Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Fifth Wheels
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-01-2018, 04:44 PM   #1
sandy43
Senior Member
 
sandy43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Texas
Posts: 343
Level driving with RV

A level RV (5th W) is ideal for pulling down the highway. But, what if it's a couple inch's higher or lower in the front, would that create any problems on tires or axles? Mine is just a tad lower in front, not much but slightly noticeable from a distance. Should I correct this problem, which would be easy to do with air bags. Thanks
__________________
Sandy & Ann
2019 Alpine 3401RS
2011 Ford F350 Diesel

sandy43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2018, 05:07 PM   #2
cayovelez
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Lafayette
Posts: 69
I did with my Anderson Hitch 5th. wheel and it made a reasonable difference. Specially in concrete highways where you get a lot of thumps. Just my 2 cents :-)
cayovelez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2018, 05:37 PM   #3
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
You don't say what type of fifth wheel hitch you're using and whether the hitch can be raised or the pinbox lowered to level the trailer. That would be your "easy way out". As for being "a couple inches high or low" the equalizer between the axles will accommodate that difference and negate any problem for the tires/axles.

If the truck is level when the trailer is hitched, there's no "need" for air bags, it would be a personal preference, not a necessity.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2018, 05:54 PM   #4
sandy43
Senior Member
 
sandy43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Texas
Posts: 343
The hitch is a Ford Reese 25K. The bolt holes are about 2" spacing. The more I think about it, I ought to leave well-enough alone. It's only noticeable to me. Thanks for the reply.
__________________
Sandy & Ann
2019 Alpine 3401RS
2011 Ford F350 Diesel

sandy43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2018, 06:52 PM   #5
mtofell
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Oregon
Posts: 247
I don't see a little nose-high or nose-low as being a problem. Especially, as minor as you make it sound. I regularly get a good laugh at some of the setups I see while driving around. If those aren't having problems I have think those of use that are just a bit high or low are just fine.
mtofell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2018, 07:34 AM   #6
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtofell View Post
I don't see a little nose-high or nose-low as being a problem. Especially, as minor as you make it sound. I regularly get a good laugh at some of the setups I see while driving around. If those aren't having problems I have think those of use that are just a bit high or low are just fine.
Problem is.. most of those folks don't or won't know that they have a problem until they're stuck on the side of the road.

Level will tow more smoothly and usually result in fuel savings overall.
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 02:13 PM   #7
avalanchehd
Junior Member
 
avalanchehd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Alexandria,La.
Posts: 24
Any thoughts about axle loading. You should put it on the scales with the axles on seperate plates, to check axle weight
__________________
2012 Avalanche 330RE pulled by 2007 Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Duramax 6.6. always acompanied by dear wife,and 1 Dashound.
any replys may be facts or maybe opinions, You decide!!
avalanchehd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2018, 10:43 AM   #8
MtnGoat
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: 00100
Posts: 32
I understand that the equalizer should keep a balance of pressure across both axles.


What I have experienced is a pressure difference between the front and rear tires using my Tire Minder. There appears to be a 5psi difference between axles with the rear axle tires being the higher. To backup my claim I have swapped out the sensors and checked tire pressures before the sun comes up. And have a good Autometer analog tire gauge. I have not checked axle weight as yet.



Not that I'm concerned about 5psi, I wonder if this differential can be impacting fuel economy.
MtnGoat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2018, 02:47 PM   #9
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,600
Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGoat View Post
I understand that the equalizer should keep a balance of pressure across both axles.


What I have experienced is a pressure difference between the front and rear tires using my Tire Minder. There appears to be a 5psi difference between axles with the rear axle tires being the higher. To backup my claim I have swapped out the sensors and checked tire pressures before the sun comes up. And have a good Autometer analog tire gauge. I have not checked axle weight as yet.



Not that I'm concerned about 5psi, I wonder if this differential can be impacting fuel economy.

I think I'm confused (which happens from time to time these days). What do you use for a reference pressure to know the tires on one axle are 5psi higher than the other? Do you air all tires to the same psi at the same time or???? I air all my tires to 80 psi....and, they are 80 psi. I'm not understanding how you inflate them all to the designated pressure then one axle is 5psi higher than the other???
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2018, 01:33 PM   #10
MtnGoat
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: 00100
Posts: 32
Well Sir, I'm running 45psi on both trailer axles. (all four tires) Yet while running the Tire Minder tells me the rear axle tires go up 5psi over the front tires. Its 6K trailer so 45-50 psi on those Carlisle's is about max as listed on the sidewalls.


I make a habit to walk around the trailer at each stop and touch the tires to check for a hot tire. Cant say I've noticed any real difference doing this.



