Wheel / axle problem

[Woodbutcher]

Well things were moving along smoothly on the "Slowmobile" build till this morning. I was replacing the 12" wheels that came on the Northern Tool trailer I am using. I'm replacing the 12's with 15's. I felt I had the right backspacing but did not count on the tire bulging out past the rim as much as it does.

Here is what happened. There are washers on the studs now to push the tires out so I can keep building. THEY WILL NOT be left on there.



I could use wheel spacers. Not sure if that is a good idea.

Can I buy new hubs that fit my existing axle but move the wheel out an inch or so? If this can be done I would add brakes. This would lessen the pain of buying new hubs. Can it be done. What would I have to do.

Third choice , replace the axle....really don't want to do that if it can be avoided.


So if this was you what would you do?

Thanks, Steve

[Dale M.]

Instead of "replacing axle" why not remove it, cut it in middle , separate it a bit and weld a sleeve over "cut" to give yourself about 3 inches more width (taking in account for washers) ... Probably have to move spring perches too....

Spacer would be second option.....

Maybe different wheels with less back space....

Doubt you will find hubs with different "face dimension" to move wheel out...

[LarryJ]

I would go the spacer route - I think it will be the least expensive/fastest solution. Pushing the rims out another inch will put more stress on the hubs but, as long as you check your bearings regularly, you should be fine.

[Woodbutcher]

Yea, the spacers are the easiest. This trailer will be pretty light. I am hoping that would help me with the stress on the bearings.

[Dale M.]

If you move wheel off center line of hub/bearings It will change stress load... The only real fix without increasing stress is wider axle.... Spacers and changing backspacing of wheel will always change stress load on bearings/hubs...

If you use spacers, simply keep a eye on bearings ... Clean an lube them every couple of years and I doubt you will have any problems... Of course a lot will depend on bearing quality...

Dale

[Pizzaguy]

Same thing happened to me Steve with that exact trailer. I just got a new axle from Dexter w/ brake flange installed for $130 shipped.

[Woodbutcher]

Well I may look into a new axle but I was hoping that I could save the money and work. I should have just started from scratch with the trailer. All I really used was the deck and axle. I extended the tongue and replaced the coupler so I could get a tongue box on it. Oh well, each trailer teaches me something else!

[jstrubberg]

I know guys who offroad Jeeps with wheel spacers. I'm sure they can handle the load of your trailer.

One thing, when you buy the make sure you get hub-centric spacers. They are stronger and will self center when you put them on.

[LarryJ]

I know guys who offroad Jeeps with wheel spacers. I'm sure they can handle the load of your trailer.

The hubs/bearings on a 4x4 Jeep are a bit beefier than those on a HF trailer. Most off-roaders also do more than routine maintenance on their vehicles so the bearings are usually replaced before they get too bad - a trailer that sits 90% of the time is usually not as well maintained.

All that said - spacers should be fine, just remember to do the maintenance.

[angib]

I think spacers will work if the axle is seriously under-loaded - like carrying less than half what it's rated for. Somewhere after that you start reducing the life of the bearings. But if the life gets reduced to 'only' 30,00 miles and the trailer only ever does 20,000, where's the harm?

'Hub-centric' doesn't apply to any trailer parts that I've ever seen - all trailer hubs still use the lugs or bolts for wheel centring and the hub won't be machined to locate anything.

[Woodbutcher]

Thanks guys, I am leaning toward the spacers. At $130.00 for a new axle then I would put brakes on it for another $150.00 or so it gets expensive. I don't know if it matters but this is not a HF trailer this is a Northern Tool trailer. I hope they make a better trailer. Also the trailer would never weigh more then half the trailer capacity.