John, you do not get near enough recognition for what you do. I find your information invaluable for keeping me safely on the road. Thank you SOO much!
Not a newbie but sure wish I had watched your videos 5 years ago when I bought my own trailer. No more confusing debates and opinions without substantiating what is being said. Thanks John so much for your enthusiasm and clarity.
I have not. I did have a yearly check up at my dealer in June. Done 5000 miles since then. Just returned from Utah and Colorado. Used your sub freezing recs as we had 5 nights below 32. Happens when your are camping above 8000 ft. Other than gusty winds never would know I had a trailer behind me. On the forum someone suggested a negative camber or bent axle. Glad I am getting lots of action on the problem and it reinforces I need to get it. Necked before my next trip
Al, sounds right. I was going to mention having someone inspect your axle as well, but thought that first step is looking at the bearings. They may just need repacking or replacing. Glad the video on freeze warning tips helped out. Thanks again!
Thanks John! I needed this. I thought I had learned so much about my 179, especially since I had never even pulled a trailer before. I took a big trip this Feb/March. I did not look carefully at tires because they were new (my bad!). It was called to my attention (after about 1000 mi) that they were VERY worn on the insides! (Love helpful camping people!!) It’s a long story, but got tires replaced and wheel bearings replaced only to have new tires show wear after another 1000 miles. I had a bent axle. I made it safely back to MN from TX! Lippert is going to replace my axle and reimburse me for the expenses I accrued on my trip. A person really learns about RV stuff when things like this happen! R-Pod and Lippert were great to work with!!
Thanks for all the good info on tires. I am buying a used 2017 model 179 and will look closely at the tires. I asked the dealer what size tires and he said 235 75 R15 ST tires. I will now take a look at the mfg. date. Having a tire unravel on the side of the freeway can be a dangerous situation. I have only had two flat tires in 57 yrs of driving and owning many different vehicles in that time. I get rid of tires when they get low on tread depth but now I know how to check the age of tires.
I took my TV and rpod to a tire repair center in Page, AZ. a few months back and the tech told my to run the rpod tires 5 PSI less than maximum. He said he sees so many blowouts on trailers because people run the max. Tech said when it’s hot out and running 5PSI less it gives it room to expand. I have the same year and model as you. I’m sure there is a lot of debate on this. Another great video sir.👍
Woody, that makes sense for hot weather in AZ as the tires will expand at highway speed and psi will increase to dangerous levels. A good TPMS will help monitor the temps of the tire. I am not sure that wisdom applies in frosty Michigan, as cold psi means something totally different! I have found that if I start at 65 psi when it is fairly cold or cool the psi only increase 3-5 psi when on the interstate. I'm fairly certain that would go way higher if you start in 90+ degrees, then ramp the tires up full speed. Thanks for watching and for the comments!
John, We just purchased Goodyear Endurance tires for our RPod. The dealer recommended 80 psi. Seams like a lot of psi. But the ride back home often the installation was remarkably smooth, and I noticed the tires did not increase air pressure or temperatures more than 1-2 on each tire. This is much less than what the old Westlakes would do at 60 mph.
I also have had a much better experience with the Goodyear Endurance tires since I installed them last season. There is debate on whether to keep the tires at the max tire pressure or the psi on the trailer. One thing you may find is that items in the trailer get jostled less with a bit less than full inflation. Thanks!
Excellent video John...thanks for the great work. You covered a lot of important ground here, especially the oft-missed info on tire age. Note when it comes to inflation pressures, it's a bit of a misnomer and a common over-simplification to simply recommend using the maximum cold tire pressure stamped on the sidewall. The sidewall pressure is associated with the maximum load rating for that tire only. In reality, the recommended tire pressure depends on the tire's load rating and actual loading on the tire. Consider the following chart for the popular Goodyear Endurance ST tires: www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf Note how the tire load limits vary with the listed tire pressure recommendations. R-Pod folk often get by with 65 psi because they have D-rated tires and the maximum loading per tire is in relative synch with the weight of the Pod, plus some margin. You'll also see that most of the E-rated tires are stamped with a maximum cold tire pressure of 80 psi. If E-rated tires were on a trailer of the weight of a typical Pod and one inflated their tires to that pressure, best case would be premature center tread wear and a brutally stiff ride. Worst case would be wheel failure given many trailer wheels are not designed to take those pressures.
This may have been said already - my impression of tire size for my year (2016/2017) is that east coast R-Pods made in Indiana have 14" and west coast made in Oregon (Hood River Edition) have 15". I could be wrong but that was my impression.
When we were returning from a long trip, I noticed that we had a hot hub and sure enough we had a blown wheel bearing. Be sure you know the bearing number before you call so that the mobile repair can bring out the correct wheel bearing. We got a repair service that charged us over $1,000 because they were guessing the size (incorrectly) of the bearing and they had to make many trips to our R-Pod. It turns out that the number is on a sticker that is on your axle! If the sticker has worn off, have them take off the other wheel to get the bearing number off the other side. This tip would've saved us time and money on the road!
