Tire balancing

[steve gravelle]

As we all know, Grand Design/ Lionshead does not balance wheel and tire assemblies. Spending many years around vehicles where balancing always was done, and imbalance could be felt by vehicle occupants. Of course our RVs don't let us know what's up. 2 weeks ago I decided to repack wheel bearings, and took tires to a shop with a Hunter Smart Weight balancer. Of course I needed help putting wheels in my truck, they are at least 100 lb. ON the balancer they were at least 5 oz. out. From many years in the profession, I KNOW the fifth wheel will ride much more smoothly.

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Steve . . . good to hear from you !

Anything that rotates can benefit from being balanced . . . as we both know.

Rob

[Scott'n'Wendy]

I always balance my trailer tires. Some shops ask why...

[howson]

As we all know, Grand Design/ Lionshead does not balance wheel and tire assemblies. Spending many years around vehicles where balancing always was done, and imbalance could be felt by vehicle occupants. Of course our RVs don't let us know what's up. 2 weeks ago I decided to repack wheel bearings, and took tires to a shop with a Hunter Smart Weight balancer. Of course I needed help putting wheels in my truck, they are at least 100 lb. ON the balancer they were at least 5 oz. out. From many years in the profession, I KNOW the fifth wheel will ride much more smoothly.

I don't have objective data to prove it, but with Centramatic Dynamic Wheel Balancers this is one issue that I don't have to think about. Full story here: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...n-a-19-315rlts

Howard

[NoPeeking]

Much of the my interior vibration-related damage/issues went away once I started having the wheels balanced. Behooves me why this isn't part of the build/spec process.

Mike

[BradF]

A couple of months ago I had my local tire shop mount my new GY Endurance tires on the rims. When I dropped the trailer off I asked for them to be mounted and balanced. When I picked them up, they were not balanced. When I asked why they indicated the wheels came in with no weights so they assumed I did not want them balanced. $80.00 later they were balanced. To be fair, this is my first fifth wheel, having always had motorhomes, but I was confused...why would you not balance a trailer tire??? Would this not lead to possible bouncing, vibration, cupping, uneven tread wear on what are now fairly expensive tires? I readily admit I am a trailer rookie, but this one surprised me.

[Cate&Rob]

BradF

Unlike a motor home, you can’t feel what is going on in a towable RV from the driver’s seat of the truck. (Despite what some claim when they make trailer suspension changes ). “Not balancing” the trailer tires saves a few dollars and doesn’t change the towing feel from the driver’s seat . . . so many (most ?) don’t bother. I think we agree that anything that rotates (and the load carried) will benefit from being balanced.

Rob

[BradF]

Cate&Rob; certainly agree!