Aluminum wheels - Why????

[atom ant]

There you go Carlson - we could really trick em out. "Spinners" on 22" wheels and hydraulics we could control from the TV and have the Monty hop up and down the street to the music. Just think, when you pull into the campground you could just hit the levers and lower the Monty so the frame hits the ground - wouldn't even need your steps

 

[Kansas Farmer]

Put the ones on that keep turning when you stop.

 

[atom ant]

Yep - that's what I was thinking Dennis. Between those and my green shag carpet and turqouise couch I'm getting from Sue, this baby will be a trend setter!

 

[LonnieB-MOC]

Oh yes.......those wonderful spinners!! I got the &*#@
scared out of me the first time I saw a car with those fly up to a stop sign. The car stopped, the wheels LOOKED like they were still moving on, and I couldn't do anything except wait for the crash. I wanted to go back and tell the guy what I thought about his novelty, but once again the DW saved my skin.

Going back to the alloy wheels, I thought about it alot last night ( you should have seen the smoke ), and decided the reason I see more of them broken , bent , or cracked, may be because there are more of them, than steel, on the road these days. I still prefer steel on the trailer, but the alloys are alot better looking, and as illapah said, they are lighter.

 

[SKOOBDO]

My previous trailer had steel wheels with white paint, and yes they rusted, so I decided to get the aluminum ones this time, and they look GREAT! Allison

 

[Cat320]

They give the coach that look of being classy, dress it up a bit. Initially I thought that $660 was pretty steep, then I figured at the price of these coaches the extra money was not really that much. Ought to get some back at sale/trade.

 

[Montana Sky]

Could do some simple math, figure a MSRP of $62,000 for a fully loaded coach with every option. If you take an average of 25% off MSRP you would come up with the following amounts.

$62,000 x 25% off = $46,500
$62,000 - $600(wheels) = $61,400 x 25% = $46,050.

Cost would be around $450, and as Bert stated, going to get some of it back in resale value. All comes down to personal choice.

 

[Wrenchtraveller]

The OEM white spokers are junk. The aluminum wheels are a good upgrade.

 

[sreigle]

As far as I know the only reason to get the aluminum wheels is they look great and make the whole rig look richer. Which is why I got them. I like the looks.

I agree it would add to resale value because they are attractive.

 

[Dave e Victoria]

We have had very bad experience with cast aluminum wheels. Since 2003 we have had four rim failures and one disintegration. We are running aluminum now only because our last set was replaced under warranty.

One other note about aluminum rims -- if you have a blowout for any reason, the rim completely disintegrate as soon as the tire goes and the rim contacts the road surface. I believe a steel rim may be bent and destroyed but will remain generally intact.

So, I believe the beaty comes at some risk. Come to think of it, isn't that just about always the case?
Dave

 

[Ontario Monty]

Brad ...

Thanks for those links. I have been looking for a supplier of wheels that can handle 110 psi tires. Will probably be going to the Goodyear G614RSTs once we retire and have the time to do some serious traveling.

Bill

 

[atom ant]

Sure thing Bill - your lucky you have the 8-lug wheels. Mine were only 6-lug, so the best I could do was 85 psi with my G-rated tires (wheels only go to 85psi on 6-lug).

Brad

 

[RickFox]

I got my aluminum wheels for $29.95 for the whole set - brand new, and they look great. Check out the photo of my rig.

Well, they might really be hub caps from PEP Boys. But, they still look pretty snazzy!

 

[richfaa]

I have had three trucks with aluminum wheels, 2 Fords and 1 chevy. Never had a problem with any of them other that some discoloration and slight pitting due to nasty weather. We had two campers with the wheels and had a bunch of trouble with both of them.The Montana does not have aluminum wheels. My guess is it is the quality of the OEM wheels installed on campers. I might get aluminum wheels down the road but they will be quality wheels.

 

[RickFox]

Rich,

In the mean time those PEP Boy hubcaps would look alot better than the naked steel wheels. I take it you were never able to find them.

 

[HamRad-MOC]

We have the aluminum wheels and love them. They look better than the steel. I believe they are lighter and probably just as strong or stronger than equivalent steel. They clean easily and I'm sure they do have a better re-sale value than the steel ones.

I've had 3 blowouts on my rig. None of the aluminum wheels have ever "exploded". Just the normal type reaction.

When and if we ever change or upgrade the rig we'll definitely get the aluminum wheels.

HamRad

 

[richfaa]

quote:Originally posted by rickfox

Rich,

In the mean time those PEP Boy hubcaps would look alot better than the naked steel wheels. I take it you were never able to find them.

Was not able to find them..However they are on our find list while wintering this winter.Well I did find a couple of styles but they were not to our liking. We had the white steel wheels on our previous camper and when they got to looking bad we just pulled them , had them repainted and they were as good as new,,,Can't do that with the alumunum wheels..Once they look bad they stay bad..

 

[Glenn and Lorraine-MOC]

I feel either wheel will do the job but I'll be getting Aluminum on the new Monty only because it will be used as a display model at the RV show. If not for that I would just as soon take the steel as they are a lot less maintenance. The white steel on our current rig look good as new and all I ever id was wash them. NEVER applied any wax or polish. When I take delivery on the rig and if not already applied, I will be clear coating the wheels.

 

[sreigle]

If they disintegrate on a blowout then that must be a faulty set, maybe built cheaply by some mfr. I had several tire disintegrations on my boat trailer with aluminum rims. The beads on the rims were damaged from driving on them but that's it. No other problems.

The steel white rims on our 2003 Montana tradein were pitted and showing rust in the pits. I think the aluminum rims will be lower maintenance if they're anything like my past experience with this type of rim. No need to sand and repaint them, just keep them clean. But that's just my experience.

 

[skypilot]

Brad (bsmeaton): On the link to Hispec wheels (provided earlier) they do show the 03 series wheel in a 16X7, 6 lug, that takes up to 110 psi. No model number that I see, just 16 X 7 HD. I I followed the link but find no prices. I emailed Lonnie, maybe he can give us some specifics. I've been wanting to give myself a little cushion (I'm not at gross) but I figure a couple extra hundred pounds cushion sure couldn't hurt, especially the way our roads are becoming!!.