Thank you, Thank you Thank you! I've researched SO many opinions as to tires and which ones, how long and what PSI for weeks without agreement. The information you gave was complete, concise and without bias.
Thank you John. The Facebook owners group discussions on tires never really explained all of these points. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge because I have zero when it’s about tires. I’m a new pod owner with no towing experience. I was only able to use my Rpod 3 times before winterizing. This camping season I will be diligent about tire safety checks and driving speed. Thanks!
Brenda, glad to hear that the video was helpful. If you haven't checked out the other R-Pod 101 videos, the playlist has a bunch of solid content. Thanks for commenting and for watching!
Thanks, I enjoy your videos. In this one, you stated that tires should be filled with air to the maximum listed on the sidewall of the tire. Recently, we purchased Goodyear Endurance tires (225R15) for our R-Pod 179. I called Goodyear and was told always to fill the tires to pressure level specified by the trailer manufacturer. The tire vendor indicated the same psi as stated on the trailer. Goodyear also stated that you should adjust the pressure to a level dependent on the load actually carried on each tire. Doing so will optimize treadwear and traction. The 179 calls for 50 psi but the tire states 80 psi. We have been using 50 psi. Having seen your video, I am now more confused than ever.
Don, Goodyear is correct. This video was before I also upgraded to the Goodyear Endurance tires with a much higher max psi than what is on the trailer sticker. With tires like the Goodyear Endurance you should fill to the psi on the trailer sticker. Sorry for any confusion!
Thank you for taking the time to make your videos. They are very informative. We just purchased the Eez TPMS through your link. Do you have another video on the TPMS specifically? If so can you please provide the link? Thanks again.
Linda, I do not have a specific video on the EEZ TPMS, but have used it for over three years with excellent results. I think the main thing to do is follow the directions closely when setting up the alarm thresholds and also to be patient for the sensors to connect when you turn the unit on each time. It can take up to 10 minutes to connect. Once the sensors connect, I haven't had any issue. Hope this helps!
Hi John, we just purchased a new set of Goodyear Endurance tires and noticed it says on the tire “max 80 PSI”. Discount Tire topped them off at 70 PSI. What do you recommend for the target pressure? Thanks for your videos, my husband and I watch them and your information has been very helpful.
Linda, You should inflate based on the tire pressure sticker on the RV and not necessarily the max tire pressure on the tire. The 70 psi is probably close to what your sticker says. I put the same tires on my R-Pod last year and really like them. Thanks!
John, when do you recommend changing your wheel bearings? We also have a Rpod 179 2018 model purchased in Sept 1017.. We have put about 3000 miles on it, but it sits under the Hot Texas Sun. (Just purchased the TPMS you recommended for our recent trip. Thank You.)
Bob, I would have a reputable RV service center repack my wheel bearings vs replacing them. A good RV tech will be able to tell you if they need to be replaced or can just be repacked. With your heat conditions, ask them how often they should be repacked. If you are handy, this maintenance can be done yourself after getting them checked out. Also, most R-Pods also have a zerk fitting on the axle to add wheel grease seasonally if you want to do this. Thanks!
As usual, great video John. I refuse to be a Facebook guy, so I'm probably missing out on some good info in the forums. My question, can you recommend a good tire brand to purchase? I recently purchased a 2017 Hood River 179 that was never used. The stock tires look like off -road mud type tires. I'm not so sure I like them and am considering replacing. Thanks for your input
G M, good question on what tires to replace the beefy Hood River edition tires. Here is an article I recently came across that may help. I don't think there is an easy answer besides to do your research and keep talking to people. Best RV tires 2019: www.usautoauthority.com/best-rv-tires/
John, this long awaited video is excellent. I have a 2019 RPOD 190 with d larger tires and taking notes from your videos.. There are so many checklist items with the RPOD process. How do you keep track of all of this? Do you use OneNote or a hard notebook log? By the way, had a very bad customer service experience at my dealer Service department. Maybe you can cover that with a video. -Bill-
Bill, we are actually planning a video about dealing with the hassles of warranty work that may cover your topic. As far checklists, I used them more when I was first starting and not as much now. We kept everything in the Wunderlist app. I do use MS Excel to record all trailer mileage so can keep track of tire stats. Thanks again for watching!
Just bought an R-Pod and found your channel. Thanks for doing this. This is my first RV and I have a rookie questions. HOW do you replace tires on a trailer. Do you take the trailer to a tire shop or take the tire off and take that to a shop?
