Changing out wheels on spare axle question?

[bnew17]

I recently found a van axle from a 1995 plymouth van. The van has 14" 5 lug wheels. I am wanting to use the axle for a utility trailer and i want to change out the 14" wheel with either a 15" or 16" 5 lug wheel so the trailer will sit up higher. My question is will i have to locate a Dodge truck wheel in the 95 year range to fit or can i find a 5 lug wheel in general to fit?

 

[bcp]

You need a matching bolt pattern, but there are only about a half dozen 5-bolt patterns in common car use.

Check these web sites to see what your pattern is, then see if something else matches.


Wheel Lug Pattern Reference Guide WheelLugPattern.com

Bolt-Patterns.com - A Bolt Pattern Chart for Selecting Custom Rims to Fit Your Car or Truck


This one searches by pattern:
Discount Car Rims - Find Vehicles to Fit Your Rims Fitment

Bruce

 

[Oliver1655]

Rather than changing the wheel size, could you:
- Place blocks between the axle & the springs? (You will need longer hanger "U" bolts)
- If the axle has a drop to it, could you rotate it up to work like a lift?

If not, place a piece of paper, cardboard, ... behind the bolt holes & trace the lug holes and the hub hole in the center then take the pattern you made in to a dedicated tire store & see what they can match up for you. They will frequently have wheels customers have left or traded in when they wanted a different look or tire profile.

 

[bnew17]

The lug pattern im looking for is 5 x 100. Do yal know any factory wheels that would fit this in preferably 15 or 16" ?

 

[Jeepnford]

I'm not sure but wheels from a 90's model jeep cherokee or wrangler might fit. If you're building the trailer you could also build the spring mounts where you get the height you want.

 

[BHD]

I would take one of the wheels you have now and take it to a salvage yard, scrap yard, and show them (might want a tape measure as well to double check the bolt spacing,) but show the salvage yard and see what they may have in larger rims with that bold pattern, and most likely would will come home with few usable rims for a $20 bill or under,

going larger should not be a problem going the other direction could be (larger to smaller), (once had two Chevy wheels one was for a all drum brakes pick up, and one newer with disk brakes on the front axel) simply said my son did not check the spare he was using and it hit some thing and nearly did not get the pickup off the road one night, needless to say he did not drive it home) but by going larger I doubt you would have that problem,
(he probably could have pulled the back wheel off and put on the front that was flat, and put the spair on the rear and it probably would have cleared, but did not think of that when it happened),

 

[jbooth]

Chevy Corsica 1989 on had 15 X 6.
Dodge Daytona 1988-93 16 X 6 some had 14" also.
Dodge Shadow 87-94 had both 14 X 6 and 15 X 6
Plymoth Aclaim 89-91 had both 14,s and 15s

Probably some newer cars have them also but my chart is a bit old.

 

[bnew17]

I'm not sure but wheels from a 90's model jeep cherokee or wrangler might fit. If you're building the trailer you could also build the spring mounts where you get the height you want.

It looks like most wrangler and cherokees are 5 x 4.5

Jeep _ Vehicle Bolt Pattern Reference

 

[SandburRanch]

That's a lot of trouble to gain a half to one inch in height so there must be some other reason hiding in the bushes. Check with SW Wheel for trailer wheels.

Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels

 

[BHD]

My guess is to be able to get a decent tire for it,

I have yet to find a good 14" tire IMO. ( and in our area there is hardly any stock of them and to find a used 14 is nearly impossible, I would switch as well if I had a similar situation, is my guess).
The 15" and 16" tries are better and heaver and higher load ratings, and he may have a source of used tires in the 15" and 16" size,

 

[smiley]

It just occurred to me that I have a set of factory 15" mag wheels off a late 80's early 90's Chrysler I think Le Baron model, that are a direct replacement for you. I used them with snow tires on my 92 Caravan.
I also used the rear axle out of an '87 ?? Caravan for a trailer. I narrowed it a few inches so the springs would set directly on the old spring mounts. It was very simple. just cut a piece out of the middle, slipped the ends inside a larger pipe 3" I think and welded it back together.

 

[tree grower]

I agree with the load rating of 15 and 16" tires. I have a trailer with 5 x 4 1/2" pattern, and late 90s Dodge wheels fit. Unfortunately, these wheels don't fit on my old Coats tire machine because of the deep backset for disc brakes. I need 15" wheels designed for drum brakes that will hold LT tires--I load by volume, not weight. Truck load of feathers, truck load of rocks--all the same.

 

[BHD]

I agree with the load rating of 15 and 16" tires. I have a trailer with 5 x 4 1/2" pattern, and late 90s Dodge wheels fit. Unfortunately, these wheels don't fit on my old Coats tire machine because of the deep backset for disc brakes. I need 15" wheels designed for drum brakes that will hold LT tires--I load by volume, not weight. Truck load of feathers, truck load of rocks--all the same.

on the coats center post tire machine, they have an adapter, for deep rims, a piece of square tubing that fits over the "Positioning Pin" and it has a tapered point in it that will hold the rim from spinning and extend the Positioning Pin that is built in,

looks like the name of it is, " Extension, Center Post Positioning Pin"

Positioning Pin Extension, Center Post | COATS Tire Changer Accessories
jsut an example below for a source,
http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/CTS-104319.html

at one time they made two different lengths, only see one now, but use mine a lot on deep rims, or off set rims,

I would think one could make one reasonalble easy, that would work,