Community Forums

Big-Foot · 08-12-2014, 03:26 PM

My wife and I are looking into the possible purchase of our get-away coach!!
It's a 2005 and looks to be in good general condition with no abuse apparent.
I am concerned about a couple of things.
1) It has 15" 6-bolt wheels with ST225/75R15 Load Range D tires
2) I'm told that the axles are 5050 lb axels. (Triple axel)

According to the advertised weights on this rig, it can have a GVWR of 16,950 and 2,910 on the hitch.
This leaves 14,040 on the tires.
I am just not convinced that there is enough safety margin on those LR-D tires and being 15's, it's probably not going to be easy to get a good LR-E tire..

Are there any recommendations out there?

Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the McKenzie Dune Chaser from Monaco?

Thanks!

Regards - Randy

Freestyle21 · 08-12-2014, 08:37 PM

I can't say anything about the trailer but you can step up to a load range E. That will get you into a safe margin.

Big-Foot · 08-13-2014, 06:16 AM

I haven't had a lot of luck finding Load Range E tires in that size. Only one, Towmaster, which does not have a really good reputation from what I have read..
I'm wondering about upsizing to 16" wheels.
Are there any gotchas with that? There certainly looks to be a large enough gap between the tires and from the tire to the top of the wheel arches in the bodywork..

Thanks..

Arch Stanton · 09-01-2014, 10:17 PM

One of my close friends has a DuneChaser, and has owned it for close to 10 years, he bought it new. It is, I believe, about 40' overall, has the one slide in the bedroom.
In my opinion, it is a well built coach, they have had almost zero problems with it and have towed it at least 30,000 miles over the years. They hauled a combo of 3-4 quads or 2 quads and a side by side, but now just haul the side by side.
I looked for a clean used DuneChaser for over a year and gave up, we bought a 2014 Eclipse Attitude and we are happy with it.
Just go over the seals on the coach, do the usual stuff you'd do to any used vehicle...service the generator and the wheel bearings and brakes, etc. If it hasn't been abused I think you'll find it is a good unit. I know for s fact they are well insulated, he uses about 50% of the propane for heating that his son uses in a comparable sized Tahoe Transport.
I'd not worry too much about the 15's...I'd put Light truck tires on it were it me, but that is something you need to research yourself. I drove exactly 50 miles with the Towmax tires my rig came with before getting them replaced. I've never heard of a 5050 lb axle, I'd suspect they're 6k rated.

Big-Foot · 09-03-2014, 04:21 AM

Thanks Arch...

We decided to pass on the Dune Chaser and did buy a different Toy Hauler (another orphan) last weekend.
We ended up with a 2008 Rage'n Stryker 4005.. It needs work, but then I pretty much think that they all do..