I recently replaced tires. I simply found the tires I wanted from Discount Tire and set up an appointment to bring the trailer to the shop. They had me back it near the bay door and they jacked up the trailer and changed the tires. Fairly easy process. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
This is actually a bit debated. When I had my tires upgraded, Discount Tire jacked up at the axle without issue. Some think this is a bad idea due to the axle housing not be all that robust. I'd point you to a thread on the pod owners forum: www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3469&KW=jacking&PID=32954&title=jacking-up-my-rpod-for-inspection#32954
@@JohnMarucci Thanks! Looks like I'll fabricate a plate to span the axle flanges on each side of the axle. I've enjoyed all of your R-Pod videos and tips!
Thanks John good points as always. I also keep my speed about 60 good for mileage as well as tires. I’ve had a trailer tire (not R-Pod) go down on the interstate. Not a fun time! What are your views on using a passenger vehicle tire on a camper?
Rob, I wouldn't be comfortable on using passenger vehicle tires on a travel trailer. ST tires for travel trailers are made with stronger side walls to bare more weight. Important thing is to have a set of trailer tires your are comfortable with. Here is an article on some of the best rated trailer tires for 2019. Thanks for the comments and for watching! www.usautoauthority.com/best-rv-tires/
Hi John, can you clarify what PSI we should be using when replacing the old aged out C rated 235/75 R15 AT tires with new E rated ST Radial 225/75 R15 trailer tires (Carlisle Trail HD's)? The PSI on the R-Pod says Max Cold PSI 50, but the new tires are E rated with a Max Cold PSI of 80, and that's where the tire shop inflated them. Should I stick with 80, or do you recommend the 50 on the R-Pod? Thanks!
On my former R-Pod 179, when I upgraded to Goodyear Endurance E rated tires with 81 psi max, I ran them at about 70 psi which softened the ride and vibrations in the cabin of the RV and made for a very smooth ride. You will find much debate on this on various forums. Your call on how much psi to use, but it worked well doing this in my situation.
D M, I have yet to get to replacing the OEM tires on my 2017.5 179. They have 8K + miles and still look fine. I'll likely get to this possibly before winter. As far as researching tires, I would recommend hitting up the R-Pod Facebook groups and the R-Pod owners forum (www.rpod-owners.com) and ask about all-terrain replacements and what people have used. Other than this, I'd use Google to research tire reviews. Hope this helps!
Hi John I need to get out of this bitter Minnesota winter. I have the 2018 179 with very few miles on the original tires. I was wondering what your thoughts were on trusting them down to South Florida, approximately 2000 miles? Any other things I should be concerned about before I head out on such a long journey, other than the tires, grease the wheel bearings, and torque the lugs. I do still have it winterized at this time, and am anxious to see that Florida welcome sign 🌴
You’ll be fine as long as you stay at or below the speed and load ratings. I put 3300 miles on my 2018 179 this last year. No problems or abnormal wear when I put it away in Nov.
MN, I don't see an issue as I have done exactly this just recently (MI to FL) with my OEM tires (the ones shown in the video) that have over 5k miles. As Rob Sinbob states, keep your speed below the rating (I go about 60 mph average on 75 mph D rated tires) and watch your psi and tire temps. I would recommend and good TPMS if you can swing it for longer trips. It really helps the peace of mind. The EEZ TPMS I have in the description is top-notch. One other pointer, when going from cold north to warm south, you will actually need to let some psi out of the tires as you move to higher temps. Not much, but some to keep your cold tire psi at the recommended levels. Thanks again for the comments and faithful participation on the site! All the best on your trip south!
The GY Endurance worked well on my R-Pod after I upgraded. I’ve had Carlisle Trail HD tires on my Keystone Bullet for over four years and they’ve performed well.
I John just replaced my stock tires with Goodyear Endurance E Rated tires. Tire dealer filled them with 80 pounds (maxpressure). Question is, the sticker on the side of the camper says 65 lbs for your tires. Just wondering which one I should go with?
MN, from my research what I’ve found is that with trailer tires you go by the max inflation rate as stamped on the tire. This is different from cars/trucks where you go by the psi as printed inside on the driver side door frame. Thanks for the question!
I’m trying to find out what size and type of tire I need for my new to me 2011 181g Hood River edition. It’s got some expired diggers on it. And I’ve got a negative camber.
I’d point you to the owners forum as my R-Pod isn’t a Hood River Edition with the off-road tires. A few people on the forum should be able to answer your question: rpod-owners.com
I have 12000 miles on the ST 225/75R15 tires. Pressure has been, speed no higher than 67. But I have developed uneven wear on the inside tread line of my driver side tire. After this last trip part of the inside tread is smooth. Never had noticed before on pretrip inspection. Passenger tire is fine. Any ideas?
Great question. I did not rotate my factory tires at 5,000 miles, but I also did not see any uneven wear and regularly used a tire pressure monitor system. Also, I replaced the factory tires at just under 4 years old (based on the tire date stamp) and 9,000 miles. I did this last summer with Goodyear Endurance 15" tires. Really your call on rotating them. Thanks!
