Single axel vans

Ron-D · Guru

Single axel vans

patrol03 · Senior Member

In a nutshell,yes they would be useful and could save a tyre without doubt. If ,however, you have appropriate tyres on your wheels properly balanced and at the correct pressures the chances of tyre problems on bitumen are fairly low. I have travelled thousands of K's with a single axle van and have had only (touch wood) one blow out due to ply separation of a household named tyre. Choose quality rubber and use an 8 ply or commercial marked tyre. e.g. 195R14C. The decision is entirely yours. If you see your tyre deflating on the alarm on the dash you still have to find a place to pull off and could still destroy it.It is a case of expense,probability and peace of mind I guess. Cheers

macka17 · Guru

Hi.

I've towed vans for over 50 yrs.
From memory. 3 punctures.

As said above.
Keep van good. bearings\brakes serviced.
GOOD... read that again. GOOD Tyres.

For a basic small (and my 535 Tandem full height, 2 ton.)
I use KELLY tyres.
TRUCK tread. 10pr rating. cheap as. and grip well on road.

on the Big offroaders I've always used same as on the 4wd in 10pr.

But on the little, light vans.
wasted money unless you going off, or a lot of dirt. roads.
I NEVER wear any tyres down more than 3\4 wear, MAX.

I have more respect for my wife's life than to go round Bragging.
I got 70\75k out of my last tyres.

Yea. and how did they grip in the wet hey??. Honestly....

Low , minimum tread. = very little grip on anything but smooth. dry bitumin.
No thank's.

If you keep as above. I wouldn't waste the 3 or 4 hundred bucks.
Unless you toy orientated.

I've met very few normal touring caravanners or otherwise. Nowadays..
that travel on roads say that they've even had one puncture.
Decent Maintained tyres.Brakes etc.
usually mean zilch in the way of holes

Nails\bolts etc. They different.

STAY OFF the edges OK.

Enjoy your like mate. It's a great one.

macka17 · Guru

Addendum.

I always have a reference line in rear window of car.
that coincides with same on front of van.

Even if you TEXTA one to suit. "across" the veh.

Both sitting on level.

One side drops. STOP. Van gets "weavy" Stop. Steering gets heavy. Stop.

REMEMBER.... on the sides of road. is where ALL the dropped off. hole making bits,

are lurking..

-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 20th of May 2017 08:19:49 PM

Bryan · Guru

Fitting the kit should give you ample warning but best of all it will give you peace of mind.

Peterpan · Guru

G'day, I have a single axle van, and had a puncture on bitumen road, tried to miss a flattened roo, unfortunately just clipped it and one of those nasty bones ripped the tyre.

We weren't far from Augathella and the road was raised up from the verge, so it took some jockeying to find a spot to change the tyre. The van didn't swerve or wriggle in any way , the car

just suddenly slowed abruptly. Eyes going everywhere, no lights on dashboard, check mirrors, smoke on passengers side of van. While changing the tyre a few vans travelling the same way

went past, didn't slow down, then one going the other way turned around and came back to see if we needed any help, which was very nice of them. I was just lowering the jacks when he

came up. I thanked him for coming back,offered him a beverage, which he declined, turned around and continued on his way. We recovered from this mishap and continued on our way.

In retrospect I was very relieved that the van stayed straight in line. As Macka says nails /bolts plus roo bones can do damage.

Peterpan.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello Ron-D

When I brought my second hand (single axle) caravan, the owner said that he had just put air in the tyres, as they had been a bit flat

The tyres looked OK, but he must have over inflated them

On the 200 kilometre trip to home base, one tyre exploded, there was no warning.
I suppose that if a warning devise, warns of both high, and low pressure, it may have been helpful to me

On my lap with this same caravan, I hit an unseen pothole, travelling at close to the legal speed limit
The car tyres(normal Ford Falcon) had done about 50,000 Kilometres
The caravan tyres (light truck type) had done less than 20,000
I destroyed a rear car tyre, but the caravan tyres were OK

If the tyre pressure warning devise gives you peace of mind, then go for it

I did read somewhere, that some tyre pressure warning devises had failed, and let the air escape

Perhaps a 12 volt air compressor would be handy to have, just in case

macka17 · Guru

Hi.

