Trailer Wheels and Tyres

[Scalem]

I hope that I can shed a little light for the unwary or inexperienced boatie by sharing the little I know about wheels and tyres. The main thing that motivated me to start this thread is as a result of being caught out, not once, but twice in recent trailer purchases. But before I tell you what happened most recently, I will rewind to about 25 years ago when I bought my 1st boat, an old Mustang 4.3mtr runabout.....

Maiden Voyage on the way to the Gold Coast and doing 100K on the M1 my wife asks " did we buy this boat with a spare tyre and wheel?" My reply was " Oh buggar, never gave that a second thought" and I wrongly presumed that the previous owner included a spare with the rig. " Don't put a jinx on me darling, I don't want to know about this sort of thing half way down the M1 without a spare" Within 5 mins ( no exaggeration) I heard what sounded not unlike a small calibre gun go off, then that unmistakable shudder through the car to suggest a flat tyre.

I stayed with the boat, while my wife took off with the non standard tyre and rim which I think was a 10" trailer wheel. Nearly 3 hours later she returned, cross, frazzled, cheesed off, but happy to have finally made it back.

None of the Tmarts, Tyreworlds or Kmart auto ( she checked every one of them within a 50km radius of moss street area) had the right tyre and when she found one, she had to drive all the way over to capalaba to get it. Down on her luck, even the ATM she wanted to withdraw some money shut down one person in the queque before her. I really felt sorry for her when she got back to the boat. She was worried about me stuck on the side of the road, but I actually had a bit of a kip, oblivious to the trouble she was having to find a tyre for that rim.

Once sorted, I vowed never to be caught out again with non standard gear, changing the guards, stub axles and wheels to standard holden running gear.

Years later, the trailer needed replacing, so when I bought the new trailer I insisted on standard holden rims and tyres. I was assured the new trailer would be so ...... WRONG! I have noticed 13" ford rim with Ford bearings and tyres in the profile 175/80/SR13 are being supplied. For those who don't know, it's easy to find a 13" holden rim, and Ford mainstream wheels are 14", but it is rare to find 13" Ford rims and rare to find 175/80/SR13 Tyres. I know the Ford bearings are good load bearing, and the tyres are light truck tyres, but why supply non standard ? ( defined in my language as a tyre or rim that can be found easily without having to order in specially, and can be found in the most remote country wrecking yard or tyre and mechanical)

I like to be able to quickly and easily find a spare tyre and rim when in an emergency situation. I have it sorted now, but if I am contemplating towing my rig up to Frazer Island, I will not be doing so without a minimum of two spares, because they are the non standard Ford 13" with 175/80/SR13's.

I hope any buyers of new gear are wary and can learn from my experience. And once a trailer tyre shows cracks in the rubber because of age, REPLACE IT!!

Scalem

[BaitThrower]

good tips there mate. I have non-standard rims on the home made jobbie that came with my boat... They are 4-stud Mini rims! how about that. I do have a spare however and dont do long trips so here's hoping it lasts a while yet until i get a new trailer.

[FNQCairns]

Totally agree it is a nightmare, so many "combinations" that will roll your trailer happily along until it doesn't...then all that good will for the product just disappears even outside of a roadside sunday evening horror story.

IMHO for everything 13 and 14 inch it must have ford bearings irrespective of the load it carries and then Holden stud pattern rims, HQ is my sentimental favourite.

With car tyres replace at 4 years (as per the sidewall date stamp) any longer is running a risk, 6 years on a trailer or as mentioned above in the good advice if they show any sign of deterioration.

I have to replace the 4wd tyres next week due to this rule only....it hurts but the COST! and drama will soon be forgotten.

cheers fnq

[Chimo]

May I add that even if the tyre has no obvious cracks if you take the trailer for a run on smooth road (if you can find one these days) without the boat on you can often feel the trailer; and your tow car, shudder if the tyres are degrading / separating etc. and going out of round.

Had to replace 4 tyres on my trailer and they all looked fine, but weren't.

Nothing was apparent when towing the boat, all seemed good but if I'd got them hot on a trip with only one spare I'd have been in real trouble.

Cheers
Chimo

Lots of crappy light truck tyres out there, including 14inch versions too.

