So I picked up a 20' x 99" deckover trailer. It has wheels with rim clamps and open centers. Brakes on the front axles. The tires are 7x 14.5 dot rated utility tires. I checked with dexter and the axles are 6000lb hayes axles which I can convert to 6 or 8 lug but why fix something that is not broken? So I have heard stories about these from they are great to death trap and I do not know what to believe. Are they OK? What is the proper way of mounting them and maintaining them. Any advice would be helpful I guess.
Demountable tires and rims proper mounting and maintenance ?
- Thread starter jspec
- Start date
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Pepsiboy
Silver Member
jspec,
Are these "split rims" with a retainer ring or just "open rims"?? please send pic's if you can. Before retiring, I drove big trucks for over 30 years, and have seen and used just about every type of tire and rim out there. I would be glad to give you any help or advise I can.
Dave
We have had this trailer for about 2 months. We pickup pallets and misc with it. I have taken it on a few 6-700 mile trips with it and such. On Tuesday I went on a 600 mile trip and pick up a to heavy load. About 11000 in the trailer and another 4000 in the truck. I knew it was overloaded but I just didn't have a choice due to costs. I went 50-55 for the trip and stopped a few times to let the tires cool down. I get about 5 miles from the shop and hear what sounded like a loose strap dragging on the ground so I pulled off at the next exit. My guy gets out and tells me the tire is gone. So I figured it went flat and tire ripped off. I hop out to see and the rim is gone. The rim clamps had loosened up and just let the rim go. I jacked it up and the spare mounted fine but it made me realize these might be a problem. Or I just do not know the proper way of dealing with these. Everything has a learning curve but I cannot find any good information.
Pepsiboy
Silver Member
jspec,
These rims ARE safe to run. You just have to tighten them EVENLY. That is, put the lugs on hand tight, then tighten a little at a time skipping one lug as you go around the rim. Tighten in order 1,3,5,2,4. Final tighten should be to about 80 to 90 lb/ft. Run for about 40 to 50 miles, then recheck torque. You may want to call Dexter again to make sure I gave you the right torque on the lugs. :2cents: :thumbsup:
I think you got a good deal on the trailer.
Dave
These rims ARE safe to run. You just have to tighten them EVENLY. That is, put the lugs on hand tight, then tighten a little at a time skipping one lug as you go around the rim. Tighten in order 1,3,5,2,4. Final tighten should be to about 80 to 90 lb/ft. Run for about 40 to 50 miles, then recheck torque. You may want to call Dexter again to make sure I gave you the right torque on the lugs. :2cents: :thumbsup:
I think you got a good deal on the trailer.
Dave
Pepsiboy
Silver Member
jspec,
Check with Dexter to get the correct torque for the lugs, then after replacing a wheel, torque to that spec, and recheck after the next 50 to 100 miles. After that, there SHOULD be no need to recheck. If it were ME, and I found lugs that tended to loosen often, I would try torque the lugs, then put ANOTHER nut on to act as a lock nut. :2cents: IMHO, that is one reason I would convert to newer type of wheels. They can be set to higher torque, and DO NOT tend to loosen. With these wheels, I would check BEFORE EACH trip (use torque wrench) to make sure they are tight. If any are loose, retighten and mark. Recheck THOSE at end of trip. If same ones tend to loosen, double nut them. :thumbsup:
By the way, Where do you live?? Location not on your posts.
Dave
Check with Dexter to get the correct torque for the lugs, then after replacing a wheel, torque to that spec, and recheck after the next 50 to 100 miles. After that, there SHOULD be no need to recheck. If it were ME, and I found lugs that tended to loosen often, I would try torque the lugs, then put ANOTHER nut on to act as a lock nut. :2cents: IMHO, that is one reason I would convert to newer type of wheels. They can be set to higher torque, and DO NOT tend to loosen. With these wheels, I would check BEFORE EACH trip (use torque wrench) to make sure they are tight. If any are loose, retighten and mark. Recheck THOSE at end of trip. If same ones tend to loosen, double nut them. :thumbsup:
By the way, Where do you live?? Location not on your posts.
Dave
Rocky Hoffler
Platinum Member
The half size tires are sometimes hard to find if you can change hubs and go to larger wheel and tires with standard wheels say 15 or 16 inch 6 lugs. Not saying this can happen to you but tires that are designed to move mobile homes usually don't get real good mileage out of them IMHO.
millertire
Advertiser
Miller Tire stocks both the tire and rim.
Trailer Tires - 7-14.5 - m. e. MILLER tire
Trailer Tires - 7-14.5 - m. e. MILLER tire