Way I look at it.
They basically just another "useful" novelty that some will buy.

I went the other way.
Visual line through rear window.
Plus can see van wheels through CAR mirrors.

The extra $$$'s, I bought a commercial, dial type guage.
and a "Thumper" compressor.

Those things don't blow your tyres up and let down as you need, in differing conditions.
A $100 compressor does ($70\80 on sales).

MUCH more useful in my eyes.

Personal choices.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Our new single axle is a semi off-roader with light truck tyres which seem a hell of a lot tougher than those on the car, so I'd be more concerned about the car. If I start getting paranoid about the van tyres I'll add a second spare on the rear bar. Gauges and compressors won't fix a shredded tyre.

Radar · Guru

Ron-D wrote:
my biggest worry with my single axel van is the dreaded puncture,in most cases you can't pull off the road with a long rig usually for many kilometres,and the tyre by that stage is just a pile of rubbish,so hense the question would those tyre pressure kits where you can monitor what's going on from inside the tug be a good idea?

Yes, a flat tyre mostly will be a inconvenience, mud, hot tar, no shade, the list goes on, coming form a retired transport driver with 43 years on the road, not counting the small delivery vans I drove first and quarry equipment.

On trailers when the tyre gets a punctures it starts to loose air slowly then as the tyre gets a bit flat it flexes heating the tyre up and the case decide to lets go, instance flat tyre.

Now with the monitors they will let you know when the air pressure is down which really is a good plus and would save you a lot of concern. Yes from me.

Cost and fitting is my only negative. The almighty dollar.

I could go on about my last 2 flat tyres one on a single axle caravan the other on our 2 axle caravan both with monitors would of saved the tyres more so on the 2 axle caravan.

What I spent on 2 new tyres I believe I am still in front but I am still in flavour of purchasing the monitors.

Question could be do tyre pressure monitors have longevity.

Hope this helps, please letbus alll know what out came you decide.

Ron-D · Guru

Thanks for your replies there's no answer to this really ,just keep good rubber on the van and hope you don't pick up a nail ,I have seen a few single axel vans pull in and the spare tyre is just a rim with steel cords poking out of it,depending on where you are it can take an hour or even longer to get off the road. My vans new so the tyres should be ok,but they won't be a brand I will use again there probably just Chinese things?I have been towing for many years and never had a puncture while towing it's just something to deal with when and if it happens I guess...

SouthernComfort · Guru

Ron-D wrote:
Thanks for your replies there's no answer to this really ,just keep good rubber on the van and hope you don't pick up a nail ,I have seen a few single axel vans pull in and the spare tyre is just a rim with steel cords poking out of it,depending on where you are it can take an hour or even longer to get off the road. My vans new so the tyres should be ok,but they won't be a brand I will use again there probably just Chinese things?I have been towing for many years and never had a puncture while towing it's just something to deal with when and if it happens I guess...

Tyres are like everything else, many big name brands are also made in China these days. We just take our chances with fairly low odds of shredding a tyre, especially on-road. There's nothing wrong with having tyre pressure monitor, gauge, compressor etc. on board to cover some situations, but they still won't prevent the problem of nowhere to pull over.

macka17 · Guru

As I said in the beginning. "10 PR."

Cars are stuck, basically, with "car". low,soft flexy walls.

Trailer\4wd tyres are much more robust. and If you stipulate 10pr rating for walls.
Stiffer in such.

SOME more so than others.Forums will tell you which are if you look.
All have differing reputations.

I've had one burst in car and one in caravan. Over the last 30 ish yrs.
BOTH Goodyear. No thank's.

Bridgy's fine for me. off and on road.

Ron-D · Guru

My mate raves about his BF Goodrich A/ts that's probably what I will aim for...

Dont tell me there Chinese biggrin

-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 22nd of May 2017 05:40:39 PM

macka17 · Guru

Another one I'd be careful of are Dunlop A\T.

