Caravan Wheel Balance

BrianLambert
BrianLambert Forum Participant Posts: 16
edited March 2016 in Caravans #1

Hi all I am new around here so plese be gentle with me!

I have recently purchased a used caravn from a local dealer, as part of the preperation for sale they fitted two new tyres, should they have balanced them?

I have been pulling a caravan around the roads for over thirty odd years and have never eaven thought about wheel balance but wonder if some of the faults that manefest thenselves (self opening cupboards, failing hinges,craced moldings etc) may be due to
caravans with unbalanced wheels.

 

 

Comments

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #2

    Don't know whether you should, I do and always have for many, many years.

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #3

    Just been on Google it said all wheels should be balanced. New caravans do not have their wheels balanced, if you have Tyrone bands fitted the amount of weighs required would amaze you, so it is up to the individual if you get you wheels balanced my wheels
    are not.

  • marchhare
    marchhare Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited March 2016 #4

    This will end up as a "make up your own mind" issue with as many for balancing as against balancing wheels, as this has been discussed in previous posts. From my perspective, I can remember what driving a car with out of balance wheels was like. We go to
    great trouble to balance the wheels on our Range Rover to ensure a smooth ride, so why should we not balance the 4 wheels on our caravan. I am convinced that towing a caravan with 4 out of balance wheels must be bad for the caravan and its contents, when for
    such a relatively low cost you can have all caravan wheels balanced.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #5

    2016 Baileys are now fitted with tpms and wheels balanced from factory

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #6

    Our caravan window catches used to work loose, I mentioned this to our mobile mechanic when carrying out a service, he removed both wheels as he was inspecting the drums, I took them down to our local tyre dealer had them balanced, o/s was off the scale,
    now the catches stay closed. So must have been vibration, worth doing.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited March 2016 #7

     

    Hi all I am new around here so plese be gentle with me!

    I have recently purchased a used caravn from a local dealer, as part of the preperation for sale they fitted two new tyres, should they have balanced them?

    Write your comments here...They would probably only balance them if you asked them to.

    Should they be balanced? my answer is definitely yes. 

  • chrisn7
    chrisn7 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #8

    If you have ever been in a car that has losyt a wheelweight,or not had the wheelsbalanced, you will have experienced the unpleasant vibration and shaking that is generated.

    This movement is transmitted to the tyres which can wear more quickly,and wheel bearings,which risks premature failure. There is a possibility that wheelnuts might be affected too. And of course to the bodyshell leading to loosened screws, and possible failure
    of electrical items, which don't general react weel to excessive vibration.

    The cost is minimal for the benefits you get from having them balanced

  • wallacebob
    wallacebob Forum Participant Posts: 89
    edited March 2016 #9

    I had problems with fracture of gas fire chassis: techy was convinced this was due to wheel imbalance. I have had several conversation at tyre fitters about it. They say  - no problem - but my engineers brain says it must be a good idea. 

  • Pageantpete07
    Pageantpete07 Forum Participant Posts: 91
    First Comment
    edited March 2016 #10

    can you please explian what  tpms is

  • BrianLambert
    BrianLambert Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited March 2016 #11

    Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

    e.g. Link

  • BrianLambert
    BrianLambert Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited March 2016 #12

    Thank for all your thoughts. Digging in the caravan manual it rcomends that wheels should be balanced so I will be taking a trip to my local tyre fitter.  

    Thanks again 

  • PrestonDave
    PrestonDave Forum Participant Posts: 67
    edited March 2016 #13

    Thank for all your thoughts. Digging in the caravan manual it rcomends that wheels should be balanced so I will be taking a trip to my local tyre fitter.  

    Thanks again 

    Write your comments here...By caravan manual I presume you mean the manual that comes with the caravan,if so then surely the ballancing should of been done in the factory in production.

  • MrGarval
    MrGarval Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited March 2016 #14

    Hi,

    I cannot see any reason why you would/should not have wheels balanced, surely it can only be a good thing and the cost is minimal if at all.

    I have always had mine balanced and will continue to do so unless a very good reason is put forward.

    Good luck.

  • BrianLambert
    BrianLambert Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited March 2016 #15

    For anyone that may be interested I have just picked my wheels up from my local tyre fitters. One wheel had two small stick on weights added, the other has over a full strip of weights, I was amazed. Hopefully will give a better ride and less damage from
    vibration.

  • ALANkW
    ALANkW Forum Participant Posts: 70
    edited March 2016 #16

    We've just had 2 new tyres fitted and this time balanced  .I'm sure it felt smoother than before 

    But what really made me angry were that the tyres taken off were 5 years old the caravan is not yet 3 yrs old 

  • BrianLambert
    BrianLambert Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited March 2016 #17

    But what really made me angry were that the tyres taken off were 5 years old the caravan is not yet 3 yrs old 

    So Two yeas old when the 'van was new! What did the origional dealer say about that? Was there any sign of deteriation of the tyres?

  • ALANkW
    ALANkW Forum Participant Posts: 70
    edited March 2016 #18

    But what really made me angry were that the tyres taken off were 5 years old the caravan is not yet 3 yrs old 

    So Two yeas old when the 'van was new! What did the origional dealer say about that? Was there any sign of deteriation of the tyres?

    Yep the tyres were 2yrs old when we had the van  .when I complained the answer the tyres are not covered by warranty and they were legal when we purchased 

    And yes they had cracks in the tread depth hence we changed them 

     

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