zippinbye
Well-known member
Hi all, my first post since finally acquiring a fifth wheel. I have a few prior posts as a "researcher." Thanks again to everyone who handled my elementary questions that ultimately helped me decide on a rig. I was w/o RV since selling a slide in truck camper in June, so it's great to be back in the game! I got a 2004 Thor California Jazz 2780BH. It's 30'6", great layout for my family, having a rear bunkhouse with double lower/single upper. Living area free for mom and dad to stay up after kids in bed, or flexibility to bring friends with the dinette and/or pullout sofa. I will post a separate topic regarding the NIGHTMARE delivery trip yesterday! I'm already getting off-topic, lets just say that it's home and I have reason for wanting to upgrade the tires and wheels.
It has 15" wheels with a 6 x 5.5" pattern. Looks like I have room to go 16". I want some height to match my truck anyhow (obviously tire size, not wheel, will dictate actual height). Mainly I want excess load capacity. Not for overloading the axles, but just because I #$@%& hate wimpy *#$@% trailer tires! I just want to know I can run heavy, hot and fast without fear of a tire failure. Even with the best load range E 15 inchers, tire capacity barely adds up above the 10,400 GVWR. So I am thinking of a LT tire on the 16" rim. Lots of good info was found under other threads regarding LT tires - I'm sold.
I noticed Chevy light truck wheels are the same pattern (1999 and newer I think). Some of their aluminum wheels look pretty nice, at least compared to my plain jane white rims. I think the offset is 20 mm inward (that's negative, right?). Not sure if the stock trailer wheel are zero offset, or what. Has anyone tried them on a trailer? I guess the only issue would be hub pass-through diameter and offset, plus a suitable resolution for caps - all the Chevy wheels are cleaned-up with caps over the lug nuts, and a trailer hub would protrude too far to allow the cap installation without milling relief hole (not out of the question). But cost is the objective: around $100 each plus 8+ percent to the governor for aftermarket aluminum at the local tire store vs. $100-$200 a set for Chevrolets on Craigslist. I don't wan to compromise fit or safety, but thought the wheels might look pretty trick and be a bargain. Thoughts? Thanks!
It has 15" wheels with a 6 x 5.5" pattern. Looks like I have room to go 16". I want some height to match my truck anyhow (obviously tire size, not wheel, will dictate actual height). Mainly I want excess load capacity. Not for overloading the axles, but just because I #$@%& hate wimpy *#$@% trailer tires! I just want to know I can run heavy, hot and fast without fear of a tire failure. Even with the best load range E 15 inchers, tire capacity barely adds up above the 10,400 GVWR. So I am thinking of a LT tire on the 16" rim. Lots of good info was found under other threads regarding LT tires - I'm sold.
I noticed Chevy light truck wheels are the same pattern (1999 and newer I think). Some of their aluminum wheels look pretty nice, at least compared to my plain jane white rims. I think the offset is 20 mm inward (that's negative, right?). Not sure if the stock trailer wheel are zero offset, or what. Has anyone tried them on a trailer? I guess the only issue would be hub pass-through diameter and offset, plus a suitable resolution for caps - all the Chevy wheels are cleaned-up with caps over the lug nuts, and a trailer hub would protrude too far to allow the cap installation without milling relief hole (not out of the question). But cost is the objective: around $100 each plus 8+ percent to the governor for aftermarket aluminum at the local tire store vs. $100-$200 a set for Chevrolets on Craigslist. I don't wan to compromise fit or safety, but thought the wheels might look pretty trick and be a bargain. Thoughts? Thanks!