Check your Rims

[Crazy Canucks]

We just returned from a 6 week/15000 km (9310 mi) road trip. Checked tire pressure/lugs and rims/hubs religiously. Noticed this while checking them when we departed West Yellowstone the other day :eek:

634

Taking trailer in on Friday for warranty/service work and get it ready for 2012 winter road trip to the sunny south :bdance:

[anthonbloom]

That looks dangerous! Did you hit hard somewhere, or perhaps it was a bad casting? I just had a scary experience with broken springs in my 2010 Cougar 318 SAB so it might be worth your while to check for any broken spring leaves. I would expect Keystone to replace the wheel for you.

[Frankenstien]

Notice my avatar... suspect the same thing that may have caused my wheel lug failure may have cause your cracking... just a guess.... I live in a culda sack, so in order to get my unit back in its "cubby" I have to back the unit hard, causing some wheel skid in the process, this puts a lot of stress on the wheels and lugs.... since my lug failure I have changed my approach as to prevent having to Jack knife the unit in as hard.

[Rock7]

Thought wheel manufacturers had whipped that problem.
Used to be a problem with over the road trks w/aluminum wheels .

My Co was in Joplin Mo,And Mo. DOT downed 3 trks in one day over cracked alum. wheels.
After that we were told to inspect for cracks as part of daily.
I lost a tire off a trlr tire,still had whl center w/nuts attached.

[turbopilot51]

The other option would be custom steel wheels. More weight but able to handle the weight of the fiver and road stress. Just my .02.

[LittleJoe]

I would have been changing to the spare when you KNEW you had 2 broken spokes.

In general aluminum wheels are stronger than steel and not as prone to cracking. If you take a hard impact, though you can crack a aluminum wheel , where a steel wheel will bend . Either way they are both done.

In the commercial world, if you loose a wheel off of truck or trailer and it can be proven it is from something coming loose versus clean breaking with no earlier signs of problems, the Driver can be subject to 5000.00 fine and the Owner subject to 25000.00 fine, and God help you if someone is injured or Killed.

Just something to think about........

[pjhansman]

I've been checking my rims since your first post. Got back from a trip yesterday, and 3 of 4 rims had cracks developing in the spokes. :(

Less than 10k kilometres on the 5ver.

[CarKath]

I've been checking my rims since your first post. Got back from a trip yesterday, and 3 of 4 rims had cracks developing in the spokes. :(

Less than 10k kilometres on the 5ver.

WOW, I'll checking mine tomorrow in the daylight.

Thanks Crazy Canucks for bringing this up.

[CarKath]

I just finished inspecting my rims. Guess what.....4 cracked rims. I guess I will be calling dealer today.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Quick question ...

As the supplier of the rims may differ.

Where where your respective RV's made?

Just trying to eliminate a group OMG"!!! ... :wave:

hankaye

[byrdr1]

make sure these are documented with Government recall websites.
I have these type rims and today is my 1 year anniversary on purchase date. I covered my tires this weekend and went over them real good looking for cracks. NONE found.
randy

[CarKath]

I contacted dealer (Pleasureland RV , Ramsey,MN). My salesman was surprised to hear of the problem and said he never had never heard of such a thing before. I believe him as he is a straight shooter. They will take care of me as needed he assured me, and I believe that too. So things are in the early stages for me. Here is a shot of one wheel. I'll add more after washing wheels and having a closer look.

[Terrydactile]

I'll bet those wheels were made in China. There is probably a design issue or an inferior alloy mix.

[christopherglenn]

And off I go to get a flashlight.....

[JRTJH]

Christopherglenn:

A flashlight may not be enough to find cracks. I'd suggest that you take the tires/wheels off the trailer, clean them up well, inspect the front, but also turn them over and carefully inspect the back. You may find that the stress causing the cracks may not just cause them to crack on the front of the wheel, but on the ohter side of the trailer, it may show on the inside of the wheel.

Maybe there's something to be said for staying with steel wheels??? Time will tell :)

[CarKath]

An important update. After cleaning up the wheels on my alpine.

Guess what I discovered.

Those cracks, they were not cracks. It was a build of dirt under the plastic coating on the wheels. ( sure looked like cracks )

Once cleaned, no cracks.

Sorry for not updating sooner.