How long does it take the EEZ TPMS to show PSI after turning it on? I programmed it and waited the 5 minutes as in the instructions. After shutting it off and restarting it it took about 2 minutes on one tire and 5 minutes on the other? Is this normal or should I check with the company?
thanks John: my new 2018 R-Pod 179 tires dated 0317 show ST235/75R15 with a Load range of C, and max load 2340 @ 50 psi cold. the speed rating shows 75mph. does this make sense to you??
Daleen, with the 235 width tire, can I assume this is a Hood River edition R-Pod? These are wider than what I have. The load range C and Max Load of 2,340 lbs. would mean that each tire could carry that weight when properly inflated. This means the max load for these tires should never exceed 2,340 x 2 or 4,680 lbs. The trailer axle can't handle near this amount and you should never load your trailer more than the door sticker weight dictates. The speed rating is max speed the tire should be run at in normal conditions. I never go near this fast towing (I usually do 60-62 mph, even in a 70 mph zone) and just let everyone pass me on the road. Hope this helps. Thanks again for watching!
John, Tire separated and created a bulge creating the uneven wear problem. Do you recommend replacing with the castle rock 225/75/15 or the Goodyear endurance. Lots of opinions on both, appreciate your experience on this - Al
I moved to the Goodyear Endurance on my R-Pod this past summer and think they are solid tires. Make sure no matter what tire you get to ask your tire shop to tell you the date stamp on the tire before installing them. I first tried a set of Carlisles and they were over 2 years old new! The Goodyear by comparison were only a few months old as new tires. Thanks!
Cliff, this will depend on your tow vehicle and how comfortable you are towing with and without one. I use a weight distribution hitch that has built in sway control. There is more to towing than I can go into in this response. You may want to search UA-cam for videos about towing with a sway bar. I do have one video about using a weight distribution hitch: ua-cam.com/video/8rBDeX-dSkY/v-deo.html Thanks!
John, most people will see their tires get old before they get too many miles. However, if you do lots of long road trips, there's no reason why you can't put many miles on RV tires. Most manufactures have recommended limits on mileage. So, I'd probably have a tire shop inspect my tires before longer trips as the tires get closer to the manufactures mileage limit. Hope this helps, thanks!
Miles, there is some debate on the best way to use a jack on an RPod. Here is a link to a discussion on the topic: www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12646&PID=121579&SID=15522b459b1e33235e2bd9b1c91cfbd3&title=changing-a-tire-on-my-r-pod. Also, I have a video on covering: ua-cam.com/video/ZX7-aFBXSps/v-deo.html
Richard, I believe this is possible, but you will want to do some research and even ask some people who have done this, as I have not. I would start by looking at some of the posts on the R-Pod Owner's forum and even leaving a post in the Podmods, Maintenance, Tips & Tricks area of the site asking this very question. There are a few threads on the subject if you search on Tires in the search box. All the best! www.rpod-owners.com/default.asp
John, you do not get near enough recognition for what you do. I find your information invaluable for keeping me safely on the road. Thank you SOO much!
Donna, thanks for the comment. I am glad the videos are helpful. All the best!
Not a newbie but sure wish I had watched your videos 5 years ago when I bought my own trailer. No more confusing debates and opinions without substantiating what is being said. Thanks John so much for your enthusiasm and clarity.
Many thanks!
Solo traveller and new to me RPOD this year; and I’ve utilized your masterful videos every step of the way! Thank you
Great to hear! All the best!
Very well done!! Very concise and thorough!! thank you.
Bruce, glad the video was helpful. All the best!
Best RV tire video on UA-cam
I have not. I did have a yearly check up at my dealer in June. Done 5000 miles since then. Just returned from Utah and Colorado. Used your sub freezing recs as we had 5 nights below 32. Happens when your are camping above 8000 ft. Other than gusty winds never would know I had a trailer behind me. On the forum someone suggested a negative camber or bent axle. Glad I am getting lots of action on the problem and it reinforces I need to get it. Necked before my next trip
Al, sounds right. I was going to mention having someone inspect your axle as well, but thought that first step is looking at the bearings. They may just need repacking or replacing. Glad the video on freeze warning tips helped out. Thanks again!
Thank you, John! Loved this video! Tires are critically important when it comes to safetyQ
Glad it was informative. I never thought about tires much until I started RVing. Pretty important to understand. All the best!
Have had trailers of all types for years, and you've made tire info very easy to understand. Great video, thanks.
Kent, I greatly appreciate the comment. All the more from a seasoned RVer like yourself. All the best and thanks for watching!
