Radial versus bias ply on Teardrop trailer?

[larrybuck]

I recently picked up a lightweight Teardrop trailer that I haven't had the opportunity to weigh yet. The previous owner thinks it's 450 lb, and the title States about 575 lb. I appreciate the fact that that a spare tire and wheel are so easily and inexpensively available at Walmart or Harbor Freight Tools. I will be Towing this with a 89 Toyota Corolla wagon. Wanting to keep as much gas mileage as possible, but wondering if the difference in price and maybe only used several times a year will be worth the effort? I've already custom painted the wheels on it with tires on and do not want to Mar it up at the moment. Ps. I sold off my '55 Chevy and 57 Chevy wagon. The 55 was cammed and sounded really nice but the gas mileage was disgusting. The 57 wagon had the turbo Hydro 350 in it and so it was rather wasteful. The 70 Cuda project is also gone,as well as the Volvo 242 toying with the idea of a Saab Sonett 3 I'm obviously trying to turn a corner for Fleet mileage going up big time! Anybody else making some hard changes these days?

[larrybuck]

Will try to send photo

[freebeard]

I'm down from seven 'vehicles' to two, but it took longer.

That's an interesting teardrop. Most of them have that hard edge. How does the door open? Kitchen?

Radial versus bias ply on Teardrop trailer?

I would think whichever runs cooler. Radials?

[larrybuck]

The door on each side is like a Gullwing there's struts on both sides of the door. The back opens up and there's enough room for maybe a small little rack near the sink to hang a few utensils there's a place for kind of a medium sized sink, and a big warning not to ever cook anything on here because the body is made of actually some kind of poly plastic, it's not common fiberglass. A little trivia about this trailer. It was made by a company in Wenatchee Washington only in the 1989 to 1990 time frame. I have done further reading, and it seems like only a hundred or so these were ever built. I've had a lot of fun trying to dress up the outside a little bit. When I bought it, everything was white and it was just a little too boring to me. I am happy to be down to seven cars, and two tow Suburban rigs at the moment! Cars are just my thing. I don't have a ski boat, I don't have an airplane, I don't have expensive hunting rifles. This is just my thing!

[freebeard]

If it's a blown plastic clamshell, maybe you could add an accordian section in the middle so it pops up?

How long is it? I have a rooftop cargo pod that's not much smaller. Half the length, 1/8th the volume.

[larrybuck]

The body is about 9 ft long. I appreciate your thoughts but I'm not too keen on any kind of a pop-up. With three quarters of the year wet climate, I actually appreciate everything being as closed up. I actually would not plan to travel anywhere that's too hot. I simply don't take enough one or two nighters out somewhere. In the winter time, that could be going to Eastern Washington or Eastern Oregon just to find a little sunshine.

[ECO-AKJ]

Back to the Radial vs Bias

Radial, easier to get because can use car tire

Bias, trailer use only

Radial may weigh less than a bias

Bias of the same size will carry more load because that is how they are designed

It all depends on the size and the ply rating of the tire, I usually can find most of the critical information on a site like tirerack.com

[aerohead]

On my first trailer I rotary ground two HONDA 13" wheels, with 165/ 70 SR 13 steel radials, to fit a Harbor Freight 4-foot utility trailer.
I managed to create an upper body, but nothing else.
Towed behind my CRX, I dead-headed out to Los Angeles, California, picked up some Ni-Cads from a local hospital, and made the return trip, at the weight of a Ford Taurus, returning an average 50-mpg at 55-mph, versus 52-mpg 'naked.'
I've no idea what it would have done with the original 8" bias-ply tires.
http://https://ecomodder.com/forum/m...ets-50-mpg.jpg

[freebeard]

One spare fit two vehicles?

[oil pan 4]

I hope you didn't wait till gas was $5 a gallon before you sold your legendary car collection.

Bias ply are poop.
I put radial tires on my trailer and they are excellent compared to bias ply.
The only advantage bias ply gives is enhanced sidewall puncture protection and I think that they're cheaper, but that's because you get what you pay for.