Truck wheels on a trailer?

[horsinaround]

I have a four horse trailer with 7000 lb. Dexter axles. I want to put aluminum wheels on it. Does anyone know if the Chevy 2500 wheels will fit? Are the wheels rated for the weight? The Dodge ones would work too, but I think the GM/Chevy ones would look better on a trailer.

I can buy Alcoa aluminum wheels, but they are pretty expensive, without tires. The alcoa ones are rated for 3750 lbs. at 110 PSI.

I can buy OEM take off wheels from a chevy or a dodge 3/4 or one ton SRW truck for about half the price, but am concerned that they fit and that they are rated for the weight. I think they are rated right, as the tires are load range E on both the trailer and the truck, but am looking for some reassurance, or otherwise from someone who really knows.

Thanks.
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[AKwelder]

i tried this one time, and had issues. my buddy has an automotive salvage yard and had some great tires on rims ready to go. when mounted they hit the springs and frame of the trailer.

heres what i learned, when you lay a rim on the floor and measure the "offset" witch is the distance from the floor to the flange that bolts to the hub, trailer tires are centered in the rim, truck tires can be different, or the same. Also the truck tires can be wider, and the offset can make up for this or make it worse.

On top of this when i went to buy tires the max weight per tire was limited because the rime was so wide. the higher capacity tires wouldn't fit the rims i had

good luck on this one

 

[Diamondpilot]

It will not work. At least it did not for me.

I tried to put some GM 8 lug wheels on my uncles 14' Bri Mar Dump trailer with twin 7K axles about 3 years ago. The hole in the center of the GM wheels is not big enough to go over the hub. I had to take them to a machine shop and have them cut out on a mill. Ended up costing more than the trailer aluminum wheels would have but I was stuck with these wheels I could not return.

I think the Ford 8 lug wheels have a 1" bigger hole in the center for the larger front hubs the Ford trucks have.

Chris

 

[rdln]

Tried going from steel to salvage aluminum wheels on a minivan, bolt circle, backspacing was fine but studs were too short.

 

[Reg]

I have a funny funny feeling that the hole in the middle would be your problem - by design.
14K wheels have a BIG center hole that has to go around a BIG ......errr, I forgot what that part of the axle is properly called, anyway, it is BIG and that is one of the ways to prevent people putting eenie weenie wheels on big burly axles - koowel don't belong on hoss trailers (-:
8 stud ? 9/16 or 5/8 ? details, details,

 

[Renze]

Check the load ratings here: Tire Tech Information - How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions

Often you can use a 5 to 10% higher load at 100km/h when the rated load is at 160km/h. But if you do so, check with your tire manufacturer.

Good point already mentioned here, is that the rims must be able to take the inflation pressure of high ply rated tires.

Another thing is that you mostly have a lower rating when the tires are used on an axle with dual wheels, because of skidding in corners.

In my previous job we built lots of low height deck-over semitrailers on 195/65R16 tires, these were rated at 3400kg per axle (dual) at 160 km/h but as trailers arent allowed over 80km/h anyways, we got them tagged at 3520kg because thats what the rating for dual mount, at 100km/h was.
These were wheels from the Mercedes Sprinter dually, and the Iveco Daily dually. These rims were M18 6 stud, 205mm pitch circle, standardised according to DIN, which standard was used by most 3 to 7 ton axle manufacturers. I doubt if those truck wheels you mention, are as strictly standardised..

 

[Egon]

As has been stated, before you spend money make sure the bolt pattern fits and the rating is correct.

 

[Pops15]

Backspacing and offset have been mentioned. The word "offset" is often used when the word "backspace" should be used. That needs a little clarifying....
Backspace is the distance from the backside of the center of the wheel to the inside of the bead on the back of the wheel.
Offset is the distance from the back of the center of the wheel to the center of the rim.
Example 1: 8" wheel (inside of bead to inside of bead), 3" backspace = 1" offset.
Example 2: 8" wheel, 4" backspace = 0 offset.


First thing you need to do is measure the offset of the factory wheels. Straying from the original offset will put more load (leverage) on the spindles and hubs.

 

[Harold_J]

Backspacing and offset have been mentioned. The word "offset" is often used when the word "backspace" should be used. That needs a little clarifying....
Backspace is the distance from the backside of the center of the wheel to the inside of the bead on the back of the wheel.
Offset is the distance from the back of the center of the wheel to the center of the rim.
Example 1: 8" wheel (inside of bead to inside of bead), 3" backspace = 1" offset.
Example 2: 8" wheel, 4" backspace = 0 offset.


First thing you need to do is measure the offset of the factory wheels. Straying from the original offset will put more load (leverage) on the spindles and hubs.

Couldn't it also put LESS load on the spindles and hubs if the offset were less. Of course with less offset it may be more likely to rub on something but if it didn't rub it should be OK.

 

[Renze]

Couldn't it also put LESS load on the spindles and hubs if the offset were less. Of course with less offset it may be more likely to rub on something but if it didn't rub it should be OK.

No, hubs are designed for a certain offset. They mostly have unequal bearing sizes because of that, the inner bearing is bigger than the outer, because the outer bearing is placed more outward.