Thanks John! I needed this. I thought I had learned so much about my 179, especially since I had never even pulled a trailer before. I took a big trip this Feb/March. I did not look carefully at tires because they were new (my bad!). It was called to my attention (after about 1000 mi) that they were VERY worn on the insides! (Love helpful camping people!!) It’s a long story, but got tires replaced and wheel bearings replaced only to have new tires show wear after another 1000 miles. I had a bent axle. I made it safely back to MN from TX! Lippert is going to replace my axle and reimburse me for the expenses I accrued on my trip. A person really learns about RV stuff when things like this happen! R-Pod and Lippert were great to work with!!
Diane, I am glad the video was helpful!
Thanks for all the good info on tires. I am buying a used 2017 model 179 and will look closely at the tires. I asked the dealer what size tires and he said 235 75 R15 ST tires. I will now take a look at the mfg. date. Having a tire unravel on the side of the freeway can be a dangerous situation. I have only had two flat tires in 57 yrs of driving and owning many different vehicles in that time. I get rid of tires when they get low on tread depth but now I know how to check the age of tires.
Paul, glad the video was helpful. Thanks for the comments and for watching! All the best on with the new (to you) 179!
Thank you for the info! Very informative and super helpful.
Great vid and advice Mr John. Thanks for sharing!
I took my TV and rpod to a tire repair center in Page, AZ. a few months back and the tech told my to run the rpod tires 5 PSI less than maximum. He said he sees so many blowouts on trailers because people run the max. Tech said when it’s hot out and running 5PSI less it gives it room to expand. I have the same year and model as you.
I’m sure there is a lot of debate on this.
Another great video sir.👍
Woody, that makes sense for hot weather in AZ as the tires will expand at highway speed and psi will increase to dangerous levels. A good TPMS will help monitor the temps of the tire. I am not sure that wisdom applies in frosty Michigan, as cold psi means something totally different! I have found that if I start at 65 psi when it is fairly cold or cool the psi only increase 3-5 psi when on the interstate. I'm fairly certain that would go way higher if you start in 90+ degrees, then ramp the tires up full speed. Thanks for watching and for the comments!
Thanks for your videos. I'm feeling more confident as a newbie.
Glad to hear that the videos are helpful!
John, We just purchased Goodyear Endurance tires for our RPod. The dealer recommended 80 psi. Seams like a lot of psi. But the ride back home often the installation was remarkably smooth, and I noticed the tires did not increase air pressure or temperatures more than 1-2 on each tire. This is much less than what the old Westlakes would do at 60 mph.
I also have had a much better experience with the Goodyear Endurance tires since I installed them last season. There is debate on whether to keep the tires at the max tire pressure or the psi on the trailer. One thing you may find is that items in the trailer get jostled less with a bit less than full inflation. Thanks!
@@JohnMarucci Thanks John. I’ll try 70 psi and see how things bounce around!
Excellent video John...thanks for the great work. You covered a lot of important ground here, especially the oft-missed info on tire age. Note when it comes to inflation pressures, it's a bit of a misnomer and a common over-simplification to simply recommend using the maximum cold tire pressure stamped on the sidewall. The sidewall pressure is associated with the maximum load rating for that tire only. In reality, the recommended tire pressure depends on the tire's load rating and actual loading on the tire. Consider the following chart for the popular Goodyear Endurance ST tires:
www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf
Note how the tire load limits vary with the listed tire pressure recommendations. R-Pod folk often get by with 65 psi because they have D-rated tires and the maximum loading per tire is in relative synch with the weight of the Pod, plus some margin. You'll also see that most of the E-rated tires are stamped with a maximum cold tire pressure of 80 psi. If E-rated tires were on a trailer of the weight of a typical Pod and one inflated their tires to that pressure, best case would be premature center tread wear and a brutally stiff ride. Worst case would be wheel failure given many trailer wheels are not designed to take those pressures.
This may have been said already - my impression of tire size for my year (2016/2017) is that east coast R-Pods made in Indiana have 14" and west coast made in Oregon (Hood River Edition) have 15". I could be wrong but that was my impression.
My 2016 R-Pod 171 had 14” wheels and my 2017 R-Pod 179 came with 15” wheels.
When we were returning from a long trip, I noticed that we had a hot hub and sure enough we had a blown wheel bearing. Be sure you know the bearing number before you call so that the mobile repair can bring out the correct wheel bearing. We got a repair service that charged us over $1,000 because they were guessing the size (incorrectly) of the bearing and they had to make many trips to our R-Pod. It turns out that the number is on a sticker that is on your axle! If the sticker has worn off, have them take off the other wheel to get the bearing number off the other side. This tip would've saved us time and money on the road!
Paul, thanks for the great tip! Something all of us need to be aware of. Sorry it was such an expensive lesson. All the best!
Thanks for the great tips! The info on the tire is always confusing for me.
Happy to help!
Thank you, Thank you Thank you! I've researched SO many opinions as to tires and which ones, how long and what PSI for weeks without agreement. The information you gave was complete, concise and without bias.