I've had a couple but never happy with them.

This D-Max has a set (Gov't issued) When I bought it.
Around, maybe 50% worn.
Didn't like the wet and felt "hard" on the road.

Swapped them out for coupla Bridgy AT 693's I had, New in shed.
and 3 x 697's I bought to make set.

Tyre bloke said. Good idea mate. We won't put these things on off roaders.

End of story.
He didn't try hard. I was with him.
But put lever through the walls of 4 of the 5 tyres
getting them off the rims.

3 of them there reckoned these later Dunlops
are the worst tyre walls they have touched.
ever.
Even worse than the old Good Years, which were dangerous for blowouts.
I've seen a few.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Ron-D wrote:
My mate raves about his BF Goodrich A/ts that's probably what I will aim for...
Dont tell me there Chinese

-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 22nd of May 2017 05:40:39 PM

Country of manufacture is stamped on the sidewalls. Take nothing for granted.

Ron-D · Guru

That's interesting S/C I never new that....

PeterD · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:
Hello Ron-D
When I brought my second hand (single axle) caravan, the owner said that he had just put air in the tyres, as they had been a bit flat

The tyres looked OK, but he must have over inflated them
On the 200 kilometre trip to home base, one tyre exploded, there was no warning.
I suppose that if a warning devise, warns of both high, and low pressure, it may have been helpful to me

How old was the tyre? I have friend who have had this happen to them. Turned out the tyres were over 5 - 7 years old in every case.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello Peter D

You are correct, they were old tyres

But...

That was before I joined this forum, and started asking questions

Who without travelling knowledge, would have thought that an empty caravan, would not be able to do a 200 kilometre trip

disbelief Certainly not me, back in the day

OutbackMK · Senior Member

Tyre age is critical.. My wife's car only does a few short trips a week and last registration inspection (NSW pink slip) she had the car failed due to out of date tyres.
The tyres looked brand new with hardly any wear however the date on manufacture was 6 years old, when I buy tyres now especially if brought on-line check the date of manufacture,like gas cylinders they could be two years old at purchase.
I understand that they need to be kept like dark cool place or the side wall integrity starts to weaken from UV radiation and that makes for the worst type of blow-out.
Check your dates now are they less than 6 years????
My van doesn't get a lot of work so tyres are in good nick with 90 % tread depth remaining but will need to be replaced in two years. Weird thing is trucks are allowed to use retreads and recaps and their dates of manufacture are obviously going to be more than 6 years in many cases ?
Brian

macka17 · Guru

I've NEVER seen anything written about 6 yrs on tyres.
Most say 6 TO 7 yrs.
I normally go between those figures.

Wellll.
I just skoke to Rep i Tyrepower Rocky.
He said MFG's are recommending 5 yrs nowadays.
and Rego dep'tments refusing rego's at over that.

Reason being.

Tyres nowadays are compounds\ mixtures.
NOT Natural rubber anymore.

Breaks down a lot earlier apparently.

You live and learn hey.

Kelly's on the van are looking better by the yr.

SouthernComfort · Guru

OutbackMK wrote:
Tyre age is critical.. My wife's car only does a few short trips a week and last registration inspection (NSW pink slip) she had the car failed due to out of date tyres.
The tyres looked brand new with hardly any wear however the date on manufacture was 6 years old, when I buy tyres now especially if brought on-line check the date of manufacture,like gas cylinders they could be two years old at purchase.
I understand that they need to be kept like dark cool place or the side wall integrity starts to weaken from UV radiation and that makes for the worst type of blow-out.
Check your dates now are they less than 6 years????
My van doesn't get a lot of work so tyres are in good nick with 90 % tread depth remaining but will need to be replaced in two years. Weird thing is trucks are allowed to use retreads and recaps and their dates of manufacture are obviously going to be more than 6 years in many cases ?
Brian

Absolutely spot on Brian. It's alarming how many owners pay no heed to this. Just as essential to check those dates when buying new tyres from any source, especially discount merchants.

