Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Balance your wheels

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Balance your wheels

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15381
Printed Date: 19 Jun 2025 at 5:32am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Balance your wheels

Posted By: Hardwear Hank
Subject: Balance your wheels
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2022 at 8:00pm

I noticed the wheels on my 192 did not have any balance weights on them. Thinking what was the chance both wheel and tire combinations were perfectly balanced and didn't require any weights, I decided to have them checked. Well the first wheel took 3.75 oz. to balance, the other wheel took 3.25 oz. For a point of reference a 1 oz out of balance front wheel on your vehicle will give you a vibration in the steering wheel that will make your hands numb. Not riding in a trailer going down the highway I can't imagine the vibration, excessive wear on wheel bearings and tires this causes.

Rest assured if your trailer wheels don't have balance weights, they are very likely to be out of balance, damaging your tires, bearing, suspension and vibrating your camper apart prematurely.

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Hardwear Hank
2021-192

Replies:

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 5:57am

+1

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 7:50am

+2 spot on

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Jay

179/2019

Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 9:49am

+3 to balancing all your tires!

While there, check to make sure that the load (weight)rating for the tires is at least 25% more than the weight of the fully loaded trailer.

I immediately upgraded our 192 tires as the load range D tires it came with didn't give us any room for error.

Andy

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Andy and Laurie
'16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg
'21 RP192
"If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!"
Red-Green

Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 10:57am

+4 The wheels on our 179 were not balanced when we took delivery of it new. I didn't notice it until I pulled the wheels a year later to repack the bearings. Also noticed the stock brakes shoes were falling apart.

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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Kawasaki KLR650

Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 1:44pm

Excellent point gpokluda, that reminded me of an earlier post I made about carrying out a wheel, brake, tire, and ensuring the bearings for the trailer tires are lubricated properly.

I suggested that an inspection immediately upon receiving the trailer would be advisable...when I checked mine several faults were found including a missing cover that covers the wheel bearing on the right side (it holds the little rubber grommet that helps keep moisture and dust out of the bearing and grease nipple/zerk fitting), as well as almost no grease present in the bearing itself. It would be a good time to check the brakes to make sure they are serviceable.

Cheers

Andy

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Andy and Laurie
'16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg
'21 RP192
"If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!"
Red-Green

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 4:47pm

+6 Correct and extremely important for the health of your brakes, tires, and r-pod. Over the years I have seen many instances of tires on both autos and travel trailers that are very much out of balance. It can easily be spotted by observing the tire bounce up and down as it travels down the road.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."