Clayton, glad the tire video was helpful. All the best this camping season!
Thank you John. The Facebook owners group discussions on tires never really explained all of these points. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge because I have zero when it’s about tires. I’m a new pod owner with no towing experience. I was only able to use my Rpod 3 times before winterizing. This camping season I will be diligent about tire safety checks and driving speed. Thanks!
Brenda, glad to hear that the video was helpful. If you haven't checked out the other R-Pod 101 videos, the playlist has a bunch of solid content. Thanks for commenting and for watching!
Thanks, I enjoy your videos. In this one, you stated that tires should be filled with air to the maximum listed on the sidewall of the tire. Recently, we purchased Goodyear Endurance tires (225R15) for our R-Pod 179. I called Goodyear and was told always to fill the tires to pressure level specified by the trailer manufacturer. The tire vendor indicated the same psi as stated on the trailer. Goodyear also stated that you should adjust the pressure to a level dependent on the load actually carried on each tire. Doing so will optimize treadwear and traction. The 179 calls for 50 psi but the tire states 80 psi. We have been using 50 psi. Having seen your video, I am now more confused than ever.
Don, Goodyear is correct. This video was before I also upgraded to the Goodyear Endurance tires with a much higher max psi than what is on the trailer sticker. With tires like the Goodyear Endurance you should fill to the psi on the trailer sticker. Sorry for any confusion!
Thank you for taking the time to make your videos. They are very informative. We just purchased the Eez TPMS through your link. Do you have another video on the TPMS specifically? If so can you please provide the link? Thanks again.
Linda, I do not have a specific video on the EEZ TPMS, but have used it for over three years with excellent results. I think the main thing to do is follow the directions closely when setting up the alarm thresholds and also to be patient for the sensors to connect when you turn the unit on each time. It can take up to 10 minutes to connect. Once the sensors connect, I haven't had any issue. Hope this helps!
John as usual very informative. Thanks for the content.
Great Information
Finding air past 50 can be a hassle so I bought little 110 volt compressor (Walmart) run off outlet in Jeep; air up when leaving too.
Good idea!
These are great! thank you
Glad you like them!
Great video and info on R-Pod tires. Thanks John. I need to replace my 179 tires this year, what brand did you replace with? Thanks again.
I replaced mine with Goodyear Endurance.
Your videos are helpful. I use them a LOT! Want to know if you have one on air conditioner service?
Jackie, I do not have a video on a/c service. Someone on the R-Pod Owners forum may know of a resource... www.rpod-owners.com/default.asp
Hi John, we just purchased a new set of Goodyear Endurance tires and noticed it says on the tire “max 80 PSI”. Discount Tire topped them off at 70 PSI. What do you recommend for the target pressure? Thanks for your videos, my husband and I watch them and your information has been very helpful.
Linda, You should inflate based on the tire pressure sticker on the RV and not necessarily the max tire pressure on the tire. The 70 psi is probably close to what your sticker says. I put the same tires on my R-Pod last year and really like them. Thanks!
John, when do you recommend changing your wheel bearings? We also have a Rpod 179 2018 model purchased in Sept 1017.. We have put about 3000 miles on it, but it sits under the Hot Texas Sun. (Just purchased the TPMS you recommended for our recent trip. Thank You.)
Bob, I would have a reputable RV service center repack my wheel bearings vs replacing them. A good RV tech will be able to tell you if they need to be replaced or can just be repacked. With your heat conditions, ask them how often they should be repacked. If you are handy, this maintenance can be done yourself after getting them checked out. Also, most R-Pods also have a zerk fitting on the axle to add wheel grease seasonally if you want to do this. Thanks!
As usual, great video John. I refuse to be a Facebook guy, so I'm probably missing out on some good info in the forums. My question, can you recommend a good tire brand to purchase? I recently purchased a 2017 Hood River 179 that was never used. The stock tires look like off -road mud type tires. I'm not so sure I like them and am considering replacing. Thanks for your input
G M, good question on what tires to replace the beefy Hood River edition tires. Here is an article I recently came across that may help. I don't think there is an easy answer besides to do your research and keep talking to people. Best RV tires 2019: www.usautoauthority.com/best-rv-tires/
Thank you Sir!
Great advice
John, this long awaited video is excellent. I have a 2019 RPOD 190 with d larger tires and taking notes from your videos.. There are so many checklist items with the RPOD process. How do you keep track of all of this? Do you use OneNote or a hard notebook log? By the way, had a very bad customer service experience at my dealer Service department. Maybe you can cover that with a video. -Bill-
Bill, we are actually planning a video about dealing with the hassles of warranty work that may cover your topic. As far checklists, I used them more when I was first starting and not as much now. We kept everything in the Wunderlist app. I do use MS Excel to record all trailer mileage so can keep track of tire stats. Thanks again for watching!
