Readers have asked what you should do if you have a trailer tire failure. There are a number of posts and videos on what you should do if you have a front tire fail on your motorhome, but I do not recall ever seeing advice on what to do if you have a failure of a tire on your travel trailer.
This post would apply to any type trailer, including a basic single- or multi-axle RV trailer. I think that large 5th wheel trailers and even open or enclosed box trailers that might have a race car or antique show car inside could benefit from this knowledge.
Here is what I think.
What not to do
First, what we do not want to do is to jam on the brakes. This could cause anything inside the trailer to break loose and cause more damage.
The best reaction would be to lift your foot off the gas pedal. Take a quick check in the mirrors to confirm that you are not traveling with someone on your immediate right side. Switch on your hazard lights aka “4-way-flasher”. I know that unless I am preparing for a left lane exit, which does occasionally happen even on the interstate highways, I try and travel in the right-hand lane. Once we are sure that we can move to the right, that would be where I would head.
I would NOT jerk the steering wheel to the right. Any sudden steering input can result in a sudden move by the trailer which can be unexpected and sometimes result in unpredicted consequences. Hopefully, there is space off the travel lane that you can move into. Look ahead to be sure there is nothing you are going to drive over and, if possible, avoid driving into soft sand berm.
I believe that many of the above suggestions are not new information to the experienced RV owner. However, sometimes making a conscious effort to think “What would I do…” can help clarify your thoughts and prepare you for this sudden emergency.
Avoiding a tire failure is best
In reality, I think that avoiding a tire failure in the first place is the best thing for the RV owner to do. In posts here on RVtravel.com and in posts on my blog www.RVTireSafety.net I have outlined the steps needed to lower the chance of having a tire failure. These include: Being sure the tire has sufficient air pressure to lower the chances of having a failure in the first place. Do you have TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) on the trailer? If you suffer a puncture on the tires on your car, truck or motorhome, there is a good possibility you will feel the bump or drag from a tire going flat. But with a trailer, most of the time the driver never gets any warning.
Example of trailer tire failure
I remember a few years ago while at a campground hearing the unique ringing sound of a steel wheel being driven down the road. This continued for some time before I saw a truck pulling an RV turn into the entrance road. I looked at the two wheels on one side but only saw one tire. The failed tire had shredded itself. By continuing to drive, the RV owner managed to completely remove all pieces of rubber or wire from the failed tire. All that was left was a badly bent steel wheel.
I noted two parallel lines in the roadway where the wheel had been traveling. When we left the campground, I was able to follow the wheel marks for almost two miles before we had to make a turn. Obviously the driver had no clue that he had suffered a tire failure and he just continued on his merry way for some number of miles.
Yes, there was damage to the side of the RV which increased the cost of the repair. The owner also had to buy a new wheel in addition to the tire.
IMO, much of the cost could have been avoided if the RV owner had a TPMS that provided a warning as the tire lost air. In this example, the excess costs probably exceed the cost of a TPMS for the trailer tires.
Roger Marble
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Thanks, Roger. More good info.
One thing I highly recommend is finding a reputable truck alignment shop…for big trucks…not pickups and have them align and/or straighten the axles to factory specs. Even many new axles are out of whack and can ruin a tire in a short time. And upgrade your trailer suspension to include shocks and better shackles,pins and equalizers.
Thank you, Roger! I would have thought that traveling on a steel wheel would potentially cause a fire. Yet, you made no mention of the possibility. Is that because the trailer presumably carried no fuel? Have a great weekend and safe travels!