xj4life
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- LaPorte, IN
Is it possible to use the standard 5 spoke Jeep steel wheels on a double axle (7Klb) car trailer? I'm assuming they'd probably need a higher load tire.
Jeep wheels on a trailer?
- Thread starter xj4life
- Start date
RichP
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Effort, Pa
I've been curious about that too, been dreaming about a 1/4 ton trailer but I'd like to put the same wheels on it as our jeeps have.
SCW
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- SLC (yuck) UT
When I ran a large trailer like that I used 16" rims and 10 ply tires (load range E to the young guys). The rims HAD to match the truck used to pull it with, which made spares very convienient.
Right now I'm shopping for trailers for my Jeep which will be much smaller, and again the rims must be completly interchangeable. In fact in the long run I want the same rims on both- just for looks. I found a good trailer yesterday, but it uses 13" rims and the cost to get 15" is more that the upgrade to the right trailer the first time.
In short (too late), find a trailer with 15" rims and make sure the bolt pattern is similar. I don't know that I would use a 15" rim on a double-axle trailer, nor would I load a car on a trailer with 15" rims. I don't think the smaller tires can handle it, but I also err on the side of caution. If your just doing a utility trailer go ahead, car hauler- get 16" rims and heavy tires.
Another note- often with trailers you get trailer only wheels, these are not intended for drive axles and shouldn't be used for spares on your Jeep. Upgrade those wheels to regular 15" wheels and you won't have a problem.
Right now I'm shopping for trailers for my Jeep which will be much smaller, and again the rims must be completly interchangeable. In fact in the long run I want the same rims on both- just for looks. I found a good trailer yesterday, but it uses 13" rims and the cost to get 15" is more that the upgrade to the right trailer the first time.
In short (too late), find a trailer with 15" rims and make sure the bolt pattern is similar. I don't know that I would use a 15" rim on a double-axle trailer, nor would I load a car on a trailer with 15" rims. I don't think the smaller tires can handle it, but I also err on the side of caution. If your just doing a utility trailer go ahead, car hauler- get 16" rims and heavy tires.
Another note- often with trailers you get trailer only wheels, these are not intended for drive axles and shouldn't be used for spares on your Jeep. Upgrade those wheels to regular 15" wheels and you won't have a problem.
xj4life
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- LaPorte, IN
well i already have a trailer that i like but the axles need to be replace. i was going to get some axles made for it. i've already got the jeep wheels and i can get the trailer axles built with the same bolt pattern. save me some $$
SCW
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- SLC (yuck) UT
xj4life said:
It's a good idea, but again if your hauling a lot of weight it won't save you any money whey you blow tires or bust and axle and roll the trailer, cause a 25-car pile-up and kill a buss load of school kids. KWIM?
You might check the trailer supply houses in your area. I have a 1/2 ton utility trailer and replaced the axle last year. I got a 2000# axle complete with hubs (no brakes) for just under $100 at Redneck Trailer Sales. They are local for me, so no shipping involved. Note the axle does not increase the capacity of the trailer; it was what they had in stock in the right dimensions at a good price. If I put that much weight on it, the frame would buckle. The hubs on the axle are the same bolt pattern as my XJ but the backspacing won't work. If you take the backspacing into account when specifying the axle length, then the tires would be interchangeable assuming the load range is adequate for what you are hauling. If I was hauling big loads like vehicles, I'd use wheels and tires designed for the job.
Spudboy
Spudboy
Mark WNC
NAXJA Member # 481
- Location
- Western NC
Been doing it about 4 years with aluminum Jeep wheels.
Use the trailer to haul my trail rig on.
Took it too moab and back in 2003
from Western North Carolina.
With load range C tires.
But you need to do what you feel
comfortable and safe with.
Use the trailer to haul my trail rig on.
Took it too moab and back in 2003
from Western North Carolina.
With load range C tires.
But you need to do what you feel
comfortable and safe with.
xj4life
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- LaPorte, IN
Mark WNC said:
i'm pretty sure i would. most trailer tires are cheap steel wheels anyways. they cant be that much better than stock jeep steelies.
Highlander
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Newport News, Va
I have a friend that took all my jeep steelies. They are the perfect size for all 3 of his trailers apparently...
There is probably a load rating stamped on the wheels. My guess is they are at least 2000 lbs.
I wouldn't hesitate to run those wheels. Do buy regular trailer tires though. Most of the standard radials in sizes ran on trailers don't have the sidewall stiffness and make it tow crappy.
I wouldn't hesitate to run those wheels. Do buy regular trailer tires though. Most of the standard radials in sizes ran on trailers don't have the sidewall stiffness and make it tow crappy.
8Mud
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Central Germany
60 series tires work well on a trailer, if the load rating is high enough.
The Germans do trailers really well. Were in America you'd have a P.U. they keep a trailer around. There are whole bunch of them on the roads.
They have one model that has a trailing wish bone setup, with coils, independant left and right, with shocks. Seems to adjust to the road surface better than leaf and solid axle setups. The trailing wishbones just kind of slide over bumps and ruts and don't hang up much, fairly ideal for dirt roads.
I don't really know if anybody in the states uses the same patent, but it is worth some research. I tried getting the specs. and possibly a picture of the setup off the net by the manufacturer, with no success.
I've hauled all sorts of trailers and this thing really works well. Full or empty, pretty much all road surfaces and speeds. It actually makes my XJ easier to control when I'm pulling it, it reduces the wander in my old XJ. And oddly enough it has a 4 1/2 on five bolt pattern and came with 15 inch rims, 3/4 ton capacity.
I've been thinking of getting a set of air shocks for it or maybe inside the coil air bags, for some extra clearance when I go fire wood hunting.
I haven't done any reasearch, but dropping the whole rear cross frame out of the rear, of a front wheel drive van, with idependant rear suspension seems like a possiblity.
Independant suspension works much better on a trailer than leafs and a solid axle.
The Germans do trailers really well. Were in America you'd have a P.U. they keep a trailer around. There are whole bunch of them on the roads.
They have one model that has a trailing wish bone setup, with coils, independant left and right, with shocks. Seems to adjust to the road surface better than leaf and solid axle setups. The trailing wishbones just kind of slide over bumps and ruts and don't hang up much, fairly ideal for dirt roads.
I don't really know if anybody in the states uses the same patent, but it is worth some research. I tried getting the specs. and possibly a picture of the setup off the net by the manufacturer, with no success.
I've hauled all sorts of trailers and this thing really works well. Full or empty, pretty much all road surfaces and speeds. It actually makes my XJ easier to control when I'm pulling it, it reduces the wander in my old XJ. And oddly enough it has a 4 1/2 on five bolt pattern and came with 15 inch rims, 3/4 ton capacity.
I've been thinking of getting a set of air shocks for it or maybe inside the coil air bags, for some extra clearance when I go fire wood hunting.
I haven't done any reasearch, but dropping the whole rear cross frame out of the rear, of a front wheel drive van, with idependant rear suspension seems like a possiblity.
Independant suspension works much better on a trailer than leafs and a solid axle.
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