New Wheels

[tlmgcamp1]

Trailer tires will time-out at the end of this season. The stock steel wheels are already rusting after only 3 years of light travel. I have also lost 2 hubcaps ($25 ea), replacing the first one but deciding to invest the next $25 into new aluminum wheels instead. I know that I need to match load rating and pressure. There is also mention of an offset. Do trailer wheels have different offsets? If yes, how do I determine the offset that I have?

 

[Babe2201]

Trailer wheels are usually pretty standard as far as offset goes.

 

[Boat Bum]

You should be able to get that info by googling specs for the rim that is on there.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Zero offset on almost all trailer wheels.

I recommend Sendel as that is what Airstream uses and they appear to be a quality product. Hi Spec is owned by Dexter, but i know nothing about them.

My original 12 hole alloy wheels were turning white due to clearcoat clouding, and they were boring looking and would cost as much to have stripped and refinished as new wheels.

I took advantage of this to upgrade to new 6 lug hub/drum units and new Sendel T03 "bullet" wheels, lug nuts and center caps. The new 6 lug had a higher weight rating, and were 6 inch wide, giving the tires a better look and fit.

I bought the wheels, lug nuts, and center caps from RecStuff. They gave me a sale price after the sale ended, and had them drop shipped from Sendel after they discovered the wheels were not in their inventory as they originally said they were.

Charles

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Well, took the plunge and purchased aluminum open-spoked wheels that closely match those on the TV and wrapped them in GY Endurance. Out of curiosity, I weighed the original tire/wheel combo and the new combo only to find the difference to be a fraction of a pound. This surprised me so I weighed the naked original wheel and compared it to the shipping weight of the aluminum wheel. Turns out that the couple of pounds saved in the wheel was countered by the heavier structure of the tire. I am good with that.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Alloy wheels are lighter, and usually balance with less weight and run truer and smoother than steel rims.

My truck is a Dodge Tradesman model and came with steel rims from the factory. The paint was flaking and surface rust had started, so they didn't look great. I found someone who had put some custom rims on their 2008 Dodge RAM 3500 SRW and decided to get rid of the OEM/factory alloy rims (exact same wheel as would have come optionally on mine). The truck had been a tow vehicle for a 5th wheel in its previous life and only had 40K on it, so the wheels were immaculate, and they had the original 2008 Michelins on them yet. I swapped my tires to those rims and gave the tires to a neighbor with a DRW truck with slicks on the back. He was happy to get them, has his own tire machine and mounted them up.

I weighed the steel rims, and the alloy rims, and was shocked. Alloy rims were 17 lbs EACH lighter than the steel rims.

Charles