Just bought an R-Pod and found your channel. Thanks for doing this. This is my first RV and I have a rookie questions. HOW do you replace tires on a trailer. Do you take the trailer to a tire shop or take the tire off and take that to a shop?
I recently replaced tires. I simply found the tires I wanted from Discount Tire and set up an appointment to bring the trailer to the shop. They had me back it near the bay door and they jacked up the trailer and changed the tires. Fairly easy process. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
It’s probably been covered… where do I jack up my Rpod 179 to change a flat tire. What tools and jack do you recommend for the task.
This is actually a bit debated. When I had my tires upgraded, Discount Tire jacked up at the axle without issue. Some think this is a bad idea due to the axle housing not be all that robust. I'd point you to a thread on the pod owners forum: www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3469&KW=jacking&PID=32954&title=jacking-up-my-rpod-for-inspection#32954
@@JohnMarucci Thanks! Looks like I'll fabricate a plate to span the axle flanges on each side of the axle. I've enjoyed all of your R-Pod videos and tips!
Thanks John good points as always. I also keep my speed about 60 good for mileage as well as tires. I’ve had a trailer tire (not R-Pod) go down on the interstate. Not a fun time!
What are your views on using a passenger vehicle tire on a camper?
Rob, I wouldn't be comfortable on using passenger vehicle tires on a travel trailer. ST tires for travel trailers are made with stronger side walls to bare more weight. Important thing is to have a set of trailer tires your are comfortable with. Here is an article on some of the best rated trailer tires for 2019. Thanks for the comments and for watching! www.usautoauthority.com/best-rv-tires/
Hi John, can you clarify what PSI we should be using when replacing the old aged out C rated 235/75 R15 AT tires with new E rated ST Radial 225/75 R15 trailer tires (Carlisle Trail HD's)? The PSI on the R-Pod says Max Cold PSI 50, but the new tires are E rated with a Max Cold PSI of 80, and that's where the tire shop inflated them. Should I stick with 80, or do you recommend the 50 on the R-Pod? Thanks!
On my former R-Pod 179, when I upgraded to Goodyear Endurance E rated tires with 81 psi max, I ran them at about 70 psi which softened the ride and vibrations in the cabin of the RV and made for a very smooth ride. You will find much debate on this on various forums. Your call on how much psi to use, but it worked well doing this in my situation.
Great video brother. I was wanting to put some all terrain tires on my 2018 RPOD. Would you have any suggestions?
D M, I have yet to get to replacing the OEM tires on my 2017.5 179. They have 8K + miles and still look fine. I'll likely get to this possibly before winter. As far as researching tires, I would recommend hitting up the R-Pod Facebook groups and the R-Pod owners forum (www.rpod-owners.com) and ask about all-terrain replacements and what people have used. Other than this, I'd use Google to research tire reviews. Hope this helps!
@@JohnMarucci thanks brother!
Hi John I need to get out of this bitter Minnesota winter. I have the 2018 179 with very few miles on the original tires. I was wondering what your thoughts were on trusting them down to South Florida, approximately 2000 miles? Any other things I should be concerned about before I head out on such a long journey, other than the tires, grease the wheel bearings, and torque the lugs. I do still have it winterized at this time, and am anxious to see that Florida welcome sign 🌴
You’ll be fine as long as you stay at or below the speed and load ratings. I put 3300 miles on my 2018 179 this last year. No problems or abnormal wear when I put it away in Nov.
MN, I don't see an issue as I have done exactly this just recently (MI to FL) with my OEM tires (the ones shown in the video) that have over 5k miles. As Rob Sinbob states, keep your speed below the rating (I go about 60 mph average on 75 mph D rated tires) and watch your psi and tire temps. I would recommend and good TPMS if you can swing it for longer trips. It really helps the peace of mind. The EEZ TPMS I have in the description is top-notch. One other pointer, when going from cold north to warm south, you will actually need to let some psi out of the tires as you move to higher temps. Not much, but some to keep your cold tire psi at the recommended levels. Thanks again for the comments and faithful participation on the site! All the best on your trip south!
Jon, you recommend GY Endurance tires right?
The GY Endurance worked well on my R-Pod after I upgraded. I’ve had Carlisle Trail HD tires on my Keystone Bullet for over four years and they’ve performed well.
I John just replaced my stock tires with Goodyear Endurance E Rated tires. Tire dealer filled them with 80 pounds (maxpressure). Question is, the sticker on the side of the camper says 65 lbs for your tires. Just wondering which one I should go with?
MN, from my research what I’ve found is that with trailer tires you go by the max inflation rate as stamped on the tire. This is different from cars/trucks where you go by the psi as printed inside on the driver side door frame. Thanks for the question!
John I’m looking to get a TPM system. I are still using the EEZ TPM System? Are you still happy with it?
