Beware of Tire Wear! (Part 2 of 3)

There is more than one type of tire wear that can occur when there are underlying mechanical issues with a vehicle.  The additional weight and bulk of a camper adds to the instability already present with the worn tires, increasing the chances of accidents or other damages.  Keeping on top of tire wear is an important precautionary measure in safe driving and towing.

Continuing from our previous entry, three additional types of tire wear are:

Feathering

Feathering is a condition when the edge of each tread rib develops a slightly rounded edge on one side and a sharp edge on the other.  By running your hand over the tire, you can usually feel the sharper edges before you'll be able to see them.  The most common cause of feathering is incorrect toe-in setting, which can be cured by having it set correctly.  Occasionally toe-in will be set correctly and this wear pattern still occurs.  This is usually due to deteriorated bushings in the front suspension, causing the wheel alignment to shift as the car moves down the road.

Under-Inflation

This type of wear usually results from consistent under-inflation.  When a tire is under-inflated, there is too much contact with the road by the outer treads, which wear prematurely.  Tire pressure should be checked with a reliable pressure gauge.  When this type of wear occurs, and the tire pressure is known to be consistently correct, a bent or worn steering component or the need for wheel alignment could be indicated.  Bent steering or idler arms cause incorrect toe-in and abnormal handling characteristics on turns.

Over-Inflation

Excessive wear at the center of the tread indicates that the air pressure in the tire is consistently too high.  The tire is riding on the center of the tread and wearing it prematurely.  Many times, the "eyeball" method of inflation (pumping the tires up until there is no bulge at the bottom) is at fault; tire inflation pressure should always be checked with a reliable tire gauge.  Occasionally, this wear pattern can result from outrageously wide tires on narrow rims.  The cure for this is to replace either the tires or the wheels.  

In the final part of our 'Beware of Tire Wear!' segment, we'll give a general overview with advice on keeping your tires in good shape and avoiding frequent tire replacement.

Beware of Tire Wear! (Part 1 of 3)

Towing a camper of any kind adds a large amount of weight to your tow vehicle.  If the weight is uneven, or if there are mechanical issues with the tow vehicle that are not immediately obvious, tire wear may occur.  Analyzing the type of tire wear that appears can help in determining what the issue is, and can prevent major mechanical issues from occurring.  To help illustrate the types of tire wear, our service department has put together an informational binder, available in our service waiting area (and now here online!).

One Side Wear

When an inner or outer rib wears faster than the rest of the tire, the need for wheel alignment is indicated.  There is excessive arching in the front suspension, causing the wheel to lean too much to the inside or outside and putting too much load on one side of the tire.  The car may simply need the wheels aligned, but misalignment could be due to sagging springs, worn ball joints, or worn control arm bushings.  Because load has a great affect on alignment, be sure the car is loaded the way it's normally driven when you have the wheels aligned; this is particularly important with independent rear suspension cars.

Second-Rib Wear

Second-Rib wear is normally found only in radial tires, and appears where the steel belts end in relation to the tread.  Normally, it can be kept to a minimum by paying careful attention to tire pressure and frequently rotating the tires.  Some car and tire manufacturers consider a slight amount of wear at the second rib of a radial tire normal, but that excessive amounts of wear indicate that the tires are too wide for the wheels.  Be careful when having oversize tires installed on narrow wheels.

Cupping

Cups or scalloped dips appearing around the edge of the tread on one side or the other, almost always indicates warn (sometimes bent) suspension parts.  Adjustment of wheel alignment alone will seldom cure the problem.  Any worn component that connects the wheel to the car (ball joint, wheel bearing, shock absorber, springs, bushings, etc.) can cause this condition.  Worn components should be replaced with new ones.  The worn tire should be balanced and possibly moved to a different location on the vehicle.  Occasionally, wheels that are out of balance will wear like this, but wheel imbalance usually shows up as bald spots between the outside edges and center of the tread.

In part two of this section on tire wear, we'll go over 'feathering', 'under inflation' and 'over inflation'! 

RV Warranties

When you purchase a brand new RV, it comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty which covers cosmetic repairs for the first 90 days following the purchase of your RV.  Cosmetic repairs include (but are not necessarily limited to) cabinets that have nicks or scratches, slide-outs that require adjustments, reseals for windows, doors, sinks and vents and similar superficial damages.  After the first 90 days, cosmetic repairs are no longer covered by the manufacturer warranty.  Mechanical repairs, in contrast, are covered throughout the length of the one year warranty and include (but are not limited to) issues with appliances, tanks, hoses and other such components on your camper.

What many people do not know is that extended warranties are also available for your RV after that first year is up.  Extended warranties can be purchased on new units as well as used units.  Every extended warranty is different but, more often than not, cosmetic repairs or repairs caused by lack of maintenance will not be covered.  Just as with manufacturer warranties, extended warranties only provide coverage for repairs if the customer has kept up with routine maintenance of their unit through professional RV service stations.