[BigE]

Beenliegh Trailer spares has 6 & 8 ply load rated tyres on 14 & 15 in gal or white rims (like 4wd mags) in both ford & Holden for about $ 100 (thats wheel & Tyre) ....?????why would put car or 4wd tyres on a trailer I'll never know.

BigE

[Scalem]

There's also a need to pay attention to the load bearing rating of the tyre. On my Tandem axle if the boat and trailer come in at around 1.5 Tonne, I need tyres with a load capability of at least 400KG each. If you don't tell the tyre dealer what you are trying to carry, you may end up buying something purely on price. The old spare I had was going to be a spare for the Tandem axle. The tyre on that rim was not going to last 5 minutes if I had to use it at any stage.

Scalem

[Scalem]

Beenliegh Trailer spares has 6 & 8 ply load rated tyres on 14 & 15 in gal or white rims (like 4wd mags) in both ford & Holden for about $ 100 (thats wheel & Tyre) ....?????why would put car or 4wd tyres on a trailer I'll never know.

BigE

Not sure what you mean Big E, I defined standard as - in my language as a tyre or rim that can be found easily without having to order in specially, and can be found in the most remote country wrecking yard or tyre and mechanical

You would put car or 4WD tryes on a car because they are more readily found in an emergency situation. Would it not make sense to have same tyres as your car if you were going longer distances? So long as you don't compromise the specifications of what your rim and tyre are meant to carry on your trailer, I don't see a problem.

Scalem

[tigermullet]

good tips there mate. I have non-standard rims on the home made jobbie that came with my boat... They are 4-stud Mini rims! how about that. I do have a spare however and dont do long trips so here's hoping it lasts a while yet until i get a new trailer.

That was me too! Whoever decided on using Mini rims should be burnt at the stake.

Trying to find Mini rims is like trying to crack lotto.

Best thing I ever did was go to Trailerworld (I think) got a new axle etc. and fitted light truck tyres.

[Scalem]

That was me too! Whoever decided on using Mini rims should be burnt at the stake.

Trying to find Mini rims is like trying to crack lotto.

Best thing I ever did was go to Trailerworld (I think) got a new axle etc. and fitted light truck tyres.

Imagine going for a long run up to Awonga and hitting a curb or something. You'd have been stuffed without a spare! Good move changing over.

Scalem

[Mad-One]

Yeah my new boat package came with 185/80/sr13.........try getting that size in a dunlop or something popular( not going to happen) go down in width though and it changes the load rating of my trailer That was on a swiftco trailer

Phil

[Scalem]

Yeah my new boat package came with 185/80/sr13.........try getting that size in a dunlop or something popular( not going to happen) go down in width though and it changes the load rating of my trailer That was on a swiftco trailer

Phil

Annoying isn't it? What rim did they give you? My 1st new trailer I mentioned had same problem as yours, and the Hub was non standard also where a bearing buddy would not fit, so I had a SS sleeve made so bearing buddies would fit.

FYI going to the 165/80/sr13 light truck, which is my spare, I am told will get me home without drama.

Scalem

[DR]

was told once, get boat rims the same as the tow vehicle, with vehicle spare & trailer spare both are doubly covered..

[Mad-One]

was told once, get boat rims the same as the tow vehicle, with vehicle spare & trailer spare both are doubly covered..

Don't think I want 17' rims on trailer

[Scott nthQld]

Don't think I want 17' rims on trailer

Maybe not, but it'd look cool with a set of 17' chromies with low profiles on them

[Coontakinta]

but why supply non standard ? ( defined in my language as a tyre or rim that can be found easily without having to order in specially, and can be found in the most remote country wrecking yard or tyre and mechanical)

Firstly great thread and yes a trap for young and inexperienced players for sure!

I think you may have answered your own question as to the reason why the wheels are non standard in that by doing this you are forced to pay the exorbidant prices charged for spares, whichby the way, are not supplied as standard on any boat package. In my case I was lucky, my dunbier came with 14" ford rims and are easily found, but for others with the 13" ones, well..........

I understand that Zephyr rims will fit, but I cant confirm that and I'm sure that these are about as common of the 10" mini wheels mentioned above.

Again, Scalem, good advice