Hubs

[Deryk the Pirate]

Im a little curious about moving up to 13" rims, but not sure if it would be too close and they would rub. Do they sell anything that would attach to the hub that would be able to move the rim and tire a little further out? on one side I might have about an inch, the other side has a lil more space.

thanks

deryk

[michaelwpayton]

Not sure if it will work for you... but, there are a number of sites that sell wheel spacers, adapters, etc. Check out http://www.motorcitybolton.com/ and/or just google for wheel spacers, adapters, etc.

[Deryk the Pirate]

would something like this work?
http://www.motorcitybolton.com/wheel-adapters-wheel-spacers/4-lug-wheel-adapters-wheel-spacers/4x100-to-4x100-1-25-wheel-spacer.html#

[Deryk the Pirate]

lol

[Deryk the Pirate]

ok, thanks guess will call them on monday. I like the idea of the 4 to 5 bolts, since i have 4 bolt hubs currently, but 5 seem to be more common on heavier weight trailers...

[les45]

Keep in mind that adding adapters will extend the center of your wheel load out and cause more stress on your bearings. This will probably be OK if you aren't near the load limit on your trailer, but if you are running 800 lb on a 900 lb HF trailer, those no name bearings may not last as long. Most trailers have zero offset on the wheels which makes the load pretty much equal on the inner and outer bearings. Messing with the offset by adding adapters will cause the bearing loads to be increased. You might want to do a search on the Trailer and Chassis section of the Forum to do more research on adapters.

[Deryk the Pirate]

right now on my 12x4.80 tire, I have 1.25" of clearance, this is the rim and tire Im looking at... plan on replaceing the tires with auto tires later on. Hopefully it will fit fine and not need the spacer... http://www.ebay.com/itm/13-BOAT-TRAILER-STOCK-UTILITY-4-MOD-WHEELS-TIRES-B-/360466715851?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53ed7d94cb&vxp=mtr

[angib]

All trailer wheels have zero offset (or very nearly zero), so if you move from either 4.80-12 tires (actual width 5.0-5.1") or 5.30-12 tires (actual width 5.3") to 175-13 tires (actual width 6.7") the tire will be about 1.5" wider overall and that extra width will be split equally between the inside and outside faces. So to maintain the clearance between the tire and frame, you would need to use at least 3/4" thick spacers, so those 1.25" spacers would work.

But like les45 says, they will take a lot of life off your wheel bearings since the wheel will no longer be centred on the bearings. How much less life is hard to say, but you might need to replace the wheel bearings every year. As you seem to be using all of the capacity of your current tires (and maybe then some), you are probably already running the stock bearings near their limit, so you should certainly travel with spare bearings and enough tools to change them. At each stop, check the temperature of hubs to see if the bearings are overheating and about to fail. If they are too hot to hold, you have gone over the limit.

If you do buy spacers, be sure the inner bore of the spacer will fit over your current hubs as trailer hubs are often bigger than those of other vehicles (because they are zero offset, the wheel goes over the bearings, not outside them like in other vehicles).

It seems likely that bigger wheels and spacers would be a way of swapping tire problems for bearing problems.

Oops, forgot to add this link to Carlisle trailer tire chart, where you can look up actual tire widths and diameters.

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks...I am running a higher weight axle/hubs/bearings(dexter i believe) Im gonna pick up a 13" tire and rim locally today if they dont sell out of it lol and see how it fits. Hopefully will still have enough clearance and not need a spacer.

I generally check my hubs when I stop for gas/bathroom break etc regularly. I would prefer to not have to use a spacer but when i was fitting the new axle onto the trailer somehow I ended up with 1" more clearance on the other side, and since i drilled a hole for the dimple on the spring for the axle to stay in place im not drillin another hole so close to shift it down a half an inch. If need be I will carry a spare set of bearings(prolly should anyway, Im guessin most people dont.)

well wish me luck

[Deryk the Pirate]

well its a no go... they wouldbe rubbing and the wheel well i built wasnt meant for tha much wider of a tire. Next trailer i build i want 15" tires lol. I did find these as an upgrade http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM10130.html At least i can take them to 65mph and will fit my wheel well.

thanks

deryk