Thoughts on using a trailer minus one wheel.

TractorRob · Jul 23, 2011

I have a typical 16 ft. 7000 lb utility trailer. I damaged one wheel on it and I cannot find a wheel at any place local that will be open before Monday. I am in the middle of a project across town that I would like to finish this weekend, but I would need to transport my finish mower over there. What do you guys think about using the trailer for a one time trip of about 20 miles with a light load(~670 lbs) with one wheel off of the trailer?

magicheater · Jul 23, 2011

I would do it at #670 but not #6700. A single working axle should support that weight. Get that other rim on soon. Don't know how the law would see it though.

RobertN · Jul 23, 2011

670 lbs, just put it in the truck...

Diamondpilot · Jul 23, 2011

I would do it also for that weight.

You do not have a spare? Can you borrow a spare from a buddy?

Next question, how did you damage the wheel? If you hit a curb or a chuck hole and bent it you will 99% odds have a bent axle also. You will know for sure when you put the brakes on the first time.

Chris

Soundguy · Jul 23, 2011

assuming it is a tandem.. pullone off each side, then chain the spindles up to the frame if need be.

BTDT on the side of the road in an emergency.. especially at this lite of a load...

soundguy

TRR · Jul 23, 2011

Soundguy has the best solution. Turn it into a single axle trailer by removing the wheels from both sides of the same axle. I've seen it done around here with light loads. You can probably let the axle hang, but check that there will be enough clearance.

ruffneck · Jul 23, 2011

You should be able to just chain up the one side or jack up the axle and block it with a piece of wood so it doesn't hang down. I had to do this with a horse trailer one night when the studs sheared off on the highway. With a light load it won't hurt anything.

TractorRob · Jul 23, 2011

Thanks for the advice everyone. I figured it would be OK, but I wanted to make sure there wasn't anything that I hadn't thought of that could cause a problem.

Diamondpilot said:
I would do it also for that weight.

You do not have a spare? Can you borrow a spare from a buddy?

Next question, how did you damage the wheel? If you hit a curb or a chuck hole and bent it you will 99% odds have a bent axle also. You will know for sure when you put the brakes on the first time.

Chris

Nope, no spare. I know, I should have one. One reason I've never gotten one is I've never gone more than 30 miles from home with it, and I've always figured if I had a flat I could leave it on the side of the road while I got another tire. No one handy to borrow one from either. How did I damage it? I almost hate to admit it - I didn't get the lug nuts tight. I have to tell why because that is not the sort of thing that I usually do:

One of the brakes wasn't working so I took the wheel off to try to find out why(ended up being a severed wire, which I fixed). Instead of jacking the trailer up I pulled the front wheels up on ramps. When I got done I naturally could not get the lug nuts tight until I got the trailer back on the ground. When I backed it off the ramps, the shackle between the front springs and equalizers had somehow flipped over and the front wheels did not touch the ground. I proceeded to spend the next hour or so getting the shackle flipped back around and promptly forgot about the loose lug nuts.

Fixemall · Jul 23, 2011

If all you did was gaff up the holes, you are better off putting the damaged wheel on with mag wheel washers that you can pick up at any car parts store