Blowouts

[cruzbill]

Tireman9, I never thought I would say this to a comment you make, but on one point I disagree. The Safety Cage I propose would reduce or eliminate the terrible damage all that rotating mass of steel cord and rubber does to your MH undercarriage. Front steps, hydraulic systems, the list as you know goes on. When we returned home from our first trip in our new to us Beaver MH, one of the first things I Googled was a safety cage for our wheel wells. No luck, but if you ask someone if you had a blowout that resulted in damage to only a tire, but didn't rip up the front of the MH or render it undrivable, I think folks would jump at it.......But then I think seat belts were long overdue, and don't get me started about requiring disc brakes on all towables.

On most things tire, I will defer to your expertise, on wheel well safety cage, I'm in line to buy a set when they hit the market.

Thank you for your great blog and for all of your knowledgeable comments.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by cruzbill

Tireman9, I never thought I would say this to a comment you make, but on one point I disagree. The Safety Cage I propose would reduce or eliminate the terrible damage all that rotating mass of steel cord and rubber does to your MH undercarriage. Front steps, hydraulic systems, the list as you know goes on. When we returned home from our first trip in our new to us Beaver MH, one of the first things I Googled was a safety cage for our wheel wells. No luck, but if you ask someone if you had a blowout that resulted in damage to only a tire, but didn't rip up the front of the MH or render it undrivable, I think folks would jump at it.......But then I think seat belts were long overdue, and don't get me started about requiring disc brakes on all towables.

On most things tire, I will defer to your expertise, on wheel well safety cage, I'm in line to buy a set when they hit the market.

Thank you for your great blog and for all of your knowledgeable comments.

IMO it's much better to prevent a tire commingapart than to try and prevent damage. People simply do not have a good appreciation for the forces involved when a tire going 60 mph comes apart.

Here is youtube of stationary tires failing with sudden airloss. Now add 30 to 40# of steel and rubber spinning at 60 mph.

Here is what many drum test machines have for cages. That is passenger tire machine. Truck tiresneed x2 or x3 the cage strength.

Grating costs about $20 a sq ft and weighs about 15# per sq ft. I figure a minimum of 18 SQ ft per side. You still need a support structure of 2" angle iron firmly attached to the frame on 4 sides. Plus services of welder and fabricator and maybe mechanic to move lines out of the "blast area".

[lancslad]

Originally Posted by edge68474

Yeah, good question from one of the above posts.
Is it the sidewalls that blow out most of the time?

I've had 2 major blowouts. One on a TT and one on our Class A
The TT at 60mph totally destroyed the tire and wheelwell and part of the TT siding.We were picking up rubber from inside the TT for days... it got everywhere.
The class A was at 65mph on the front left. The sidewall blew out but there was no damage to the M/H and we stopped in a straight line. I believe DP's are harder to control than Gassers because there is less weight on the front tires. I got new tires all round within the month.

[slickest1]

I have had a blowout and rubber flapping that bent a lighter but heavy enough 4 inch I beam cross member on a commercial trailer. The inside of a wheel well would have to be pretty heavy duty to withstand some of these blowouts. I do think there should be some better protection than what there is. It amazes me that manufacturers put critical wiring and hoses and such in areas that are subject to mishap.