[A/S] Re: Heavy Duty Tire Useage

[Max Hicks <maxhicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Road "shock" can be very damaging to the structural integrity of an Airstream trailer. 
Balancing the tire, wheel, hub and drum, eliminates one of them. Removing overload 
springs also reduces road shock to the trailer. Utilizing an excessive rated hitch, 
also causes road shock. Highly inflated air shocks or air lifts, cause excessive road 
shock. And finally, super heavy duty tires, inflated to high pressures, creates 
considerable road shock, that is transfered to the front end of all Airstream 
trailers. This results in the loss of rivets, both inside and outside and especially 
at the front hold down plate, fatigue cracking of the aluminum sheet metal and steel
frame, electrical failures, water leaks both from the plumbing and the shell, and most 
importantly, LPG leaks, mis-fitting entrance doors, and rear end separation. 

The dura-torque axle gives the semi-monocoque constucted Airstream trailer the needed 
"soft ride". But, this soft ride is progressively destroyed when the tow vehicle ride 
becomes stiffer and stiffer. Granted, for safety purposes, heavy duty tires highly
inflated, are a plus safety factor, to a point.  However, there is a "happy" medium, 
that should be observed.

Circus and carnival Airstream trailer owners, always use heavy duty everything. 
Interesting enough, they all slowly but surely, destroy the trailer, through
vibration and road shock. They also become very "shocked" when they turn in an 
insurance claim for that damage, when they are told, "sorry", coverage denied, because 
their Airstream did not suffer any "sudden, accidental or direct damage", but did 
suffer long term damage, that all policies specifically "exclude".  All motor vehicles 
have "shock mounts" for both the engine and transmission. The why is academic. Those
vibrations, slowly, would destroy parts of the tow vehicle, and therefore must be 
eliminated. An Airstream trailer, does not have the ability to protect itself from 
exterior generated vibrations or road shock, except through the suspension system.

Unfortunately, it cannot compensate for all of it, that heavy duty tow vehicles as 
well aforementioned items, generate.

Max