Broken wheel skirt

[T and C]

On my recent trip to Tucson, I split my wheel skirt right down the middle. Here is what happened.

When I bought my TM, used, it had two wheel covers in the rear locker. When I got all hooked up in the RV park in Tucson I decided I did not want a week of desert sun on my tires. We all know what the sun can do to tires.

So, I got out the covers and started putting them on. Having used them now, I think that they are really spare tire covers. they are not open at the bottom but have a shock cord all the way around the open side so it looks like you would have to jack the wheel up to get them on all the way.

Anyhow, I had to take off the wheel skirts to get them on. Then when it was time to leave I decided I could get them off w/o the trouble of removing the skirts. BAD IDEA!

When I bulged out the first skirt trying to get the cover off the top of the tire, it split right up the middle. I did a temporary repair with duct tape for the trip home. Now that TM is up and running I will order a new pair.

I will also get myself a pair of real tire covers with an opening at the bottom.

Live and Learn,

Tom

[ShrimpBurrito]

I don't think a week of sun anywhere while camping is much to worry about. If you're going to use tire covers, it's the other 50 weeks of the year in storage that I personally would be using them.

Dave

[scrubjaysnest]

We used them on a motor home, I cannot say they really helped; after about 3 to 4 years we started seeing dry rot.

[T and C]

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

I don't think a week of sun anywhere while camping is much to worry about. If you're going to use tire covers, it's the other 50 weeks of the year in storage that I personally would be using them.

Dave

The trailer was parked oriented East to West. That meant the sun, which is in the South right now, would shine directly on one tire all day, dawn to dusk.

You are right, one day or one week is no big deal. However, a year is made of up days and weeks, so every little bit helps. It all adds up.

At home we keep the TM in the driveway. Our driveway faces North, as does the house. So the TM is in the shade much of the day, and we have some plywood that we put over the tires when home.

Tom

Tom

[T and C]

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

We used them on a motor home, I cannot say they really helped; after about 3 to 4 years we started seeing dry rot.

I am trying to get into the "We never had a blowout club". So I am trying to play every angle. I want to get the full life out of the tires, and there is no question that sun damage is a big problem on trailer tires.

I think motorhomes use truck tires don't they? Those tires are made from different compounds.

Tom