Mopar Rally Wheels on HF

[WebFoot]

Ive seen more then a few guys running the mopar rally wheels on thier HF trailers with 5 on 4.5" hubs. Im assuming they are the 14x6 version rim.
Question is, do these fit without mods to the frame?, if not, what are we talking about, to get them to work?
I have about 7 of these wheels lying in back of my shop, trying to plan ahead even though my HF #1740 isnt here just yet.TIA,
Webfoot

[Dale M.]

If hub on HF trailer does not accept 5 on 4.5 then you can do one of two things, get wheel adapter that fit HF hub and your 5 on 4.5 wheels...

Second option may be to redrill and "re-place" studs from existing HF pattern to your 5 on 4.5....

Other issue may be wheel offset... The centers may have to much positive offset and allow your tire to rub on frame. If your studs are long enough you may try spacers between hub and wheel....

Dale

[Aaron Coffee]

Mine aren't ralleys but I used American Racing wheels(cheap copy of cragers), that where off the front of a 75 Duster, and Have had no clearence problems. When building my TD I mocked it up with stock steel Chrysler wheels.
Hope that helps.

[angib]

And when/if you finally get the wheel to fit on the HF hubs and frame, it will be sitting about 2" further out than the original wheel, because a 215 tyre is about 4" wider than a 4.80/5.30x13. So you'll want to get the bearings in perfect condition and be sure to carry spares with you, as the cantilevered load on them will wear them out much quicker than usual.

If the trailer's light, this might be quite acceptable - maybe like having to replace them every 5 years, instead of every 20 years. But if the trailer is up near the axle capacity, one long trip may wear them out.

Andrew

[WebFoot]

Dale,
I did get the HD trailer with the 5 lug hubs, just so that I had a better possible selection of aftermarket wheels.
I think some ford small pattern 5 lugs are also 5 on 4.5"
Aaron, thanks for the tip, I just have a bunch of moapr rallys and pondering thier use on my build was too easy..
Angib, great point, I had forgotten about higher wheel bearing loads with an offset wheel, which might be pushing it with something like a 14x6 which is stock mopar rally size in the 14" version.
What I need/want is a sporty aluminum 13x5" or 4.5 in this pattern, trying to get away from the always obvious white 'trailer wheel" look...time to look at imports Im guess'n.
Thanks guys.
Webfoot

[brian_bp]

I think some ford small pattern 5 lugs are also 5 on 4.5"

I understand from various reports that that's the Ranger (and maybe a Mustang or something). Trailer hubs tend to need a big centre hole, and the hub need to clear the wheel at that hole (not fit snugly), so the Ranger wheels with big holes for 4x4 front hubs seem like the most likely fit to me.

[Nitetimes]

I think some ford small pattern 5 lugs are also 5 on 4.5"

I understand from various reports that that's the Ranger (and maybe a Mustang or something). Trailer hubs tend to need a big centre hole, and the hub need to clear the wheel at that hole (not fit snugly), so the Ranger wheels with big holes for 4x4 front hubs seem like the most likely fit to me.

Most Ranger and Explorer wheels are 5 on 4.5" but the Ranger probably has the least offset. the hole size is fine on the 2k hubs but may or may not require a little work with a die grinder to fit on 3500# hubs.

[brian_bp]

In another forum a member reported that there were different centre hole sizes for different versions of the Ranger (a.k.a. Mazda B-series pickup) wheels... presumably due to 4X2 and 4X4 variations.

Less offset is presumably good: most trailer axles are designed for zero to 1/2" of offset (hub offset outboard of wheel centre), while most modern vehicles use much more offset.

The fact that the early Explorers are Rangers (with SUV body) is a good tip: more possible wheels!

[brian_bp]

...time to look at imports Im guess'n.

I don't think you'll find many recent imports with 5-bolt low-offset wheels. Japanese small trucks have generally gone six-bolt - at least in 4X4 versions, and around here a 4X2 pickup is hard to find. Cars using 5-on-4.5" (like my Toyota Sienna van) generally have high offset and small centre holes, so are not usable on a trailer without an adapter. With an adapter, this is another option.

[WebFoot]

Brian,
I think your correct, many imports have the pattern, but with major offset. My stock white trailer wheels have about 2" offset at the rim center and the wheel hub center hole doesnt look any larger then that of most 4x4...so the ford ranger or mazda 4x4 rim idea might just work.
I also came acrossed some Jeep cherokee 4x4 steel wheels from a later 80's / early 90s model, they have the right pattern, nice tirm rings with large hole center caps..they were 15x7" which I do not want to go with, but otherwise looked like they could be made to work...so maybe Jeep wheels could be something to look at as well.
Webfoot

[brian_bp]

Yes, some Jeep wheels are 5-on-4.5", but most are not. I like the look of some of their 5-spoke designs, so they're promising, but careful checking of bolt pattern is called for. The 5-on-4.5" would only be their lightest duty stuff... even in the same year and model, options can change the axle and the bolt pattern.

[jeep_bluetj]

All jeep cherokee (XJ) wheels will be 5x4.5, 15 x 6 or 15 x 7.
(almost) all Wrangler (TJ/YJ) Wheels will be 5x4.5. Some 16" on very later models, usually 15x6, 15x7 maybe some 8". Rubicon's may be a larger lug spacing.

Many older Grand cherokee (Definitely the ZJ, dunno about WJ and the latest models) will be 5.4.5 - lots of 16"'s here, maybe even some 17's. -- edit, WJ's and beyond had 5x5 or something strange... Can't remember exactly what it was.

All CJ's have 5x5.5, FSJ had 5x5.5 or 6 lug.

Ford bronco 2's also had 5x4.5 too. My ranger is 4lug, so not all rangers had 5 lug wheels.

I run Jeep wheels on my 3500lb axle, yup, lots and lots of backspacing. But hey, it's a 3500 lb axle on a 1000lb trailer -- it'll hold up. These wheels are stock 1993 cherokee steelies. There's a bizillion jeep wheels out there, some are very nice. My stock TJ wheels were AL, really nice, got $125 EACH for em on ebay. (I don't want nice wheels to drive on rocks...)

[TPMcGinty]

Dale,
I did get the HD trailer with the 5 lug hubs, just so that I had a better possible selection of aftermarket wheels.
I think some ford small pattern 5 lugs are also 5 on 4.5"
Aaron, thanks for the tip, I just have a bunch of moapr rallys and pondering thier use on my build was too easy..
Angib, great point, I had forgotten about higher wheel bearing loads with an offset wheel, which might be pushing it with something like a 14x6 which is stock mopar rally size in the 14" version.
What I need/want is a sporty aluminum 13x5" or 4.5 in this pattern, trying to get away from the always obvious white 'trailer wheel" look...time to look at imports Im guess'n.
Thanks guys.
Webfoot

Webfoot,

How about these 13" x 5" alloy rims? I purchased a couple of them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/13-ALUMI ... dZViewItem

If the link doesn't work I put a photo of them in my album.

[GregB]

I'm using these 15" with a HF frame but then I realized that with 0 offset, they would rub against the frame. I replaced the axle and added a couple inches for looks and so I can have easily replaceable bearings. The axle was only about $110 locally. I ordered the tires and wheels at a Les Schwab and they did the powdercoating for me as well.

GB

[TPMcGinty]

I'm using these 15" with a HF frame but then I realized that with 0 offset, they would rub against the frame. I replaced the axle and added a couple inches for looks and so I can have easily replaceable bearings. The axle was only about $110 locally. I ordered the tires and wheels at a Les Schwab and they did the powdercoating for me as well.

GB

GB, Nice looking wheels! Very classy!