Just questioning that I'm not causing any undue wear.
MtnGoat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2018, 01:58 PM   #11
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
mtn goat

The GVW on your trailer is a "hair over 8000 lbs". The tires, 205 75R15 LRC are rated at 1820 lbs at 50PSI. Running them at 45PSI reduces the load and increases the heat generated in the sidewalls. You might find that if you increase the pressure to 50PSI, you'll get less "pressure rise" as the tires warm up, in other words, less sidewall flex on the rear axle making less heat thereby less pressure difference between the front and rear axle weights.

I had a 2011 242FWSS, it's a good trailer, but the tires are "barely adequate" for the trailer weight. I upgraded to 225 75R15 LRE (which is admittedly overkill) and I never had any issues with heat or pressure rise when running at 80 PSI. This isn't criticism, just an observation from my past experience with the same trailer.... YMMV
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2018, 03:30 PM   #12
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,600
Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGoat View Post
Well Sir, I'm running 45psi on both trailer axles. (all four tires) Yet while running the Tire Minder tells me the rear axle tires go up 5psi over the front tires. Its 6K trailer so 45-50 psi on those Carlisle's is about max as listed on the sidewalls.


I make a habit to walk around the trailer at each stop and touch the tires to check for a hot tire. Cant say I've noticed any real difference doing this.



Just questioning that I'm not causing any undue wear.

Sorry for the stupid question. Brain wasn't comprehending what the eyes were reading.

I read John's post and I think he is on the money. First off with that weight trailer with that load range tire I would be running it at max pressure. I suspect that is part of what's causing your problem. The other, IMO, would be the load range of the tire vs the weight of the trailer. I believe the tires should be able to carry the weight of the trailer, not the weight minus the tongue/pin. In your case the tires are rated for 7280lbs max vs a trailer weight of 8k+. To me, you were placed in a precarious situation with those OE tires on that trailer just as I was. I had a blowout (running max psi for the OE tires) at the beginning of the 2nd season ( 1 1/2 years) causing 7k in damages.


MtnGoat, this is just me speaking from an abundance of caution, but if there was a way to upgrade those tires to a 225 size LRD/E you would be doing yourself a big favor. You would need to check the wheel width required and the psi/weight rating on the back of the wheel before proceeding.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2018, 07:32 PM   #13
MtnGoat
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: 00100
Posts: 32
Well Guys, I agree. Over Kill is under rated.
I'll be looking at a different set of wheels and tires in the very near future. Until then I'll keep the pressure at 50. I'm a big proponent of tire safety. Something about getting tires through tech inspection at the race track.....


Never considered that Keystone would go cheap on tires. I mean WTH is with that?
MtnGoat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2018, 07:47 PM   #14
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGoat View Post
Well Guys, I agree. Over Kill is under rated.
I'll be looking at a different set of wheels and tires in the very near future. Until then I'll keep the pressure at 50. I'm a big proponent of tire safety. Something about getting tires through tech inspection at the race track.....


Never considered that Keystone would go cheap on tires. I mean WTH is with that?
Trust me when I say that up until last year, all the "RV manufacturers" were "going cheap on tires" on all of the low/medium priced trailers/fifth wheels. There were "China May Pops" on even some of the "top of the line" trailers. Some changes have been made in regulations and in RVIA certification requirements for tires. Jayco is now installing Goodyear Endurance ST tires on all of their towables, Keystone has started using G rated tires on heavier fifth wheels and many of the trailers that were equipped with "bare minimum" tires are now being shipped with a significantly better load capacity. So, things are improving, but that doesn't do anything for those of us with existing trailers and "substandard tires"....

Good Luck with your tire/wheel choices. If things get confusing or if you want to know what others have done "in your shoes" just start a thread and ask away....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2018, 05:06 AM   #15
ctbruce
Site Team | Emeritus
 
ctbruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
Is the sunny side the one that is higher psi? If so, due to heat, that would be expected.
__________________

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
ctbruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2018, 10:53 AM   #16
MtnGoat
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: 00100
Posts: 32
Once we get rolling the sun seems not a factor. Its the difference between front and rear axles. For now I'll keep an eye on those may pops.


Thanks guys
MtnGoat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2018, 01:06 PM   #17
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
I notice about a 10F difference between the sunny side tires and the shady side tires when pulling at about 65MPH for roughly 100 miles or so. I always, ALWAYS check my tires with a laser thermometer at every stop. Occasionally, I'll notice a 2F-3F difference between the front tire/rear tire temps on the same side, but I attribute that more to differences in brake shoe adjustment, braking in curves (exiting the interstate at a rest stop, etc) or maybe even wheel bearing tightness????

Essentially, I look for any significant difference (15-20 degrees) between tires on the same side. That would indicate that something is different between the two, but if there's only a couple of degrees, I shut the truck off, go in, do my thing and get back on the road.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2018, 02:57 PM   #18
Nitehawk
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Deux Montagnes,Quebec
Posts: 66
Nose tipped down to much could cause bad sway tip to high could cause drag and bottom out . Best to get it as level as possible.
Nitehawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:10 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.