running on the rim

[Ron Everson]

Coming back from Page, Az. Sunday night after dark, about 3 hours into a ~4 hour trip, I hear one of the trailer fenders rattling a little when we hit a rough stretch of pavement. Nothing new, because those crappy fenders vibrate and rattle normally. Can't see anything in the rear view mirrors and we're about 2 miles from Teec Nos Pos, so I figure I'll stop under a light there and check it out. When I stop and look, low and behold, I'm missing a tire on the tandem axle trailer. Running on the rim with just a few shreds of rubber left hanging on the rim. That Bayline is so heavy that when the blowout occurred, it just settled down on the rim and never bounced a bit. The Ford diesel is kind of noisy anyway, so that's probably why I didn't hear anything, and I never felt any change in the pull. Never saw any sparks, nor did our friends in the car a ways back. Previous owner put new tires on it last year and they looked good, although I've notice they are quite warm when towing. Anyway, we're lucky nothing serious happened. Will need to replace the rim. I'm going to look into whether the tires are sufficient for the weight. I don't want that happening again.

 

[brother chris]

Re: running on the rim

Good thing it was a tandem and not a single axle trailer with only 2 tires.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: running on the rim

Eek is right. You got "lucky".

 

[JB]

Re: running on the rim

Did you have a spare? If not that was a compounded SHT.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: running on the rim

10:24am 19 Oct '05

 

[Ron Everson]

Re: running on the rim

I did have a spare, jack, blocking, etc., so we were back on our way fairly soon. I did drive a little slower the rest of the way home (55-60 vs. 70) and got home o.k.. The rim was o.k. because the rubber wrapped around the rim and we were still running on rubber. I replaced all 5 of those crappy nylon belted tires with steel belted radial trailer tires that were rated for the weight. Old tires were also rated for the load. Replaced the broken, flapping fenders also. I listened to a friend that hauls a 30 footer to Powell regularly and keep the speed down to 60. Just because the truck can pull the load as fast as I want doesn't mean that I have to go that fast! Have hauled to Powell once so far this year and no problems. The new trailer brakes are nice, too. Just gotta pour enough money into it!

Ron

 

[Gone]

Re: running on the rim

About 10 years ago a motorhome was towing his car through Colorado. A tire on the car went down without the driver noticing. Eventually the rim sparks started setting grass fires for 15 miles. Apparently the road was so narrow with no passing zones that no one could alert the motorhome driver.
The Fire Dept tried to charge him for the call (more than $10,000) but was defeated in court.

CD

 

[Ron Everson]

Re: running on the rim

Wife and I were driving down Main Street one evening a week or so ago headed for a restaurant and noticed that the travel trailer being towed ahead of us was running on 3 tires and one rim. It was a good-sized trailer and they were cruising through town at full speed like nothing was happening. (Deja Vu all over again!) We pulled up along-side their big SUV in our small car, honked, waved our arms and hollered to get their attention. They had to roll down their window to hear what we were yelling. They had no idea that they had lost a tire (it was totally gone). Anyway, they pulled off into a couple of open parking spaces as we went on by and circled back to the restaurant that we were headed for. Guess I'm not the only that's happened to!

Ron

 

[thad daly]

Re: running on the rim

Son and I put new axle and wheels from a Chevy Citation on trailer for our 15' alum boat. Matt, big 14 yo put on wheels. Headed down IH-!0 at 70 or such going fishing.
There a little thump then this wheel comes spinning by us doing 80 or so. Matt says "Aw dad, that our wheel."
Looked in the rear view and yes the left wheel was gone but trailer was pulling level axle didn't drag until we slow down to about 30. Matt had to walk back, lugs no problem had got extras when buying axle at j'yard.
Did show Matt how to tighten lug nuts.