Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I dont know if I am over thinking this, but what I would like to do is use a 14" alloy rim off a front wheel drive car and the Flexiride axle on my teardrop. I called up UCF American and they fax me the data sheet for there tortion axle,and the distance between the center of the spindle and the center of the tortion tube is 4 1/2" .Now- with a 14" fwd rim that has the center hub offset so far to the front edge of the rim and with the axle having to be longer to sit farther into the rim, will I have a problem with the axle tube or even the pinch bolt they use to hold the spindle to the axle, rubbing on the inside of the rim and if so can I fix this problem by using a 15" rim?
Any help with this would be great. thanks

I think I would measure the centerline of the spindle to the end of the torsion arm, then measure the center of the wheel to see if the arm will clear the inside of the wheel. You could even install the hub and wheel, spin it to see if you have enough clearence.

Jim

Shamrock,

Do you mean the data sheet containing this drawing?



I've imported it into my CAD program and it really measures like a proper technical drawing. So, in your place, I'd be tempted to make a template of the Flexiride hub/swing arm/axle tube/bracket and see if that lot fits inside the sort of wheels you're thinking of using. A phone call to UCF toget them to confirm this drawing is accurate might be good insurance before ordering.

Andrew

I'm useing american eagle FWD 15x6 alloys on a dexter look a like axle (century wheel axle). I had to machine out the center hole to clear the bearing cup and hub . On my axle there is not enough clearance between the inner edge of the rim and the arm for a 14" wheel. (I have about 1/4")

mark on rim is at the arm ---------------------------------------}

center of wheel clearanced for hub

Angib -yes that is the same print that UFC faxed me, but what I an thinking about is the center of the spindle to the far outside mesurment, where the spindle connects to the tortion tube . If that will fit inside of a 14" rim.

Gaston- thanks for the info , do you know the mesurment between the center of the spindle to the far outside edge of where it connects to the tortion tube?

shamrock wrote:Angib -yes that is the same print that UFC faxed me, but what I an thinking about is the center of the spindle to the far outside mesurment, where the spindle connects to the tortion tube . If that will fit inside of a 14" rim.

It looks very tight - I'm doubtful it would fit, but you'll only really know if you can measure a wheel.



Andrew

Angib: Thanks alot thats exactly the measurments I was looking for. That CAD system of yours is the bomb.

Shamrock,

Remember that there is a pinch bolt going through the end of the arm - so that will require a bit more clearance, due to its length. Maybe another 0.1-0.2" would do it, though I'd think you'd be wanting at least another 0.25" clearance to the inside of the wheel rim.

Andrew

Angib:
I agree with you , adding the pinch bolt measurment and all. The likly hood of me using the 14" rim is out. it sounds like it will be to tight. I'm just trying not to over power the side profile of the teardrop with to large a rim, but it looks like I will have get a 15" rim and a lower profile tire I guess that will work fine.

shamrock wrote:The likly hood of me using the 14" rim is out. it sounds like it will be to tight. I'm just trying not to over power the side profile of the teardrop with to large a rim

If you look at old teardrops they have 'standard' car tyres from their period - typically 16" diameter but quite narrow. Being an old fart, I think they look absolutely lovely. Sorry to most of the guys here for any offence, but all these 205+ tyres look ghastly to me - like your grandmother flashing her belly button, fashion is no guide to good taste.....

So how about going for a narrow 15" tyre? I searched Tirerack (sorry about that, but they do allow searching by size) and found that Kumho make a cheap 165/80R15 that fits a 15x5 wheel - which would look lovely on a teardrop, particularly with the narrower sweeping fiberglass fenders.

Ooooh, I got a bit carried away there....

Andrew