Caravan Tyres

arnosvale65 · 5th July 2015, 19:43

I have just had my 1990 Fleetwood Colchester 1150/2 serviced. I bought it last year and apart from one damp patch she is in good nick. The brakes needed adjustment but everything else, lights, gas, cooker, fridge, shower and toilet came through working as they should with no leaks. I needed a new secondary cable plug but the main thing were the tyres. One of them is a car tyre! and the other one well past its sell by date with cracking. They both had good tread but the guy who serviced my van said they should be changed due to their age. I had them replaced by Event tyres who came in at £97 and they fitted them at the place where I store my van. Very friendly people on the phone and an efficient and knowledgeable guy put them on. I could have got them cheaper elsewhere but then would have had to take the van to have them fitted and pay for the service.
So my nice cheap caravan is still proving to be just that!

reworht · 5th July 2015, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

I have just had my 1990 Fleetwood Colchester 1150/2 serviced. I bought it last year and apart from one damp patch she is in good nick. The brakes needed adjustment but everything else, lights, gas, cooker, fridge, shower and toilet came through working as they should with no leaks. I needed a new secondary cable plug but the main thing were the tyres. One of them is a car tyre! and the other one well past its sell by date with cracking. They both had good tread but the guy who serviced my van said they should be changed due to their age. I had them replaced by Event tyres who came in at £97 and they fitted them at the place where I store my van. Very friendly people on the phone and an efficient and knowledgeable guy put them on. I could have got them cheaper elsewhere but then would have had to take the van to have them fitted and pay for the service.
So my nice cheap caravan is still proving to be just that!

Excellent - you can get a lot of use out of older 'vans. I'm currently sat in my 1996 Elan Buccaneer 15EW in Wiltshire, coming to the end of a week here, plus the previous two weeks on Exmoor. My 19 year old 'tin tent' has been North of Inverness, Southernmost parts of Cornwall and then this year's trip to Devon & Somerset - bone dry, no problems apart from one front light going off (and me testing the breakaway cable to destruction last year

)
If you're looking for ideas for sites - have a gander at UK Campsite - it's a good reference with plenty of reviews of sites all over the UK

HarryM1BYT · 8th July 2015, 14:11

Tyres on trailers, especially caravans are not something to take risks with or it can prove expensive.

There is no legal age limit by which the have to be changed, some sites suggest 5 to 7 years. The thing is they never wear out - unlike car tyres, the carcase just deteriorates, but with apparently new tread.

Go in any yard which recovers damaged caravans and you will see the results of tyres which have given up the ghost. You are unlikely to know a tyre has burst, or simply gone down nice and gently, unless your are very lucky. The breaking up tyre then flails the underside of the wheel arch, damages the floor often making the van a right off, even if it is fairly new.

Also be wary of new tyres, check their age which is stamped on the side of the tyre before agreeing to purchase them. There have been cases where the tyres have been past the date when they should have been taken off as unfit for further use, but there they are fitting them as new ones.

Also be wary of leaving it parked in the same spot for months on end, the tyres can develop flat spots. Some take the wheels off and fit a solid winter wheel, if its going to be stood for a while.

arnosvale65 · 8th July 2015, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by reworht

Excellent - you can get a lot of use out of older 'vans. I'm currently sat in my 1996 Elan Buccaneer 15EW in Wiltshire, coming to the end of a week here, plus the previous two weeks on Exmoor. My 19 year old 'tin tent' has been North of Inverness, Southernmost parts of Cornwall and then this year's trip to Devon & Somerset - bone dry, no problems apart from one front light going off (and me testing the breakaway cable to destruction last year

)
If you're looking for ideas for sites - have a gander at UK Campsite - it's a good reference with plenty of reviews of sites all over the UK

I stayed at the Exe Valley Campsite at Bridgetown near Dulverton. It is an excellent site on the banks of the river Barle. There is a pub and the site is dog friendly. Me and my dog had a great stay there during that lovely week we had in May.

arnosvale65 · 8th July 2015, 15:19

Thanks Harry. The lad from Event warned me about the age of tyres. The ones he fitted on mine had 2015 on them which he pointed out. He also advised me to keep them covered up when not on use.

HarryM1BYT · 8th July 2015, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

Thanks Harry. The lad from Event warned me about the age of tyres. The ones he fitted on mine had 2015 on them which he pointed out. He also advised me to keep them covered up when not on use.

Good advise - anything will do, so long as it keeps the UV off the tyres. It the UV which ages them.

reworht · 8th July 2015, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

I stayed at the Exe Valley Campsite at Bridgetown near Dulverton. It is an excellent site on the banks of the river Barle. There is a pub and the site is dog friendly. Me and my dog had a great stay there during that lovely week we had in May.

That's the same one where we've just had two smashing weeks - did you get the owners' guided tour of his working water wheel/mill?

arnosvale65 · 10th July 2015, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by reworht

That's the same one where we've just had two smashing weeks - did you get the owners' guided tour of his working water wheel/mill?

No I didn't! I will next time though. It really is a lovely site with a great dog walking area. It was quite empty when I was there and I will definitely be back again. The only downside was the exit onto the main road which made me a bit nervous! I managed to stall my car twice!

reworht · 10th July 2015, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

No I didn't! I will next time though. It really is a lovely site with a great dog walking area. It was quite empty when I was there and I will definitely be back again. The only downside was the exit onto the main road which made me a bit nervous! I managed to stall my car twice!

It is lovely up the 'top' of the site with the weir etc.

I must admit that exit isn't easy - you could easily warm your clutch up when the 'van is on the back

5th July 2015, 19:43	#1
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Caravan Tyres I have just had my 1990 Fleetwood Colchester 1150/2 serviced. I bought it last year and apart from one damp patch she is in good nick. The brakes needed adjustment but everything else, lights, gas, cooker, fridge, shower and toilet came through working as they should with no leaks. I needed a new secondary cable plug but the main thing were the tyres. One of them is a car tyre! and the other one well past its sell by date with cracking. They both had good tread but the guy who serviced my van said they should be changed due to their age. I had them replaced by Event tyres who came in at £97 and they fitted them at the place where I store my van. Very friendly people on the phone and an efficient and knowledgeable guy put them on. I could have got them cheaper elsewhere but then would have had to take the van to have them fitted and pay for the service. So my nice cheap caravan is still proving to be just that! __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

8th July 2015, 14:11	#3
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Tyres on trailers, especially caravans are not something to take risks with or it can prove expensive. There is no legal age limit by which the have to be changed, some sites suggest 5 to 7 years. The thing is they never wear out - unlike car tyres, the carcase just deteriorates, but with apparently new tread. Go in any yard which recovers damaged caravans and you will see the results of tyres which have given up the ghost. You are unlikely to know a tyre has burst, or simply gone down nice and gently, unless your are very lucky. The breaking up tyre then flails the underside of the wheel arch, damages the floor often making the van a right off, even if it is fairly new. Also be wary of new tyres, check their age which is stamped on the side of the tyre before agreeing to purchase them. There have been cases where the tyres have been past the date when they should have been taken off as unfit for further use, but there they are fitting them as new ones. Also be wary of leaving it parked in the same spot for months on end, the tyres can develop flat spots. Some take the wheels off and fit a solid winter wheel, if its going to be stood for a while. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

8th July 2015, 15:19	#5
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Thanks Harry. The lad from Event warned me about the age of tyres. The ones he fitted on mine had 2015 on them which he pointed out. He also advised me to keep them covered up when not on use. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.