Jack
What trailer do you have? I have a 2807 and was thinking of just moving to the 225/75s to get a little away from the limit of the 205s. I was also considering moving to the D rated tires so I could run the 65# thinking it would do a little better on mileage. What are your thoughts.
Thanks, Bob
2007 28C
2011 Sequoia SR5
Bob, I have a single axle 17-foot 2007 TowLite. I've weighed it on a truck scale and it weighs about 3500# with an empty fresh water tank. Before I had the axle moved 3 inches forward, the tongue weight measured with a Sureline scale was in the neighborhood of 630# with the tank full.
The axle was so far back on the trailer that there was less than 1/2" between the tire and the entry step into the trailer.
The OEM Load range C tires that came with the trailer had a combined weight rating of about 3680# as I recall. So, you can see I had NO margin of safety. (The hitch weight, which was supposed to be in the neighborhood of 320# actually exceeded the 600# limit of my WD hitch too.
So, I had the axle moved forward 3 inches and, on the advice of the people who did the remounting, had a spacer inserted between the axle and frame that raised the trailer about 1 1/2 inches too. The net result was, I was able to go up to 225/75R15 Load range D tires with a combined weight rating of 5080#. And the tongue weight is about 15% of the trailer weight (around 570# now with the tank full as I recall). I inflate these tires to 65 PSI cold and have a compressor I can run off my generator to keep the pressure there when on a trip.
I had to buy new rims for the new tires. The OEM rims were 15" with a 5" wide bead width. The new ores are 15" with a 6" wide bead. width. The rims are rated to a combined weight of over 5000# too. The new tires and rims, while wider and taller have no clearance problems except I had to cut some of the rear cable adjusting bolts off.
So, that leaves the axle at a 3500# rating. I wanted to change it too, but repeated communication with Dexter Axle convinced me the next size up would be too wide. Still, I'm not as worried about the axle as I was about the tires. The axle is carrying the gross weight of the trailer minus the hitch weight, the weight of the wheels and the axle itself, so it should be somewhat under the limit.
As far as mileage, the larger, higher inflated tires don't seem to have made much of a difference. But the piece of mind is worth everything to me.
If you have the clearance (they might interfere with each other on tandem axles though), it might be worth thinking about changing. But, the tandem axle trailers have a combined rating of 7000#, which gives you a better margin even with the OEM setup.
- Jack
But, to answer your question, I sure hope so. I'm using tires now that are rated to 2500# each, since I was able to move up a size with the axle change and they're load range D instead of C. So, I'm now well under the weight limit.
