Wheels and Tires

[bajaunderground]

Okay guys...

Looking at purchasing new wheels and tires for the trailer and I have a few questions for the collective iboats forum...hoping a few might have some input in helping me decide. The trailer currently has 215/75-R14 on 14 x 6 steel wheels. The trailer also has lug bolts in lieu of lug nuts.

Questions:
#1. Can I use lug bolts with aluminum wheels (my local tire guys says I can with certain wheels) 1/2 x 20.
#1a. Can get chrome "capped" looking lug bolts?

#2. Any pluses/minuses with using aluminum vs. steel wheels (chrome/galvanized/painted).

#3. Going to a 16" wheel and tire opens the flood gates for "coolness" factor. I know size matters as does tire construction (trailer tire, bias vs radial-LT tire-passenger tire) passenger tires are a no-no. So I'm regulated to trailer specific tires or LT tires

I know iboats sells wheels and tires (steel only), but I'm afraid the costs of shipping would make it a "no contest" in comparison shopping.

Thanks,

~Brett

Anyway, what are the collective thought and

 

[dingbat]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I'm not a fan of lug bolts. Hubs are relativity inexpensive to replace.

Trailer wheels take a beating. Curbs, bushes, don't ask.... It's only a matter of time. Also have grease to deal with. Galvanized wheels are bad enough to keep somewhat clean. Can't imagine trying to keep chrome or aluminum presentable. Cheaper replacement cost and ease of keeping clean over vanity for me

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Wheels and Tires

+1 on new hubs if you desire to have wheels requiring nuts. Hubs are easy to replace.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I have thought about changing over to alum rims several times. You can wipe off grease but not rust.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Wheels and Tires

Okay, so new hubs ($31.00/ea) and +1 for galvanized and +1 for aluminum...Here in the mountainous tundra of Colorado things "rusting out" takes about 5 times as along as it does in the coastal regions of the US. We don't see a lot of rain and the elevation makes us pretty dry!

As far as durability goes, steel wins hands down (When heading out or just prepping the boat, I park it in front of the house in the street)...I live on a circle and scraping the curbs is almost a given at times (read: when wife tows boat), so for that reason I'm thinking powder-coated or painted black wheels...simply touch-up scrapes with black paint? Problem is, I can get nice aluminum rims for $30/ea less than the black steel ones?

Decisions?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Wheels and Tires

If I was in your location, I would go aluminum.

there are hardened conical washers you can use with some aluminum wheels if you want to keep the lug bolts. on one of my trailers, I would not have been able to get the wheel on or off with studs. the lug bolts were a requirement.

 

[bgc]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I'm not a fan of Lug Bolts either, PITA when you're on the side of the road in inclement weather lining them up.
+1 on Aluminum wheels, no rust to deal with.
One of my trailers has tires that are not trailer specific....she sways a lot, scared the crap out of me on grooved pavement avoid the Light Truck tires, sidewalls soft.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I found some stock aluminum rims off a Ford Ranger at the junk yard . Shined them up and put some decent trailer tires on . So far so good ! As long as the boat is not too heavy that might be an inexpensive option ..

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I have been running a set of used radial tires from work for 3 years, whitewalls out, looked through a lot of them to find a set of 14" with enough weight rating:facepalm: this past christmas I got some new trailer tires, i will mount them this spring

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I found some stock aluminum rims off a Ford Ranger at the junk yard . Shined them up and put some decent trailer tires on . So far so good ! As long as the boat is not too heavy that might be an inexpensive option ..

I looked at a set of very nice looking Mustang wheels...Ford Mustang GT 18" Wheels

If only they'd fit? I thought of Ranger wheels as well! My last boat trailer had jeep aluminum modular wheels with passenger tires..this boat and trailer are about 1,000-1,200lbs heavier, not worth chancing it!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I wouldn't put aluminum car wheels on a trailer unless they have 0 offset. Not sure I would put aluminum car wheels on a trailer to begin with.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I wouldn't put aluminum car wheels on a trailer unless they have 0 offset. Not sure I would put aluminum car wheels on a trailer to begin with.

I wasn't really planning on doing that (I agree with the 0" offset). I just like the look of those Mustang wheels. I'm still on hold about ordering which one?

Decisions? I did just ordered a new stereo and speakers so I'm not really in a hurry to spend more $....yet! Let my boat fund recover, I still have the 2 helms seats being covered...Okay, one is being recovered the other is the one I covered, the upholstery guy thought he could spend a little time adjusting, applying a heat-gun re-stapling what I had done (he was actually impressed for a sophomoric attempt!) That's gonna cost me $200.00+!

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Wheels and Tires

Not a fan of lug bolts,,if those babies come loose a bit, the wheel wobble is severe. Get rid of the lug bolt hubs. in favor of hubs just like your car... I had an older trailer with lug bolts real bad experience...... replaced em........

 

[sphelps]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I think you have to watch out for having too much offset on the wheel hub using a car rim for a trailer . The Ranger rims I found had the same if not less offset than the trailer rims that were on there . Not sure I would use the Mustang wheels .

 

[agallant80]

Re: Wheels and Tires

I have bent steel rims hitting curbs. Easy replacment aluminum would be much harder to find one that matches. I had to replace 3 tires on my trailer. After looking at the cost of buying the tire and having it mounted it was like $15 more per tire to just buy them on steel rims and have them shipped add in the time saving of not having to take the trailer to the tire sop or in my case take the rims off drive them to the tire shop have the tires changed out drive back to the trailer and put them on. You get it.... Much less of a hassel to just buy them on steel rims and when the tire goes just relace the whole thing.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Wheels and Tires

Not a fan of lug bolts,,if those babies come loose a bit, the wheel wobble is severe. Get rid of the lug bolt hubs. in favor of hubs just like your car... I had an older trailer with lug bolts real bad experience...... replaced em........

I had a real bad experience with the lug bolts after painting my rimshttp://forums.iboats.com/trailers-towing/my-trailer-tire-bouncing-mirror-548601.htmlafter that I carried my torque wrench and checked them at home and at the ramp, they would be loose, after 5 or 6 trips they stayed tight and have been good since