Ghostriderc227

I have never been a supporter or trailer tire rotation, as we usually do on a motor vehicle. Tire balance is necessary I believe for several reasons. The primary reason to rotate is to maintain equal tire wear, so they all wear the same. The big contributors to tire wear are driving force (the power transferred to the wheels to push the vehicle), turning and cornering (front wheels where wear is caused by turning right or left), and tire load (weight distribution). Most tires on a trailer will “age” out of use long before they ever wear out the tire tread. Since a trailer tire see’s little of these main contributors, there is really little need to rotate on a scheduled basis. I do rotate when the wheels are removed for maintenance, but never rotate just for the sake of rotating. Tire pressure and tire balance are most critical for tire longevity. I do believe the correct pressure is most critical as heat is the biggest cause of tire failure. I have also found that tires with higher pressure are more resistant to picking up nails, screws etc. I have owned many motorcycles over the past 55 years, and driven them many thousands of miles. Over all those miles I experienced tire punctures most from tires that were at lower pressures (but still within spec’s). This has been confirmed with fellow riders. Heat is the big problem in tire failure. The greater your load the more heat you generate....tire pressure can compensate for that. I have found that a small handheld infrared heat thermometer to be extremely handy for quick side of the road checks...a big plus being you can quickly and easily check not only the tire, but the wheel bearing. Picking up a higher temp reading on one bearing quickly tells you of a potential problem waiting to occur. Steve R.

Thanks Bill, I applied that body side chrome trim myself, and it is not all that difficult. Just need tape to stretch a straight line, wax cleaner, and a careful eye. I had it on my previous 2001 Dodge Ram diesel and enjoyed the look. Are you implying that the dressing on the running boards will cause your foot to slip? I don’t dress the running boards at all....but never thought of losing traction. Good tip, thanks. Steve R.

For what it is worth, I bought a Ford F-250, XLT 2019 model. In doing my research I found a huge price difference between the XLT and their top of the line model. A few options brings the XLT up to a very well equipped vehicle for a reasonable cost. I found a 6.7 diesel with the suspension upgrades and nice trim options I wanted...and even preferred over the top of the line models. You can add the chrome upgrade option, trailer towing package, 4 door, bucket seats, large nav screen, and a number of other features and still be 20,000 under the top of the line models. one thing to also consider by going to the 3/4 ton, is the heavy brakes, shocks, springs, transmission, axle, etc. that will give you years of added use over a 1/2 ton. I have averaged 19 - 20 mpg without the Oliver and 14 - 15 mpg with the Oliver. Yes routine maintenance is higher for the diesel, but also is the resale. I could not be more pleased with my Ford F 250. Steve R.

I could suggest Johnson Creek on Lake of the Pones in NE Texas. Lots of green and trees. The corp of engineers manages several very nice camp grounds around the lake. Most sites have water front access and are full generally around the big holidays. They all have boat ramps and beach areas. I live on the lake just across the bay from the Johnson Creek campsite. Very beautiful, clean, safe, and low cost. There are a number of smaller towns near and Longview is about 30 miles away (pop about 80,000). you should be able to find out much more online. The lake is about 20 miles long and has a great number of campground sites all managed by the Corp of engineers. Jefferson is a small town about 12 miles away, it is a real tourist area for weekenders with historic hotels, bed and breakfasts, and saloons. Steve Rangeloff. Lake of the Pines, Texas.