load requirements and unique demands of towing. The polyester cords used in ST tires are bigger than they would be for a comparable P or LT tire. In addition, the steel wire also has a larger diameter or a greater tensile strength to meet the additional load requirements. This heavier construction for an equal volume of air space, allows an ST tire to carry more load than a P or LT tire.
When should I look at my tires?
This is an easy answer, regularly. Whether parked at home or the campsite is always a good idea to make sure your tires are properly inflated, look for any wear marks on tires, and lastly check for tire rot. It is also important that your camper is loaded with the right gross weight and is on sold terrain at all times.
Choosing the right tires
When you’re towing any type of travel trailer: i.e., a popup camper, you can’t rely on just any auto or trailer tires to work well. You want to make sure you have selected the right type of trailer tires to do the job. Trailer tires are a critical part of your towing system. Selecting the right set of trailer tires will assist you to tow efficiently and safely. But how do you know what tires are the right for your popup camper?
There are lots of choices out there for trailer tires. Each set of trailer tires can offer something distinct. For example, the various types of tires, durability, size, speed, load rating, and compatibility. You will have plenty of options to choose from so don’t settle.
The first step is to know what type of size you’ll need. This will allow you to weed out the low-performance tires. It is also important to check the weight load capacity for each tire. If it does meet the requirements, move on. Check your current tires, owner’s manual, the label inside the PUP camper cabinet or door, or online. Many online blogs, forums, and websites will guide you to the best tire for your camper. I recommend you read the reviews. But ultimately it is your choice to choose why you pick a particular tire for your popup camper. Below I will offer you the main areas I look at before purchasing tires:
- Brand Name
- Compatibility
- Durability
- Load Rating
- Price
- Speed
Good places to buy are local tire shops but Amazon or Walmart will help you out.
Tips for keeping your tires in good condition
Owning a popup camper can be adventurous and fun but not without some careful planning and routine maintenance, especially before camping season or an upcoming trip. It’s essential to go through a routine maintenance checklist for all aspects of your popup camping, this is truer for your popup camper tires. I mean if you can’t get the popup camper’s main functions to move then what’s the use of camping. Spotting major tire problems early can save your life and your wallet. Here’s a quick outline of things to look for and take care of throughout your popup campers’ life:
- Move it or lose it. Move your camper, literally! Make sure you are moving your camper to prevent the air from settling in one spot, this can prevent cracking on the tires, tire rot, and wheel barring issues. It does have to be around the block, but a good foot will do it.
- Parking troubles. Where you park is crucial to how your tires can hold up. Parking on concrete is ideal, but leveled dirt will do. Avoid keeping your camper out in the field or over grass. Not only will you attract mice and other creatures, but tire rot can take place quicker. You can use plywood or stone bricks under your tires if need be.
- Avoid extreme heat temperatures, if possible, concrete, and black tops that are in direct sunlight can be very hard on your tires. Indoor or shaded areas or ideal. Cover your wheels if possible.
- Burr. Extreme cold temperatures can lower the air pressure in your tires making them look flat. Be careful when airing your tires, too much air on frigid cold days might make the tire pop.
- Grease your wheeling bearing every year or every other. Replace your grease bearings every 3 to 5 years depending on usage and where you live within the country, remember extreme temperatures play a huge role.
- Don’t over/underinflate your tires. Airing to the maximum inflation indicated on the sidewall and more than 5 psi above. To find out what the magic number is, check around the tire’s side wall. Other areas to find the correct information is on the decal label on the inside of the camper, or the owner’s manual.
- Only check pressure levels when tires are properly inflated and cooled down. Check the tires before each trip, twice. Under inflation is the number one reason for trailer tire failures and accidents.
- Keep track of all wear and tear on the tires. It is normal to have some wear but chunks or one side wearing away more than the other most likely can be a bigger problem.
- Make sure you check other elements of the tire like the lug nuts, valve stem, and caps. Make sure they are in good condition and replace them when broken. This can lead to air pressure loss or extreme measures like cutting off a lug nut on the side of the highway just to change a tire.
- Replace tires every 3 to 5 years of usage regardless of tread condition or appearance. This rains so true to those popup campers that are stored outdoors and take intense weather conditions. Tire rot is a real thing and most of the time you can’t see the first signs of it, as well as many owners, don’t notice till it’s too late. You can go longer with your tires if you are taking proper care of them.
- Do not go over the gross weight limits. Going over even 20% more could cause additional wear and tear on your tires weakening them further and causing more swaying on the highway, or even worse a blowout.
- Keep your tires clean by using mild soap and water. Watch out for tire care products containing alcohol or petroleum concentrates, they can speed up decay.
Conclusion
In general, popup campers’ tires are relatively low maintenance but being able to spot the wear and tear is crucial. This can rain truth on many other elements of your popup camper. To prevent a serious injury or death you must maintain your tires. It could also cost you money in other aspects of your camper like broken rods or shanks. Consider taking a moment to check your popup camper tires regularly. For more information on popup campers, and their maintenance or camping hacks follow me at La Plante mountaineers.