I got a free trailer! Now how do I fix the wheels and tires?

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Joined
Jul 21, 2021
Posts
5
Location
Bend, Oregon
Hi forum. A coworker just gave me his trailer that's been collecting dust in his back yard for about 7 years. The trailer is old as dirt, but it actually still smells fine inside, and although the outside looks faded and screwed up, there aren't any dents or dings in it anywhere, so I think it might clean up well, maybe with a good sanding-down a fresh coat of paint...

One of the problems with it though is the wheels are some type of crazy old type of RV wheel that I'm not familiar with. I want to be able to not only change the tires, but inspect/repack/replace the axle/wheel bearings, so that it's at least road-worthy. Can anyone give me some information or a diagram of these type of old wheels and axles? I took some pictures, but let me know if you guys want any other/different pictures of things. Thanks for the help!


20210720_190858.jpg20210720_190906.jpg20210720_190931.jpg20210720_191024.jpg20210720_191553.jpg
 
Welcome to the forum.
That was nice of you to take that trailer off his hands. 😅🤣🤣
Have you looked inside for any water leaks and damage
 
Saved your buddy the dumping fees, i hope he bought the beer. Its an rickety old truck camper mounted on some sort of frame. With friends like that you dont need enemy's
 
I think those wheels and axles are the type used for mobile homes, not really for RV trailers.
 
We'd love to help you, we just can't see it. If you are determined and money is not a concern, I would look into swapping out the whole axle for modern technology. Secondly, that trailer has a very high probability it will tow terribly. I guess if you are looking to drag it someplace close for a hunting cabin (better than a tent, maybe), I can see it. We hate to spoil any excitement that you might have for getting a free trailer, truth be told, your friend would have to pay someone to take it. If you are adamant about this project, we'll help you spend your money, absolutely no guarantees ;)
 
Ok it looks like the rims are removed by the bolts at the end of the spokes.

The cap in the middle of the spokes pulls off. Or prys off and there is a castle nut with cotter key inside it likely caked in very old grease. Remode cotter key, Remove Nut, Remove Hub assembly, Clean and repack bearings. If this unit does NOT have brakes (and it appears it does not) consider bering buddies.

The spoke/hub assemblies look like they need replacement... A good tire store can help you with that but the result may be different than OEM.

This iss a guess. but that was bult as a "SLIDE-IN" (to a pick up) trailer and then modified by bolting it to a frame. Very "Done It Myself" look to it. .
 
I also think that it was a slide in and the frame and door were added.

I think that I can read an 8 on the tires so they may be very small. Be careful if you move it although that may be the width.
 
That type rim & wheel are obsolete and look to be in bad shape anyway. Throw the whole axle assembly away and get a new one. You can get a new modern 3500 axle with electric brakes and springs for about $500 and you need new wheels and tires anyway.
 
So, I'm a vehicle appraiser by trade.....and there's a joke that we kind of toss around now and then...."There's nothing as expensive as a cheap German car". That sort of applies here.

Like the guys above have mentioned, it will take a fair amount of money to get it roadworthy axle wise, and then you still have something you have a bunch of money locked up in but can't give away. That said, if you have a piece of unrestricted land and want a place to boondock in, you could put it up there permanently and get your use out of it, then scrap it when you're done. I would repack the bearings, put a cheap set of used tires on it, and haul it up there.

I'm sure, now that you've read the comments, your initial enthusiasm has wilted a bit. That wasn't anyone's intention. Discouraging your from pouring a fortune down a rabbit hole was.
 
My buddy had one just like it. He used it as a portable shed, something he hauls around on his land to get his tools closer to what he's working on. When his kids were younger it was their playhouse. His exit plan when he moved was to set it on fire then put the remainder in a pit.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
 
I'll tell you just like the people that lost their license and use the alley to push their grocery cart to their house full of whatever. They never take it all the way to their house. They want to leave it a couple streets over. Don't want to HOG up or make their alley dangerous with moving grocery carts.

I say TAKE IT BACK.

They huff and they puff, but I stand my ground. They take them back to the store and you should too.:eek:
 
The tire size is 8-14.5 and are still on some equipment trailers and maybe still on mobile homes. They were still fairly common a decade or so ago but most equipment trailers now have a regular trailer wheel with standard lug nuts in either 14 or 15". I have always seen that size on an open style wheel like the pic. Sorry not a great pic but the best I could do. Not sure if the bolt holes would line up or not but my guess is that they will. Most people with trailers like that wear the things out before replacing them so used ones are scarcer than a dodo bird. Your best bet is trying to find a mobile home company that hauled one somewhere and removed the wheels. If you bought new wheels and tires it would be at least $700 for all 4 and like some others have said would be worth more than the trailer.

I have seen where some said you did your friend a favor and I don't think they are doing it in a nasty way. Price of scrap steel is decent now though.
 

Attachments

  • 145 wheel.jpg
    145 wheel.jpg
    38.3 KB · Views: 3
Many times when they land a mobile home, they take the wheels a tires off and just lay them on the ground next to the axles. Other times they take the axles and wheels off and take them away. So if you know of someone with a fairly new mobile home, ask them if they’re interested in selling some wheels if they still have them.
 
Mobile home axles and wheels and tires are classified as one time use. Most state DOT police will cite you for using them, and may force you to park it.

Somebody unloaded their junk on you. The scrap steel is the most valuable thing in that mess.

Charles
 
Well, very common around here to use axles, tires and wheels for DIY trailers; which get a NY State Inspection annually. No such rules in NY.
 
Well, very common around here to use axles, tires and wheels for DIY trailers; which get a NY State Inspection annually. No such rules in NY.
Same here in NH. Never heard of it and these wheels and axles are used all the time for building home made trailers for hauling cars etc..
 
Last edited:
I doubt you'll find any tire place that can mount new tires on those rims - most tire mounting machines use the center hole on a conventional rim to hold the rim in place while the tire is put on. This, along with the overall condition, is reason enough to scrap the running gear and replace it with a more modern axle and rims.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
131,749
Posts
1,384,226
Members
137,520
Latest member
jeep3501
Back
Top Bottom