Jdw2717 wrote:The camper has close to 27,000 miles on it now with no issues with the tires. Most of those miles are interstate miles as well.
Different strokes for different folks.
We all have our preferences in travel methods, as well as destinations. And certain parts of the country, or particular states, are known for not maintaining roads very well.
Smooth, paved roads are not a problem for a quality small tire.
You may note that people like Tony and I, who are advocating for more sidewall and taller tires, tend to talk about remote destinations and back roads.
We need that extra cushion, the better bridging over rocks, the higher ground clearance, and the better tire construction, because of where our trailers go.
In contrast, many of the small tire people here rarely go farther from the highway than the nearest campground. If the biggest worry you have for a rough ride are a few potholes and the occasional gutter, then small tires are probably right for you.
But I go places where four wheel drive and decent ground clearance are a necessity. Small tires are a hindrance, handicap, and liability.
If you desire a form of compromise from me, I will acquiesce to something that may be unexpected: 8" wheels and wide tires.
Of all the small tire trailers and tent trailers that I have owned, I found the wide tire 8" wheel to offer a better ride, with the width somewhat helping out on rough roads. But the small diameter is still a huge pain in the butt on rocky or heavily rutted roads - or even just climbing a curb.
But, again, the wide tire, 8" wheel combination comes back to offering more cushion and more 'floatation'.
Making the tire bigger somehow - whether by width or by height - makes a difference.
It is all in spreading out the load, decreasing the jarring impacts, and turning your tire into the primary active component in the suspension.
We've gone over this before when talking about tire size, so I'll try not to dwell. But the average leaf-sprung utility trailer (or TD frame) has only about 1" of suspension travel, if that. The easiest way to gain more 'suspension travel' and smooth out the harsh ride is to put taller, more flexible tires on it.
The *only* reasons why I'm still running 5.30-12s on my tent trailer for family trips are:
1. It has a torsion axle, which means I cannot do an axle flip to fit a larger tire.
2. If I wanted to fit a larger tire with the axle in its current location, I would have to cut a bulkhead, the floor, and the trailer side; and then rebuild the wheel well and add a fender flare.