JocknNik · Senior Member

I didn't know about the 6 year safe limit for tyre life until I learned the hard way. Although I've only recently completed my first caravan trip, I've done a lot of kays over the years with trailer boats, some loaded right up with camping gear. Always used 8 PR light truck tyres on my trailers. On a run up to Broome from Mandurah in stinking hot conditions with 7 year old tyres, the treads started to shed and one sidewall egged along the Sandfire Flats. The only way we made it into Broome was by slowing right down. We paid the price in the high cost of replacements up there. Never again! They get the boot at 6 years now no matter the way the tread looks.

Hylife · Guru

No one makes true 10ply tyres any more. Ply ratings were a measure of how many layers of cotton went into the casing. These days modern tyres don't actually contain 10 layers or any cotton, they use steel ply and a radial construction.
Anyone advertising 10 ply is misleading the buying public, but for us old timers seeing such and advert is a suggestion of tyre strength. Again, in reality, modern light truck tyres are far stronger than the old 10ply and have a higher load and speed rating as well.

Decent Jap brand light truck tyres such as Yokahama Delivery Star 195R14C are only about $120 a piece fitted and balanced, and if you are a tandem Yokohama does a pay for 3 get 4 deal.

Even though a quality Jap brand tyre may have a 60-80,000km life, just change them out every couple of years regardless of wear. Cheap insurance in my humble opinion.

macka17 · Guru

10 "P.R."
is the thing.

Not ply's but Ply RATINGS.

IE Thickness and extra strength in walls and casing of tyre to cover extra needs.

there are 6.8 and 10 PR (4 too In think?)

8PR are std At. and 4x4 tyres.
The 10PR. COST more for same tyre. as they have thicker steel belting.
and thicker "rubber casing" to cover the extra rigidity and strength. and tear\damage resistance.

NOT more of in number. just thicker to do same job.
I've bought 10 pr for decades. and never once had a puncture.
(1 delamination, which was a faulty moulding)

Look at them off rim in dealers. You can feel it.
Plus the 10PR used to have the white writing on outside lettering.
Not on the 8's.

OutbackMK · Senior Member

I would always just ask for light truck construction even on the van, as side walls are thicker.

Hylife · Guru

macka17 wrote:
10 "P.R."
is the thing.

Not ply's but Ply RATINGS.

....

As I said, there is no such measurement used today. It related to old cotton ply layers. Modern tyres have not been measured by Plys or PR ??? for many decades. They are rated by weight carrying and maximum speed.

Saying a tyre is equivalent to a 10ply (10PR ????) is misleading in the extreme and no reputable tyre manufacturer or retailer would do this.

The old tyre types were known as Plys or CrossPlys. Since the late 70s they have used radial construction which cannot be compared to Plys.

Asking for a tyre based on Ply ratings simply tells the retailer that here is an noob we can rip off because he doesn't know what he is talking about.
Always ask for your tyres based on size, speed and load ratings which you can find simply by reading the numbers on the sidewall.
Even better, take a photo on your phone of the compliance plate and one of the tyre sidewall and show the dealer.

PeterD · Guru

It will not matter whether you have a single or dual axle van. If you get a flat and then have to proceed to where you can safely change the wheel you have an equal chance of buggering the tyre and/ or the rim. In both cases you will have a flat tyre being run flat.

Ron-D · Guru

PeterD wrote:
It will not matter whether you have a single or dual axle van. If you get a flat and then have to proceed to where you can safely change the wheel you have an equal chance of buggering the tyre and/ or the rim. In both cases you will have a flat tyre being run flat.

Good point Peter but with a dual axel you will have one tire supporting the flat tyre .with a single axel running instantly on the road that's a much worse situation is it not???

PeterD · Guru

Ron, the load on the flat tyre may be a bit less if you have independent (non load sharing) suspension but the tyre will still end up terminally destroyed if you have to go more than a few hundred metres flat running. What's the difference, buggered because the tyre was flat and had some weight on it or flat with all the weight on it?