Axle spacing

[DennyDay]

I am going to install new axles on my travel trailer in two weeks and I am thinking about going with 16" wheels. The trailer came with 205-14 C Chinese tires and the capacity was less than 100 pounds of what the trailer weighed empty (truck scale on way home from dealer) I changed to

225-15" D Tires (Better) I have 26" springs, and 33" between the axles. If I put 16" Michliens on I will have 3. 6" between the tires. They are putting the axles under the springs instead of over the springs so clearance in the wheel wells is not a problem.



Your thoughts on doing this?

 

[NIsaacs]

If you have enough clearance for the 16's in the wheel well, I would not change the springs on the axle. To do so will raise your trailer a bunch. Maybe use a lower profile smaller diameter tire.



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

As little as one inch clearance between tires is acceptable.

Commercial LT225/75-R16 tires are only slightly larger than ST225/75-R15 tires and are many times stronger.

 

[EricBu12]

You can get 16" Rims with about the same size diameter of a 15" . . get 225/75-16" "E" rate

 

[DennyDay]

Thanks Guys, Harvey, you confirmed my thoughts, but I wasn't sure about the axle spacing, we are going to try for the 16" tires

 

[HBarlow]

You can get 16" Rims with about the same size diameter of a 15" . . get 225/75-16" "E" rate

Uhhh, did you mean 16" tires that are close to the size of 15" tires?

Sixteen inch rims are 16" in diameter. Fifteen inch rims are 15" in diameter. They are never going to be the same size.

 

[EricBu12]

I meant the diameter of the 16" TIRES are close to the Diameter of the 15" TIRES

 

[DennyDay]

You can get 16" Rims with about the same size diameter of a 15" . . get 225/75-16" "E" rate

The Michleins I've ordered are LT 225 75/R 16 E's with a 29. 4" O. D. - - The take off Goodyear 225 75/R15 D's are 28. 3" O. D.



I ended up with 2. 75" space between tires. Did put springs over the axles, but heighth is not a problem with this trailer.

 

[JT Anderson]

I'm thinking of putting 16s on my toyhauler, too, so viewed the posts with great interest. A caution comes to mind: With the trailer now taller than before because of taller tires and springs over the axle, don't assume you'll automatically make it under low clearance places you used to make without a thought. You don't want to give your trailer a "haircut"! I've seen that once and it ain't pretty.

Jim Anderson

 

[EricBu12]

Taller?. . What. Half an inch?. . You coming to bridges with less than 1" clearance,go around

 

[DennyDay]

Taller?. . What. Half an inch?. . You coming to bridges with less than 1" clearance,go around

A little more - - our bumper pull trailer is 10' 4" tall w/ AC - - Flippin' the axles and 16" wheels will take us to about 10' 11" - - - Don't expect a problem 'cause most of the 5th wheel trailers are 12" +