15" Tires

I have noticed that many TM owners have gone to 15" tires, and metal stems. Also I hear of the factory "Lift Kit".

Can someone help me understand the pro's of all the above.

Also what is the approx. cost of the lift kit?

Thank you in advance,
Jimmy
2004, 3326 TM

In older TMs a lift kit is required to provide clearance for 15" tires. The biggest advantage is that by going 15" you can get load range D tires (higher weight capacity) which are very hard if not impossible to find in 14". The TM as delivered from the show room is very close to the weight limit of load range tires. Adding water and normal camping gear can easily put over the limit. The Load range D give you a little more margin. Load range D tires run a higher pressure and benefit from the metal stems. Also if you ever want to add pressure monitors, you will want metal stems. Do a search under the tire section there are many discussions on brands of tires and costs. I switched all mine.

Originally Posted by rumbleweed

In older TMs a lift kit is required to provide clearance for 15" tires. The biggest advantage is that by going 15" you can get load range D tires (higher weight capacity) which are very hard if not impossible to find in 14". The TM as delivered from the show room is very close to the weight limit of load range tires. Adding water and normal camping gear can easily put over the limit. The Load range D give you a little more margin. Load range D tires run a higher pressure and benefit from the metal stems. Also if you ever want to add pressure monitors, you will want metal stems. Do a search under the tire section there are many discussions on brands of tires and costs. I switched all mine.

Bob, Thanks for the good info. Can I assume I would need a lift kit for my 2004 3326?
Jimmy

[hillbillyhotel]

Jimmy
mmm? Ours is a 03 and have 15 inch and no lift that i see,
it could be is where you have the dream machine, with the duel axles, even with 14 inch tires@ 1800 lb per tire rateing, you will never overload ,,i would guess, for what it is worth

[rvcycleguy]

Mine is an 02 with 15" inch. No lift kit.

[rtcassel]

Jimmy,
You have 4 wheels/tires whose weight bearing capacity is probably more than enough for the weight of the trailer. I believe that your capacity is probably double that of a TM with only 2 wheels. Another consideration: will larger tires fit side-by-side?

[mjlaupp]

Jimmy,
I had a set of lift kits installed on my '04 3326 for additional ground clearance. I was dragging the bicycle hitch on some curbs and street crossings. I was thinking about 15 inch tires until I looked closer at the clearance between the tires. It would be reduced to something less than 1 inch with 15 inch tires installed. That's too close for comfort. Also, the local TM dealer did not think it was a good idea. My 14 inch tires run cool and are not loaded anywhere near their rating so I don't anticipate any problems except from road hazards or age. Just keep them aired up to 50 lbs. and replace them every 4-5 years.

[Bill]

My memory (someone correct me if I am wrong) is that the 3326 was the only dual-axle trailer in the lineup. Because it had 4 tires to share the load, it came from the factory with 14-inchers, and as noted above, that was more than adequate.

The 3124 was the biggest of the single-axle trailers. Because of its size/weight, it came from the factory with 15-inch tires - the only TM in the line to have 15-inch tires standard (until recently).

Mike, you've had several TMs. Does that agree with your memory?

Bill

[mjlaupp]

That's about right Bill. But I do remember seeing a for sale ad for an early version of a TM about the size and layout of the 3124 that had dual axles. I think it was on 13 inch wheels.

[rtcassel]

14 inch for 2619, 2720, 2720SL, 3023, 3326 King (2720SD not mentioned)
15 inch for the 3124KB and 3124KS

The 2002 brochure mentions the 2720SD (14 inch) and has the 15 inch on the 3023.