Harbor Freight trailer specs???

[tom]

Anyone know if you can change wheel size or even change hubs on the HF trailer recomended for the Cubby on Kuffel Creeks Cubby plans??? I wouldlike to run larger tiresand i cantget enough specs on the unit.

[Joseph]

Northern Tool sells hubs, but I'm not sure if they'll fit the axle. For purely cosmetic reasons I plan to take my wheels down to my local tire dealer and see if he can find me something larger to fit my hub. He assures me he can, and if so, I'll use the original 12" wheels as spares.

Joseph

[Dee Bee]

I am a green newbie here.... But as I looked into this question for myself I think that the wheel size can be changed as long as the bolt pattern on the hub is the same. The HF trailer I looked at has a bolt pattern of 545, 5 bolts spread 4 1/2 inches. Tractor Supply stores sell trailer wheels with this bolt pattern in wheel sizes of 12, 13, and 15 inches.

Dee

[Joseph]

Hey Dee,

The HF trailer I looked at has a bolt pattern of 545, 5 bolts spread 4 1/2 inches.

Unfortnately, there's more to it than that. I have a four bolt patten on my HF trailer that matches the "donut" spare for the ZX2, but the center hole on the donut is too small to go over the grease fitting.

Joseph

[mexican tear]

I had the local machine shop take the center "out" of my rims to fit over the hub. I do not think it hurt the rims. When I get some miles on it, that will tell the story.

[Grant]

The 5 on 4-1/2" bolt circle is standard trailer stuff, and almost any 13", 14", or 15" trailer wheel with that bolt pattern will fit the hub. HOWEVER - the critical measurement with regards to the HF frame will be the BACKSPACE of the wheel and the sidewall bulge of the tire you choose for that wheel. There is NOT very much room between the sidewall and the frame on the original HF 12" wheel/tire, and most other wheels have more backspace to them and the larger tires usually have more sidewall bulge.

You can get wheels custom-made with the proper backspace, or you can add wheel adaptors to space the wheels further out, but then you are changing the load-stress geometry on the bearings, thereby voiding the warranty (if any) and potentially wearing out the bearings faster.

You've lots of choices ... but then you've got lots of potential consequences to go with your choices. Ain't playin' with teardrops FUN? ;-} ;-}

Good Luck, and ...

CHEERS!

Grant

[mboardman]

The 5 on 4-1/2" bolt circle is standard trailer stuff, and almost any 13", 14", or 15" trailer wheel with that bolt pattern will fit the hub. HOWEVER - the critical measurement with regards to the HF frame will be the BACKSPACE of the wheel and the sidewall bulge of the tire you choose for that wheel. There is NOT very much room between the sidewall and the frame on the original HF 12" wheel/tire, and most other wheels have more backspace to them and the larger tires usually have more sidewall bulge.

How does one measure that critical backspace? From the inboard edge of the rim to the frame ? Or ...?

[Woodbutcher]

Measure from the inside (Backside) of the rim (Where it meets up to the hub) to the back edge of the rim. But you also have to account for the tire also. You most likely will need wheel spaces to go up to 14-15" rims. A zero offset wheel has the center in the middle of the 2 edges of the rim.

[Vedette]

Go on "Wheels Vintiques" website to see how to measure Backspace (Woodbutcher is correct), Offset, Rim Size, bolt Pattern, etc.
Also you can see their catalog. They have almost everything anyone would need.
You can order wheels from them with "Custom Backspace" at no extra charge......just a little loner wait.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

I got my wheels for "Miss Piggy" from "Early Wheels" in Morro Ca.
Had them made with custom backspace $60.00 ea. 6 years ago.
Wheels for Kermit came from Wheels Vintques.
Brian