At Susquehanna RV we deal primarily with one warranty provider - Protective.  Good Sam extended warranties are also a popular choice and, though we have never dealt with them personally, RV Warranty Forever is another extended warranty provider.  We will honor almost any extended warranty as long as proof of warranty is provided.    

It is always important to research warranty providers - make sure you're going with a reputable company.  Review your warranty options as well - different amounts of coverage are available.  Keep in mind that, at times, repairs for RV components can be quite costly, and a yearly cost for an extended warranty might be less than the cost of a repair out of pocket.  Make sure to find out what repairs and services are covered by the warranty before paying for anything, and consider the deductible on any warranty.  In some cases, service calls to the location of the camper are covered.  Other times, the campers must be brought to the service provider's location.  We can say it's nearly always the best bet to get an extended warranty for your camper.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

As always, we invite anyone with questions or concerns regarding extended warranties on RVs to call, e-mail or come in to speak with us!  We are not only in the business of selling campers.  We are in the business of making sure they last - keeping you outdoors and having fun with your friends and family for many years!

Things to Remember Your First Time Out - A List for New RV'ers

You've just purchased an RV.  You are ready to hitch your camper to your vehicle and hit the road.  You drive for 50 miles... maybe 100 miles.  You find a great campsite and you get ready to set up camp when you realize you have forgotten something, and it's a long drive back to anywhere that might carry the RV supplies you need.  

Here at Susquehanna RV, we've taken the liberty of creating a basic list of parts, supplies and accessories you will need or might want to bring with you on your first time out.  Print out this list and bring it with you when you come in.  Whether you are new to RVing or an old hand starting a new camping season, this list will help make sure you are fully prepared!

New in 2014 - Denali 316RES

Whether you already own an RV or are getting ready to purchase one, it is always fun to go to RV shows at the beginning of the year to look at the new models and floor plans; to daydream a little about the added comforts of additional or new features; to plan camping trips with more friends and family with the extra space. This year, Denali has come out with several new units and layouts. One of these units is the 316RES:

The 316RES is a mid-high profile fifth wheel with three slides. Depending on the options chosen with this model, it can offer the following features:

• Sleeping area with:
• King-size bed
• Dresser
• Wardrobe
• Washer/Dryer hook-up/prep area
•   Kitchen area with:
• Refrigerator
• Cook-top
• Oven
• Microwave
• L-Shaped counter with sink
• Dining area with:
• Booth dinette OR free-standing dinette
• Bathroom area with:
• Wall-length counter & mirror
• Shower/Tub
• Skylight
• Living room area with:
• L-shaped couch
• Arm chairs
• Entertainment center (fits up to a 39" TV)

Various options are available in addition to those listed above. For instance, the air conditioner can be upgraded from a 13,500 BTU unit to a 15,000 BTU unit. Or, as mentioned above, the dining area can have the standard booth dinette changed to a free-standing dinette. Typically, unit features and substitutions can be seen on manufacturer websites but it is often much faster and easier to ask a salesperson if a certain feature is available on a unit you look at!

Let the Shows Begin!

Purchasing a camper takes time.  Sometimes the entire process can be done within one week.  More often than not, the process takes around three to four weeks.  When it comes to units with custom specifications, the wait time can stretch into six to eight weeks making January and February good months to get the ball rolling!  With the start of a new year comes a new roster of RV shows.  A good deal of these shows occur between January and April - perfect timing for folks who are looking to get into their ideal RV before camping season begins!

While looking at campers online is a great way to get started in figuring out what specifications you want included in your unit, the most effective way to determine what features are right for you is to go see the unit in person.  In the colder temperatures of the winter months, RV shows offer something most RV dealerships cannot - the comfort of browsing inventory inside a heated building!  In addition to this gem of a perk, RV shows allow you to interact with sales representatives from dealerships and occasionally manufacturer representatives from the companies that make the campers.  If the show is large enough, representatives from campgrounds within a fair distance will also present their literature at these shows, giving you ideas of where you can go once you get your camper on the road!

One of the best places to find out if any RV shows are going to be held in your area is to check out the RV Show section of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association website.  Another good place to look is to go to your local RV dealership's webpage.  They will often advertise which shows they will be attending on their homepage.

As for us here at Susquehanna RV, we will be at the Allentown RV Show from January 10th through January 12th.  We will be at the Susquehanna Valley RV Show from February 6th through February 9th.  We will also be at the Northeast RV Show from February 14th through February 17th (and that's just the next 6 weeks or so!).

Even if you are not looking to buy a camper, it is always fun to go window shopping; to see what new floor plans and features manufacturers are offering each year!  So, get yourself out of the house, take a drive, get some fresh air and window shop to your heart's content!  You never know - you might just find something you love!