Bigger Wheels

[tinyshiny]

Sorry, I'm sure this is somewhere but I couldn't find it. I like the price of the HF trailers, but hate the tiny wheels. The coolest teardrops seem to have bigger tires with fenders.

Is there anyway to upgrade those to bigger 14 or 15 inch wheels?

Thanks
Dave

[Joseph]

Is there anyway to upgrade those to bigger 14 or 15 inch wheels?

I don't believe so - at least not without replacing the axle, which may cost you almost as much if not more than the HF trailer.

Joseph

[madjack]

Dave, there are 2 main problems with replacing those wheels...the first is finding a matching lug pattern...can be done but not many old Vega wheels out there...the second is a MUCH harder fix...there is not enough clearance from the frame for a larger wheel/tire combo to fit...as Joseph said, the fix could run you as much as the trailer to begin with which would mean a custom axle/frame would now be in the ball park.........
madjack

[Dale M.]

Sure.... Get larger wheels with same lug bolt pattern.....

Or get "new" hubs with different lug bolt patterns to fit wheels of your choice.... Or have lug bolt pattern for hub redrilled to fit a readily available wheel (probably a machine shop job.)

Almost all hubs are interchangeable IF you want to take time to work out details (bearings seals and actual hubs). This can be a nightmare some times....

One thing to consider is wheel backspace (the distance from bact side wall of tire to bolting surface of wheel).. IF spacing is not correct, tires may rub on body... Most trailer wheels are ZERO offset... Most Auto & truck wheels will have positive or negative offsets.....

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/tec ... entpage=92

More information...

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/tec ... ?techid=92
http://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html

Another thing to consider is custom made wheel... You can get almost any rim diameter & width on almost any lug bolt pattern, with almost any offset...

http://customcommercialwheel.com/

Or search I-net for other companies who provide this service...

Dale

[tinyshiny]

Thanks folks. Looks like the answer is to consider something else. The Red Trailer 5x8 said they could upgrade to bigger wheels if I upgraded the axle. But then you're getting up there in money. Why do my tastes always run to more money?

May be easier and less expensive to buy a welder and start working with some steel.

Thanks again,
Dave

[Dale M.]

You can probably aquire all the materials and cut them to fit, then hire a "welder on wheels" to come by and zap it all together. Materials for my frame, all the steel, coupler, springs, axles stubs, hubs and wheels and tires ran me about $350....

Dale

[Dale M.]

Can anyone give me what lug pattern of HF wheel is ( like 4 on 100mm). I have access to lots of wheel data and may be able to match make/wheel type for HF trailer...

Dale

[SkipperSue]

I have been wondering the same thing about the wheels. I have the 12 inch ones, do you think I could mount like a 155/80/12 car tire on that wheel?

[emiller]

http://abctrailerparts.com/ prices are pretty good here and they are very helpful.

[surveytech]

Dave,
did you look at the TSC trailer?
It has 12 inch wheels with a bolt pattern of 5 x 4-1/2
And lots of clearance to fit larger wheels on it.
(I did a test fit with a 14" wheels with 205/75 tire and could still get my hand between the tire and the trailer frame)

With that bolt pattern you could fit LOTS of different wheels on it.
And it uses standard seals and bearings as well, no metric stuff.

[tinyshiny]

Thanks Survey. Yes, I've been looking at them. Trouble is you can't order online apparently and they are quite aways away to pick one up. Thanks though.

[dacrazyrn]

Can anyone give me what lug pattern of HF wheel is ( like 4 on 100mm). I have access to lots of wheel data and may be able to match make/wheel type for HF trailer...

Dale

Mine (12 inch) is a 5 on 4.5.
I am looking around for a 15 in replacement. Most likely need negative offset.

[Dale M.]

5 on 4.5 is a pretty common size.... Most commercial trailers have that size.... Most standard trailer wheels have ZERO offset....

Most trailer suppliers and places like Northern Tool stock this size wheel...

I was more interested in the 4 lug HF wheel size...

Dale

[mikeschn]

Bigger wheels? Something like this?



Just kidding!

Mike...

[dwgriff1]

There is a guy in my neighborhood who rides a tricycle recumbant. He has 15" car tires on the back. It looks like he works awfully hard to get to where he is going, and I notice he doesn't go very fast.

When I was touring on Bicycles, we were very concerned about the weight of the wheel/tire combination.

With 250 horse power it probably doesn't matter, but with one man power it mattered a lot.

dave