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tyre pressures

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tyre pressures

Postby jonnyboy1958 » Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:50 am

Just a thought, do the tyres need to be such high pressure when the van is used as a camper? or could I reduce them for a softer ride?
Transit swb 2001 t260 Campervan fwd 2.0
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby JayKay3000 » Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:42 pm

I did the opposite.

I kept my extra load tyres and run them all at 35psi (ish) on my lwb connect. I've found it handles better and the ride is still pretty good. If the tyres are too low I find it just handles sloppy.

The previous owner had xl tyres on the rear and normal ones on the front. I dunno what he was trying to do, but the van handles better with the xl tyres on both ends and the higher psi. I think I'm supposed to run 40psi 'fully' loaded, so 35 for me and the van full of stuff for an expedition feels about right.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby Beaker » Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:46 pm

I think you would be suprised how much weight you can easily add to a camper conversion. In fact the danger is overloading it and exceeding the weight limit.

On that basis you need your tyres well inflated to cope with the weight. Yes you are right, with a lower pressure you will get a softer ride, but as mentioned, it will tend to wallow around corners, which is not a good thing.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby jonnyboy1958 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:10 am

Thanks for your replies, I will check but I am sure the tyre people put about 60 psi in mine when I had all new tyres fitted?
Transit swb 2001 t260 Campervan fwd 2.0
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby travelling man » Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:51 am

jonnyboy1958 wrote:Thanks for your replies, I will check but I am sure the tyre people put about 60 psi in mine when I had all new tyres fitted?


Max pressure is 43psi....

I'm running pretty much empty ATM,and find that 30psi all round feels about right...but I'm an old git who keeps to the 50mph speed limit.....

:D
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2nd Connect had breakdown insurance and an engine swap, see how long it lasts.....
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby ake » Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:33 pm

jonnyboy1958 wrote:Just a thought, do the tyres need to be such high pressure when the van is used as a camper? or could I reduce them for a softer ride?

Campers are heavy and pretty much fully loaded all the time, so therefore they should run at max tyre pressure.
Running them at lower pressures will quickly damage your tyres.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby ake » Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:34 pm

travelling man wrote:
jonnyboy1958 wrote:Thanks for your replies, I will check but I am sure the tyre people put about 60 psi in mine when I had all new tyres fitted?


Max pressure is 43psi....

I'm running pretty much empty ATM,and find that 30psi all round feels about right...but I'm an old git who keeps to the 50mph speed limit.....

:D

43psi. Really.
That may be the case on a Toy Transit, but proper big boys Transits run at 60 odd psi.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby travelling man » Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:21 pm

ake wrote:
travelling man wrote:
jonnyboy1958 wrote:Thanks for your replies, I will check but I am sure the tyre people put about 60 psi in mine when I had all new tyres fitted?


Max pressure is 43psi....

I'm running pretty much empty ATM,and find that 30psi all round feels about right...but I'm an old git who keeps to the 50mph speed limit.....

:D

43psi. Really.
That may be the case on a Toy Transit, but proper big boys Transits run at 60 odd psi.


Just out of interest,what pressures do dinky toy Fiesta's run?

:mrgreen:
'05 Transit Connect T230 LX TDCi Engine buggered in Spain,replaced with a T200 base 12 plate in white which also buggered it's engine in Spain!
2nd Connect had breakdown insurance and an engine swap, see how long it lasts.....
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby plainlazy » Tue Aug 08, 2017 8:08 pm

I have a 1990 2.5di coach built camper and I run my tyres at 50psi for the front and 60psi for the back.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby dethleffs » Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:33 pm

To find the correct tyre pressures for your van you need to get the axles weighed first in fully loaded condition.
Mine was less than the sticker on the B pillar stuck on by Ford.
http://www.tyresafe.org/wp-content/uplo ... eaflet.pdf
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby HairyFool » Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:38 pm

Way to get at least a starting point for pressures

Convert the load index to the maximum weight per tyre. Weigh the axle load, divide by two for the load per tyre or check the handbook.

Divide the actual load by the maximum load, Result should be less than 1 (or you are overloaded) and as a ratio has no units

Multiply the max pressure by the result above, gives a nominal pressure for load

This makes two assumptions which are a bit suspect. That the load vs pressure graph is a straight line and the starting point is zero. Tyres with no pressure will support at least some load before it makes full road contact to have even wear.

In my case the book is 52 PSI, most seem to recommend 61. The maths gives 55 PSI for the standard axle load.

The motorhome makers copout of "according to the base vehicle's handbook" is too low. Ford etc. will come up with a optimal figure based on testing and varied use of the vehicle ranging from empty to fully laden but very little will be of the latter. Motorhomes are near enough fully laden all of the time.
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby ake » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:05 am

travelling man wrote:
ake wrote:
travelling man wrote:Max pressure is 43psi....

I'm running pretty much empty ATM,and find that 30psi all round feels about right...but I'm an old git who keeps to the 50mph speed limit.....

:D

43psi. Really.
That may be the case on a Toy Transit, but proper big boys Transits run at 60 odd psi.


Just out of interest,what pressures do dinky toy Fiesta's run?

:mrgreen:

32 front 42 rear
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Does this train stop on Merseyside?
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby HairyFool » Wed Sep 20, 2017 1:26 pm

Tyresafe web site has had a revamp

If you know your Axle weights this helps:

https://www.tyresafe.org/check-your-pressures/motorhomes/

Autosleeper Handbook weight for mine gives 58psi rear

Ford Axle maximum is 65psi
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby jonnyboy1958 » Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:14 pm

Tank you Hairy fool that is most interesting
Transit swb 2001 t260 Campervan fwd 2.0
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Re: tyre pressures

Postby dumper » Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:20 pm

54 front 70 rear on mine running at 3000kgs min most of the time
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
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