Aluminum Rim Failure

[lnklatt]

While traveling to the Rio Grande Valley last week two tires went flat while parked overnight in a RV park. To make a long story short, the aluminum rims had cracks causing the tires to lose pressure. I'm aware that some of the steel rims installed in 2005 Mobile Suites were recalled due to a manufacturing defect. Has a similar recall been issued for the aluminum rims dating from about that same time period? Have any other owners of DRV units had aluminum rim failures?

Each rim had a similar crack, about 1 1/2 inch long, on the same outside contour.

The rims and tires did not show any sign of having hit a large pot hole or other road hazard.

Our unit is a 2005 32TK3 equipped with 16 inch load range G tires; the tires are one year old. I have weight data from a commercial scale showing that the load on the tires are well within the 3750 maximum load specification. I estimate that the trailer has about 30,000 miles on it.

Any comments from DRV rig owners with a similar problem and how it was resolved are welcome.

I purchased two steel rims as a temporary fix, but would like to reinstall aluminum rims because they look nicer.

[rotaxman]

LinkLatt

I have a 2006 36TK3 I had a small hairline crack develop from the valve stem out toward the edge of the wheel. It was very very hard to detect.

I Called Tredit which is the outfit that furnishes the wheels for DT explained what had happened there was no problem what so ever.

The customer service lady asked me what was stamped on the back of the rims she was looking for China, Argentina or what ever was stamped on them. Mine were Argentina she sent me 4 new alum rims 5 if your spare is Alum. I was to put the old rims in the boxes that the new ones came in they furnished shipping labels paid shipping both ways.

They also paid for the mounting but said they would not pay for balancing which I feel they should. If you ask the tire store to balance them they will probably work with you and probably furnish you with a receipt that will not show anything about balancing. Which is what the tire shop did with me Tredit payed just like clockwork.

The customer service girl also told me that the new rims would be China made and that they would be a little more narrow than the wheels that I currently had, she also said that the original wheels were to wide.

I feel when you give 62000.00 for one of these rigs the least they could do is install American made wheels mainly Alcoa's but maybe that's just me

At any rate you can go on line and find the number for Tredit corporation give them a call and see what they say.

Hope this is of some help

As always good camping

Joyce and Jerry

[lnklatt]

Thanks for the input. I'll follow up with Tredit tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have as good a response as you received.

[rotaxman]

Sorry didn't mean to post on the forum thought I was Pm'ing

Jerry

[Gillesm]

I had the same problems and they replaced all the wheels,by the way the china ones are Alcoa.

[lnklatt]

Today I talked with Tredit Tire & Wheel Company and learned that all warranty issues related to wheels provided to DRV Suites have been turned over to US Wheel Corporation; their telephone number is 800-669-4804.

[OB]

I had a slow leak in one of mine. Found where there was a bad weld where the two halves were put togather. It's off my 04 MS. I called the above number and it has been disconnected. They have a new number? It's 714-892-0021. I called and left a message on their answering machine. Lets see what they will do?
Thanks OB

[RonS]

Are we talking about the 17.5 inch rims??

[lnklatt]

The rims are 16" with Goodyear LT235/85R16, Load Range G tires.

US Wheel Corporation replace all four rims free of charge, and they didn't request a return of the rims. However, I had to provide axle weight data obtained at a certified scale for the trailer load conditions similar to the load when the the rims failed. Fortunately, the data showed that the axle load was 2420 pounds less than the ratings and the tires were 655 less than the rated load capacity at 100 psi cold temperature inflation pressure.

[OB]

Well I called U S Wheels yesterday and left a message on the answering machine. They did not return the call. So I called again this morning and no one answered ?

Anyone have another number?

Thanks OB