Where is a good place to buy 16"rims for my trailer?

[Dan_69GTX]

When I put new tires on my flatbed pull behind trailer I'd like to upgrade to 16" and use the Michelin tire.

The axles are Dexter 7000 lb with the 6 bolt pattern. I got plenty of room to do this since I cut off the axle mounts and moved the axles farther apart (and rebuilt the mount pivots, etc).

I've looked around, but figured I'd ask here just in case there is a better place to purchase. I am NOT in a rush and unless there is a SMOKING buy will not purchase until mid summer.

Trailer is about 16' long (eventually will be 18'), solid diamond plate floor, used to haul anything - cars, tractors, gravel, manure, mulch, etc.

 

[NIsaacs]

I would think an online source, tire & wheel combo would be the cheapest. Otherwise, a store like Discount tire would be okay too.

Are you sure the axles are 7k with 6 bolts? Usually a 6 bolt axle is 5200-6000lbs.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Am I sure - No. I looked at the axle numbers YEARS ago and anymore can't say I'm sure.

I got the beat up trailer in 98 or 99. It was manufactured in 89. When I got it I had to rebuild the entire unit - fix welds, new brakes, fix tongue, new rims, paint it, etc. At that time only 1 axle had brakes. I put brakes on both axles. I put on it what was there, but replaced with new everything, which was a 12x2 drum and brake assembly. They were sold as a 7K axle brake kit. Maybe someone put those brakes on a 6k axle or maybe a 6k axle came with 12x2 brakes. No idea.

Maybe they are only 6K axles. I really feel they are not 5200. They are LOT beefier than the 4500 axles on the camper.

I know you are very knowledgeable on trailers - If I get my fat body under the trailer and find the numbers again that should tell me - correct? (Maybe getting the 22 year old kid to crawl under would be easier).

Now you got me curious.

 

[JR]

I've seen agricultural spindles with a 5 lug wheel (7k Dexter). I think they're called UTG wheels. Similar to a Mobil home wheel/axle. If I remember correctly 5/8 wheel studs. If its old enough or a home made jobber there were some different options.

I bought a set of cheap steelies off of etrailer and two showed up scratched. I called and complained so they sent me two more and told me to keep the scratched ones for my troubles. Problem was, the two replacements showed up scratched also - in the exact same place. Must be how they stack em in the warehouse....
So I called a third time and explained the situation and they essentially washed their hands. I explained I'd be more than happy to send the scratched ones back in exchange for some NON damaged wheels, they said they would be more than happy to oblige but I had to pay for shipping. Since they were cheap steelies i couldn't justify the shipping so I wound up with 6 wheels, 4 of them fairly heavily flawed. Don't know if I'd order from there again.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

JR, thanks.

For the most part I don't care what they look like. I should measure offset and pattern and see if an older Chevy 6 lug would fit. Did Chevy make 6 lug rims in 16"? Time to start researching.

The trailer was not home made - was "factory" built. After i fixed the tongue is when I found out that from the factory, the VIN is on the tongue - lightly "scratched" or etched into the top of the beam. Well, I found a few of the numbers after I removed all the old paint. Oh well. Helps to have friends in law enforcement. Had one come over to "officiate" the installation of the new VIN tag. Was still a PIA.

 

[SnoKing]

Both the Michelin XPS Rib and the Bridgestore Duravis R250 are all steel ply tires in LRE's. The R250 are about $50 per tire less. OR, you could go with Sailun S637 LRG's for even less money and still have and outstanding all steel ply tire. The S637's come in 235/80R16 and 235/85R16G. The Sailun's were marketed at LT's and relabeled as ST's for import cost savings.

I have used all three of these tires. SnoKing

https://simpletire.com/sailun-235-8...KGZ4wMtsZSEIAYbOUHe4Kkb7WktSGEJhoC4bcQAvD_BwE

 

[SnoKing]

My guess is that you have 5200 axles. 6K axles can have 6 or 8 lug hubs, given it is a utility trailer if they were going with 6K axles I think they would of gone eight lug.

Complete axles with brakes and springs do not cost that much. If you are going to buy new wheels why not go all the way with new 7K axles, new springs, new hubs and new brakes?

 

[mfurrh55]

I ordered 2 7k axles and specified 6 lug hubs from a trailer builder, i asked him the difference between the 6k and 7k axles because they look identical, he said brake was only difference, 7k has the black wire on brake kit , 6k has a white wire, you can go to a place like fix and feed hardware, sells rim w/tire for 89.99

 

[AH64ID]

12x2 brakes are common on 5.2K-7K axles, and even some 8K ones.

