[Dutch180SE]

Make sure you'll have a proper jack !! I had a flat tire once and the jack from my SUV was dangerously unstable and barely managed to raise the trailer.. I purchased one from Ebay(29$),drowned it in WD40 and attached it with tie-raps to the axle of the trailer.

[nglauer]

Don't feel bad, my parents lost a tire on their 5th wheel camper this weekend. It peeled the tread like a recap... except it came off in one complete section. I'll have to post a picture.. the tread rolled off and wrapped around the inside portion of the axel. It tore up the brake lines, inside paneling, insulation, and electrical wiring for the power slide out. It even got the outter fender trim which is Specific to their Carriage Cameo. Luckily Dad had a spare, however the tire that blew was on the drivers side facing all the traffic on I-77. He packed a wrench, bottle jack and all the other tools.... but realized that the jack handle of MIA. Luckily the tire blew about 45 minutes from home and I was able to bring some extra tools to ease the job. I will be buying a spare tire and wheel now. I figured I had nothing to worry about since my trailer has goodyear marathons... but after seeing Dad's goodyear come apart like a pair of cheap sneakers i'm a little concerned.

Glad you made it back safely and that nothing else happened.


Nick

[shabah96]

Wow, luckily my blowout didn't cause any damage just headache. Bad enough you get a blowout and then all that damage. Hope its not to expensive to fix it all. My heart was pumping pretty hard when the trailer was being pulled onto the flatbed with the bottom end of the motor about an 1" of the ground. It didn't help with the truck driver saying " I came all the way out here so I am getting this boat on the bed one way or another". First thing Monday after work I am going to get a spare and proper jack.

thanks
Les

[rajjneef]

A spare is needed. For some reason the PO of my boat put tires on the trailer that were borderline of the load rating needed. Why skimp maybe $10-$15 per tire on this? Anyway... I have popped both of those tires now this season. The spare saved me both times. Also... verify you have the proper tools to change the tire. My first experience was that my lug wrench wouldnt fit as it is for my 8 lug 2500 truck tires. I bought a foldable lug wrench and added it into my jack case in the truck. The first blowout was stressful because I had to drop the boat on the side of the highway and drive 15 miles to get a lug wrench. The second was without stress and I was driving again in 15 minutes since I had everything I needed.

[shabah96]

The PO of my boat had 2 light truck tires on the trailer instead of trailer tires. Going to change the other one before it blows.

[nglauer]

The insurance adjuster was supposed to stop and look at my parents trailer. It may have done some fiberglass damage when it tore the fender flare off, but minor damage that will be hidden behind the replacement flare. It reminded me of when a Semi looses a front tire.. it just chewed everything up. Hopefully the damage isn't as bad as it looks.

I would be paranoid watching my boat/trailer being pulled up onto a roll back. Did you wheel get damaged? I just realized that my trailer is a 6 lug 15" wheel. I never really paid attention to it when we purchased the boat. Now i'm wondering how much a spare wheel/tire is gonna set us back.

Good luck !!! glad you got her home safely in the end.

Nick

[Pitt4]

That sucks on the flat. It sounds like my first boat experience. I hauled it back from Lake of the Ozarks to Wichita Kansas and got a flat 3/4 of the way back in a small town. No spare tire! The funny thing now is that the previous owner and I talked about the lack of a spare tire just before I left. I told him I should be alright and I would get one as soon as I got home.
I also got a speeding ticket and the durango started to over heat.
BUT I love this boat! Haven't had a problem since I got it home.

[shabah96]

Wow you are a brave guy speeding while hauling a boat. I was definitely taking my time.

Nglauer - I also have the 6 bolt 15 " (225 -75 -15) I picked up a spare with rim for $270

[Pitt4]

Well I forgot to say it was only 40 in a 30 and it dropped down really fast.

[95gts]

Heck, I tow with a car ('05 Crown Vic)!

I lost a tire on my first trip out this summer, luckily I noticed it before the tire actually blew, it had acquired a baseball size lump in the sidewall that I saw in the side mirror. I limped along to the nearest tire place and got two new trailer tires. I had a spare, but it's a passenger car tire, I really need to get an LT or ST to replace that. I carry a 4 way and a hydraulic jack with me too, those cheapy jacks that come with cars are pretty worthless.