A new member / old owner

FAB 54 · 08-28-2009, 04:53 PM

We have been Sunline owners since May 30, 1983. Our Sunline has been to all four corners of this country plus Canada. Our unit is a 82/83 Model T2101. We have done a good bit of major repair and rebuilding. 2001 we put new axles, brakes, and a rubber roof. It has been wonderful over all these years. We have a said it is special to just sit in it.

It has been a blessing for the whole famly. All the grandchildren (7) have been on individual trips with us. They chose where they wanted to go and overall we had a ball with each of them. Several were 3 week trips but one granddaughter said she wanted to shop at ths Mall of America for a week. She managed to survive 5 days until she had spent all her money. We laughed the entire trip with her. This says nothing about all the trips we made with our own children between '83 and '93. We started camping in 1968 with a tent trailer and a 5 month old baby. Lots of adventures over the years.

I have a question that perhaps someone can help me with. During a trip to Canada we needed to replace the tires. When a Sears service center replaced them, I was told the tire numbers were different there, but these were correct. Since then we have had continuing problems with tires (R165/80R15). Can someone please give me the correct size we need?

I noticed someone had asked for VIN#s ours is: 1LC2S1J23DD211558

Thank you

henryj · 08-28-2009, 07:25 PM

Welcome to the Sunline Club, FAB 54. Sorry to hear of your tire problems. I can assure you that tires sizes and ratings in Canada are indeed the same as in the US and probably everywhere else as well. It would be helpful to know what tire size was on the trailer in the first place.

Did you by any chance still have a really old original like C or D78/15??

Unfortunately, it appears that Sears sold you a car tire rather than a trailer tire. The 165/80R15 is a smallish, squishy, low pressure tire not suitable for trailer use. Tirerack.com lists only one brand here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...num%3D68TR5758

It doesn't matter what brand you have. All tires are built to the same specs, and within a few minor variations the numbers across this table are most likely your numbers too.

You say you have had ongoing tire problems and have been replacing them. What do you have on the trailer now? I can't tell from you post in Repairs and Maintenance, where you say you have been replacing tires, whether you still even have these Sears tires on the trailer.

In any case you should be using a special trailer or ST tire. Goodyear and Carlisle are big manufacturers, but you can also get ST tires from other vendors like national chain tire shops that carry various house brands as well. Club members run a variety of tires including these and Denman and I have Maxxis, both of which are brand names.

Sunline Fan will likely know what size you should have--I'm guessing ST205/75R15, which is the smallest 15" available today. They should be run at their full cold pressure of 50 psi. Here's the Goodyear example from tirerack, but again any other brand will have virtually identical numbers:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...irePageLocQty=

Henry

**Sunline Fan** · 08-28-2009, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the VIN! Your coach is indeed a 1983.

The original tire size should have been, according to the brochure, B78-13B. From the following chart, I gather the replacement size should be 175R13. However, since your post says you got 15" tires, I assume you probably have had replacement rims put on and you no longer have the original hubcaps on there. In that case, the only way to tell about if you have the right size tire is to have the dimensions of the rim (diameter and width). If it fits OK on there and has for some time, and as long as you don't have any rubbing issues on the inside fenders, then you're probably OK. My only worry is they are not ST tires, which is the designation for trailer tires.

Jon

FAB 54 · 08-29-2009, 08:50 AM

Thanks to Henryj and Sunline Fan!

Your quick responcese and information is most appreciated. The two of you must be on the site all the time.

I did not expect a reply until some time later.

Yes, we have been using the same tire size since the store in Canada "Helped" us. They are 13" not 15". I guess standing on my head to read the number caused me to make the mistake.

I am assuming the full size would be 175/80R13. Correct

At least the Canadians got the 13" right. They told us they were supprised that we used such a small tire that was also used by small cars. This helps explain why we have had the porblems.

**Sunline Fan** · 08-29-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAB 54

They told us they were supprised that we used such a small tire that was also used by small cars.

Yeah, they are small tires. For some reason back at that time, they did use the small tires on the trailers, I suppose partly because they were so light. Starting I think for the 1987 model year, they upgraded and even the smallest trailers went to 14" tires and 14x5 or 14x5.5 rims. I'm not sure why, maybe because trailer tires were more common in that size then, but it's a good thing they did because they are more common in that size now.

Jon