Trailer Tire Help

[AlabamaGrillBillies]

I figured I'd turn to you guys, thinking you would have the experience to point me in the right direction. I'm in the process of purchasing a trailer mounted smoker. Its basically an offset the size of a lang 60 mounted on a single axel trailer. I figure trailer and cooker weight to be around 1000LBS or a little less. I need to replace the wheels and tires on it as the ones it has aren't highway rated. What size rim and tire do I need to go with. I was thinking a load B rated tire on a 8 or 12" rim. Will this be suffiecent or do I need to go bigger? Any help would be great. The smoker is currently on 8" rims with non highway rated tires.

A link to the smoker we are buying: http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002407556917760806

 

[Bentley]

We have a Harbor Freight trailer that is Load B, it has 12 inch tires but I think it is only rate for 750 lbs. If you are gonna have a 1000lb pit I think you want to look at at least a 14 inch wheel!

Edit: After looking at that trailer, they look like 14 inch wheels, but I am no expert in this department. I know they are a wider profile than the 12 inch on our trailer!

 

[Jorge]

I'd go with a 15" if you can get it on there. It will save you some hassle with the bearings over time.

 

[FatDaddy]

i have 15" tires and rims on mine..

 

[Bentley]

Here is a picture of my 12 inch wheel, it is a 4 lug. The problem you face , most 8,10 and 12 inch wheels are 4 lug, most 14-15 inch are 5 lug, I think. A 15 inch wheel is going to be the best. Problem is, if you have a 4 lug drum, and you want a 5 lug, I think you have to change the whole system!

I guess the thing to do would be to go to a certified scale, get the weight on the trailer, if it is less than the rated load for a 12 inch, and you feell comfortable, put 12 inch on. I got the tire and wheel for thses at Pep Boys for about $50. I just think that trailer is gonna need 15 inch!

 

[Thawley]

I've had good luck with etrailerpart.com. Last time I bought tires, I bought them already mounted on new steel wheel. Now I have four spares.

In all my years around cars and motorsports I don't even need a whole hand to count the number of flats and blowouts I've had. On a car...

Trailers are a different story. They seem to have tire problems with much greater frequency. Especially double axle trailers that put a lot of side loads on the sidewalls.

 

[HoDeDo]

If you can get ahold of a croft trailer catalog, and a 15" 4 lug wheel exists that catalog would have it. I would check your bolt pattern... and see if any standard 15" car wheels fit it. Many old Japanese rides and cars like an 80's LeBaron, Aries, etc. Had 15" wheel options with 4 lugs.

I would go 14" at the lowest - anything less, and you will be re-packing bearings alot more frequently. 15" rims with a decent radial should work great for you.

 

[HoDeDo]

Trailers are a different story. They seem to have tire problems with much greater frequency. Especially double axle trailers that put a lot of side loads on the sidewalls.

that's no joke. My toy hauler came from the factory with cheap Chinese tires on it. I was sworn to that they were fine, and would not be a problem. My 2nd trip - the side loads were great enough on them that they started causing separation and shifting of the belts. Belt shredded through right at the top of the sidewall. I switched to a load range E Hankook trailer tire and have been happy since. You would think they would go overboard on the tires, instead of trying to go with the weakest one they can find that meets the need... that is another thread though, on the KZ owners forum

 

[AlabamaGrillBillies]

Thanks for the tips guys. Looks like we will be contacting the owner of the pit to find out just how big of rim/tires we can fit. I'm going to try and go with 14 or 15" ones if they will fig.

 

[bbqjoe]

Bentley, I may be wrong, but it looks like you might have a wheel seal problem there.

 

[Bentley]

Bentley, I may be wrong, but it looks like you might have a wheel seal problem there.

Ya know my motto, drive em till they break!

 

[smoke-n-my-i's]

I think, like already mentioned, that the largest you can go with 4 hole rims will be 12". If you can go larger, you may just have to change out the spindles as well, then you should be able to go with 14" or 15".
Get the center height from the center of the spindle to the fender to see how much room you have to play with. Make sure and leave room for trailer bounce while pulling down the road....

Bill