Still use the EEZ TPMS regularly and still very happy with it after three years. Thanks!
@@JohnMarucci thanks appreciate the input, great channel
I’m trying to find out what size and type of tire I need for my new to me 2011 181g Hood River edition. It’s got some expired diggers on it. And I’ve got a negative camber.
I’d point you to the owners forum as my R-Pod isn’t a Hood River Edition with the off-road tires. A few people on the forum should be able to answer your question: rpod-owners.com
What is the best replacement tires for a 2015 Rpod 179
Goodyear Endurance but not sure if they are available in the 14” size. It is worth looking into.
I’m new to this. Is this true for a 45’ class A as well?
I think larger Class A's may have truck/bus tires that may vary from traditional trailer tires.
I have 12000 miles on the ST 225/75R15 tires. Pressure has been, speed no higher than 67. But I have developed uneven wear on the inside tread line of my driver side tire. After this last trip part of the inside tread is smooth. Never had noticed before on pretrip inspection. Passenger tire is fine. Any ideas?
Al, have you packed or repacked your wheel bearings lately?
John, do you rotate your tires on the RPOD after 5,000 miles?
Great question. I did not rotate my factory tires at 5,000 miles, but I also did not see any uneven wear and regularly used a tire pressure monitor system. Also, I replaced the factory tires at just under 4 years old (based on the tire date stamp) and 9,000 miles. I did this last summer with Goodyear Endurance 15" tires. Really your call on rotating them. Thanks!
How long does it take the EEZ TPMS to show PSI after turning it on? I programmed it and waited the 5 minutes as in the instructions. After shutting it off and restarting it it took about 2 minutes on one tire and 5 minutes on the other? Is this normal or should I check with the company?
That is normal. Mine takes 5-10 minutes then works great.
Thanks John your input is greatly appreciated
thanks John: my new 2018 R-Pod 179 tires dated 0317 show ST235/75R15 with a Load range of C, and max load 2340 @ 50 psi cold. the speed rating shows 75mph. does this make sense to you??
Daleen, with the 235 width tire, can I assume this is a Hood River edition R-Pod? These are wider than what I have. The load range C and Max Load of 2,340 lbs. would mean that each tire could carry that weight when properly inflated. This means the max load for these tires should never exceed 2,340 x 2 or 4,680 lbs. The trailer axle can't handle near this amount and you should never load your trailer more than the door sticker weight dictates. The speed rating is max speed the tire should be run at in normal conditions. I never go near this fast towing (I usually do 60-62 mph, even in a 70 mph zone) and just let everyone pass me on the road. Hope this helps. Thanks again for watching!
John,
Tire separated and created a bulge creating the uneven wear problem. Do you recommend replacing with the castle rock 225/75/15 or the Goodyear endurance. Lots of opinions on both, appreciate your experience on this - Al
I moved to the Goodyear Endurance on my R-Pod this past summer and think they are solid tires. Make sure no matter what tire you get to ask your tire shop to tell you the date stamp on the tire before installing them. I first tried a set of Carlisles and they were over 2 years old new! The Goodyear by comparison were only a few months old as new tires. Thanks!
@@JohnMarucci that is good to hear. I will definitely check the time stamp thanks Al
I bought my 2018 Rpod 180 used and it came with anti sway bar Is that ok
Cliff, this will depend on your tow vehicle and how comfortable you are towing with and without one. I use a weight distribution hitch that has built in sway control. There is more to towing than I can go into in this response. You may want to search UA-cam for videos about towing with a sway bar. I do have one video about using a weight distribution hitch: ua-cam.com/video/8rBDeX-dSkY/v-deo.html
Thanks!
So what is high mileage for an RV tire?
John, most people will see their tires get old before they get too many miles. However, if you do lots of long road trips, there's no reason why you can't put many miles on RV tires. Most manufactures have recommended limits on mileage. So, I'd probably have a tire shop inspect my tires before longer trips as the tires get closer to the manufactures mileage limit. Hope this helps, thanks!
How do I jack up my r pod to change tire. What is the proper tarp for pod 195
Miles, there is some debate on the best way to use a jack on an RPod. Here is a link to a discussion on the topic: www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12646&PID=121579&SID=15522b459b1e33235e2bd9b1c91cfbd3&title=changing-a-tire-on-my-r-pod. Also, I have a video on covering: ua-cam.com/video/ZX7-aFBXSps/v-deo.html
Can I replace my 14in tires on my 171 with 15in?
Richard, I believe this is possible, but you will want to do some research and even ask some people who have done this, as I have not. I would start by looking at some of the posts on the R-Pod Owner's forum and even leaving a post in the Podmods, Maintenance, Tips & Tricks area of the site asking this very question. There are a few threads on the subject if you search on Tires in the search box. All the best! www.rpod-owners.com/default.asp