Do you balance your trailer tires?

SDE

Well-known Member
I noticed that none of the wheels/tires are balanced, that were on the trailer.(14k) Should I have them balanced?
Thank you
Sde
 
Yes, usually if there are no brakes dragging you can balance them after you put them on. I have a box of old weights and I think I get them pretty close. It kind of depends how fast and far you are going.
 
If you do lots of clean highway miles then yes balance them.
They will last longer and be easier on your trailer and bearings.
Most of mine I have to wash out a few lbs of mud, dirt ice etc from the rims every couple of months.
Flatbed and stock trailer tires end up so far out of balance after the first dirt road that I don't bother, travel trailer tires I balance.
 
The guys at the tire place said they don't balance trailer tires. The weights they use won't work on the rims (at least they wouldn't work on mine, I ask them to try to balance them).
 
I guess I will mount them on the trailer and give them the wheel of fortune spin. If they look to be out a bunch, I will try to add a weight or two.
Thank you
SDE
 
If you drive over 45 MPH I would balance them. This is when the tire is spinning fast enough for the "G" force to kick in. If the tire(s) bounces under 45 mph it's a tire problem not a balance problem.
 
My trailers are all under 10K and used at highway speeds,
but I have all of mine balanced.
 
For what it's worth I run 15 trailers a day down the road that are 14k and under and never balance a one. Haven't for 25 years. Not saying I'm right, just the errant road trash running a hole in them is my worst problem
 
Yes. I also spray off the stock trailer, etc every time I run them in mud or they are dirty inside. Some of my stuff doesn't need any help flying apart.

The only thing not balanced are the widow makers on the old grain truck. She only hits about 45 anyway so it isn't a big deal. When I was driving bus I used split rims. They offered to fluid balance them but I did without. If they were jumpy I would rotate them forward or back a lug and it took care of it.
 
new one to me, how do you know where to put weight and how heavy of one to use? and on which side?
 
i never have, but i think i'll start doing it, ive noticed with these cheap chinese junk tires a unballenced trailer tire wears dramaticly, the old trailer i use to haul the d-4 on has lowboy rated 14.5's on it the newest one is at least 15 years old, and they look new, all made in the usa the trailer does sit under a shed and is only ocasionaly used
 
Absolutely. I even balance my boat trailer tires. I was on the road and watched a travel trailer with an obviously unbalanced tire and it was tearing the suspension out of that trailer as it was flailing up and down and all over the place. SCARY to say the least.
 
Only ones I have not balanced are the 14.5 wedge mounts. Don't know how to do those other than on the trailer. Not sure if anyone does that anymore. Frame shop used to do high speed balancing on vehicles back in the 70's before they made the machines.
 

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