I got my 6 lug 16” wheels from Les Schwab, they actually had the best deal on aluminum trailer wheels.

I then took the wheels to Costco to have the Bridgestone Duravis R500’s installed.

 

[JR]

If it's all Dexter parts the only sure fire way I know to tell between 6 and 7k axle is the brake magnet. Shoe size and hardware is the same but the 7k magnet is stronger than the 6k. If you look at Dexter website they list different PN for the 5200 and 6k axle but most online stores only list one magnet for both axles. MOST of the time the lug nut pattern is a safe way to tell but like I mentioned earlier I have seen some variances like this

http://shop.redneck-trailer.com/p-3...d-hub-drum-kit-for-6-7k-axles-8-174-5uc3.aspx

Dan, also verify (if you haven't) your lug is 6 on 5.5". I got bit once on a 6 X 6" pattern. Again, not the norm but if your not sure best to make it so

 

[SnoKing]

I ordered 2 7k axles and specified 6 lug hubs from a trailer builder, i asked him the difference between the 6k and 7k axles because they look identical, he said brake was only difference, 7k has the black wire on brake kit , 6k has a white wire, you can go to a place like fix and feed hardware, sells rim w/tire for 89.99

You sure the the tube gauge is not bigger on the 7K axles? 5.2 to 6 is springs normally. 7 is better tubes. SnoKing

 

[SnoKing]

From Dexter site:
5,500 - 7,000 lb capacity
Heavy wall 3" diameter tube

4,100 - 6,000 lb capacity
High strength 3" diameter tube

If you dig deep enough you will find the wall thickness difference.

Found it. 7K and 6K heavy duty axles have .250 wall, 6K standard duty and 5.2K have .191 wall.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

OK, at lunch I opened my database (yea I keep track of every part,- item, partno, cost, place and date purchased) and it appears that NIsaacs and JR are correct. It appears to be a 6k axle - IF nothing was modified from the trailer manufacture or somewhere in between.

The drums that I bought - to replace what was there is Dexter 008-201-09, and according to Dexter they are for a 6k axle.
https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/Hub-Hub-Drum/complete-hub-kits/12-hub-hub-drum

I did get the 7K brakes - based upon the part number as well.

Now I'm curious to see what my wall thickness is - I'll do that next month when I service it and make sure all is OK for inspection.

JR - according to their website they are 6 on 5.5. However I will use my templates to make sure. Got the templates at a car swap meet years ago - they are GREAT for looking/verifying things in a junk yard, if you can find a u-pull it yard anymore.
https://www.amazon.com/PATTERN-TEMP...hvlocphy=2840&hvtargid=pla-569123918520&psc=1

 

[DavidC]

You can check etrailer.com for rims also. Just throwing it out there. I know Discount Tire can also get rims

 

[mfurrh55]

You sure the the tube gauge is not bigger on the 7K axles? 5.2 to 6 is springs normally. 7 is better tubes. SnoKing

No, tthey were same, black wire 7k axles has stronger magnet than white wire on tthe 6k axles

 

[NIsaacs]

From Dexter site:
5,500 - 7,000 lb capacity
Heavy wall 3" diameter tube

4,100 - 6,000 lb capacity
High strength 3" diameter tube

If you dig deep enough you will find the wall thickness difference.

Found it. 7K and 6K heavy duty axles have .250 wall, 6K standard duty and 5.2K have .191 wall.

The way I understand it, the Dexter 6k axle can also have more distance to the hub from the spring perch, however, without Dexter's spec's, it would be almost impossible to tell what that distance is. The 7k has less rated distance, hence, the higher rating for basically the same axle.

 

[seafish]

I got a very nice set of hot dipped galvanized 15" trailer wheels from etrailer and was well pleased with the price and quality and service.

 

[Shiner]

I have been happy with Etrailer.

 

[NIsaacs]

12x2 brakes are common on 5.2K-7K axles, and even some 8K ones.

Beware of the 2x12 brakes on an 8k axle, that is a pencil whipped rating of an inferior axle. Usually a slightly thicker wall 3" tube with 9/16's studs and 14 ply tires.
A true 8k axle will be 3.5" tube, larger spindle, 9/16's or 5/8's studs, 3 3/8's" x 12" brakes and usually hub centric 17.5 tires and wheels.

 

[bigblock_doc]

I went to a RV surplus store. They had a pallets of new white wheels.
Just painted them silver and good to go.