14.5 open center trailer rims/tires

S

staninlowerAL

501 Club
On a shop built trailer that I have I'm running 14.5 open center rims with 8x14.5 10 ply tires that's beginning to show some weathering. The trailer is never heavily loaded and mostly used off road. I've discovered that there are tubes of the correct size for these rims/tires that are readily available but before making the change from tubeless to tubes I would like to get others comments and experience (if any) before doing this. I'm aware of the rim design for tube type vs tubeless tires and ran tires with tubes before tubeless became the norm. So what's your comment and/or experience? Thanks. Stan
 
I believe those tire/rim combination was primarily used by mobile home suppliers. Because of the low mileage most mobile homes will ever travel the axles, hubs, brakes and I would assume the tires are made to extremely low quality standards. In fact, the axle spindles don't even have the bearing journals machined, they're just forged to size. I am somewhat familiar with these having spent several years working in the Engineering Lab for Dexter Axle.
For what it sounds like you're doing, I see no problem running tubes in your tires. If it were a travel trailer that you were traveling around the country in, I'd suggest a better tire/wheel/axle combination.
 
You'll find mobile home axles on less expensive utility trailers. Some fab shops will buy these axles from surplus suppliers because they can picked up at a low cost. Typically the axles are removed from the mobile home once it's set in place then sold to the surplus suppliers. For most trailer owners, that's not a bad thing. They get a trailer for a lower cost that will most likely serve them well. However, owners of these trailers must realize the brakes won't be as good or last as long as better components. Same with wheel bearings but for moderate loads and short hauls they should work fine.
 
ricky racer said:
.................for moderate loads and short hauls they should work fine.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I'm not sure of the origin of the axles on this trailer. The PO built it flat bed 7 ft by 16 ft using 6 inch channel steel to haul square hay bales from the field to storage and it appears to be well built with a 2 x 8 inch oak floor bolted to the steel channel. All the welds look professional and it pulls/handles really well. I've used it a few times for over the road hauling moderate loads with no problems. The tires are my concern now that they are aging. Stan
 
I should have suspected as much but after a bit more researching of the tire question, it much clearer that the 14.5 MH tires are made for limited, light duty use and if used at all for hauling with a trailer should be inspected frequently and used in conformance to the manufacturer's labeling. On the other hand the 14.5 trailer tires are made and rated for some heavy duty use, (I saw some that were 14 ply rated). So that pretty much clears that issue up including some states can issue a citation if MH tires are used for cargo trailer hauling. On the other hand I also discovered that the open center rims have some special requirements to ensure the best service like fastening hardware needs to be clean and rust free, installation on the axle needs to be centered, maintain proper tire pressure, and fasteners torqued to spec and checked occasionally. If the precautions are observed the higher quality/load rated trailer tire will likely provide better service with minimal risk. (They are quite a bit more expensive too) Someone also said that etrailer has hubs that accepts a 6 hole Chev rim and can be used to replace the open center type hub. Thanks to everyone for your comments. Stan
 
I'm still digging into this topic to see what the options are and learned a few things: ways to determine the axle capacity, what to look for, fitments, etc and discovered that it is possible and financially feasible especially if some components are already on hand. In my case, I have the tires and rims for the change and am looking for ways to convert the axles to standard hubs. These aftermarket replacement hubs are just over $100 for the pair that includes the parts shown. Just sharing the info here that I have collected from online search. Stan
 

Attachments

  • trailer hub info 2.jpg
    trailer hub info 2.jpg
    236.5 KB · Views: 9
  • trailer hub info 4.jpg
    trailer hub info 4.jpg
    156 KB · Views: 10
I'm late to this one, but those wheel/rims might be the State Farm Trailer Wheel of NC. You see them EVERYWHERE. They used to make a heavy duty "loboy" type trailer tire that fit those rims, much better than what they had when they were under a mobile home. By all means, put a tube in them. I have no idea why, but if you so much as look at one of those wheels wrong, and your air pressure is even one lb. too low, the tire will come off the bead if it's tubeless.....

Al
 
ricky racer said:
You'll find mobile home axles on less expensive utility trailers. Some fab shops will buy these axles from surplus suppliers because they can picked up at a low cost. Typically the axles are removed from the mobile home once it's set in place then sold to the surplus suppliers. For most trailer owners, that's not a bad thing. They get a trailer for a lower cost that will most likely serve them well. However, owners of these trailers must realize the brakes won't be as good or last as long as better components. Same with wheel bearings but for moderate loads and short hauls they should work fine.
Click to expand...
Brakes? What brakes?? :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Al
 
i put tubes in them all the time!! Best move i ever made!!! NO more leaks when they sit for long time between uses!
 
Super A said:
.................if your air pressure is even one lb. too low, the tire will come off the bead if it's tubeless..... Al
Click to expand...
Yup, my tire service shop who has been in the business for close to 75 years said that even with tubes in the tires they need 50 psi minimum pressure to stay seated on the rims. Stan
 
i run 40 or 45 in mine--- never had any trouble after putting bead sealer on them. later went to tubes in some of the worst ones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top