Replacing Tire/Rims on Farm Trailers

[downslope]

I have some home-built single axle trailers that are used off road around the farm pulled by tractors at low 5mph speeds. They are built on old medium duty front truck axles from the 40's and 50's. Tires are like 7.00x20 and 7.50x20 on split ring rims.

As the tires are failing I would like to cut out the center sections from the old rims and weld them into some salvage yard rims. What size rims and tires should I look for where used/bald salvage tires would be plentiful and hopefully cheap and/or free now and in the future?

 

[MikeD74T]

Wouldn't it be easier to replace the axles/wheels from junked trucks 50 years newer??? MikeD74T

 

[Deere Dude]

How about mobile home axles and springs with load range g tires. You can get them pretty cheap.

 

[Soundguy]

them slip rims are just dicey. i'd go with a conventional rim.

many places you can get blanks, or as said.. use something more common you can find in a junkyard..e tc

 

[herringchoker]

In your situation, I would probably do just what you are planning. Around this neck of the woods, 11R22.5 is the most common size - used on dump trucks, highway tractors and trailers, etc. However, this is a much wider and taller tire than a 7.50 x 20 and may not have clearance space on your trailers.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

In your situation, I would probably do just what you are planning. Around this neck of the woods, 11R22.5 is the most common size - used on dump trucks, highway tractors and trailers, etc. However, this is a much wider and taller tire than a 7.50 x 20 and may not have clearance space on your trailers.

I too agree to keep it as simple as possible.

If they are different size wheels throw one of each size into the truck and head out for a truck junk yard.

 

[downslope]

Wouldn't it be easier to replace the axles/wheels from junked trucks 50 years newer??? MikeD74T

How about mobile home axles and springs with load range g tires. You can get them pretty cheap.

It wouldn't be so simple. Remember these are custom made, no suspension, axles welded to frame, tie rods /king pins welded in fixed position, etc.

If I could just find some modern rims with the same bolt patterns it would be easy, but I don't know if that will happen. One of the axles is like from a 1940's Dodge 1.5 ton truck, with 5 giant lug nuts on a Budd type wheel. The other one is even worse, some kind of spoked wheel. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. Maybe I can alter some 19.5" rims. Thanks for everyone's advice.

 

[bcp]

Dodge M37 military trucks used the large 5-bolt pattern. And also the early Dodge Power Wagons. I think the tire size was 9.00x16.

3 Military Dodge M37 wheels & 9.00-16 Tires Trailer NR Parts for Sale - DragTimes.com

M37 Restoration Site

Dodge M37 Registry Web Site

Dodge M37

P O W E R  W A G O N   Page


Bruce

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why not pick up a set of junk yard steel wheels with modern 15" or 16" wheels. Something of a 80's GM truck come to mind. Have a local machine shop cut out steel blanks using 3/8" material with the proper lug pattern. You can then torch or better yet plasma out the centers of the wheels and weld in the new blanks.

For the speeds you are going even if its off a 1/4" its not going to make a difference. 16" truck wheels would be the ticked to me. Plenty of used LT 16" tires floating around that you could get cheap.

Chris

 

[Fixemall]

5 mph? Just get some junkyard 16" rims, take off what you have, push a foam plate into the lugs to make a jig, trace it on the 16", drill and mount. Use washers in back for spacers if needed.

 

[Diamondpilot]

5 mph? Just get some junkyard 16" rims, take off what you have, push a foam plate into the lugs to make a jig, trace it on the 16", drill and mount. Use washers in back for spacers if needed.

I like it. I have done that but have also ran into instances where the new holes and the old holes ran into clearance issues. If it will work do it this way, if not use your method on some steel blanks like I mentioned above.

Chris

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Just about anything with enough strength will work for 5 MPH application.:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

i'v even welded a backing ring in the lugnut / hole pattern after drilling new holes.. to make sure nothing broke out. again.. non highway use..e tc.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Another option might be to remove the hub, go to a truck salvage yard, and find a more modern and common type hub that will fit your spindle. Then you wouldn't have to fabricate anything.

 

[downslope]

Another option might be to remove the hub, go to a truck salvage yard, and find a more modern and common type hub that will fit your spindle. Then you wouldn't have to fabricate anything.

This is an interesting idea. What would I have to measure-up or check by trial and error? Would I need a hub that used the exact same inner and outer bearings and races? What about the depth of the hub and the distance between the inner and outer bearings? Is this going to be difficult to find a hub that will work? Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is an interesting idea. What would I have to measure-up or check by trial and error? Would I need a hub that used the exact same inner and outer bearings and races? What about the depth of the hub and the distance between the inner and outer bearings? Is this going to be difficult to find a hub that will work? Thanks for the ideas.

I think this is a very long shot. Like one in a million. For your application just get some 16" truck wheels, make a lug templet with a foam plate (ect), and start drilling or welding.

Slow speed it will be fine.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

I think this is a very long shot. Like one in a million. For your application just get some 16" truck wheels, make a lug templet with a foam plate (ect), and start drilling or welding.

Slow speed it will be fine.

Chris

I think I'd do the welding cut n paste as well.. but as tot he longshot issue.. I wouldn't be surprised if he could find hubs to fit.. you see lots of commonalities in old stuff.

take old ford tractors for instance.

you can swap hubs from 39 on up a long number of decades.. including some car applications too!

soundguy