trailer wheel question

[Groo]

Picked up a new trailer with 5200 dexter 6 bolt axles.

can I just use the spare from the Chevy truck 1/2 ton (also a 6 bolt) or will I need to get a seperate trailer spare?

 

[Quickster2]

Check the load range on each. If your trailer has "D" or "E" rated tires that need 65 to 80 PSI your truck wheel/tire I would not recommend.

 

[Groo]

I know the truck tire isn't rated as high. I was more interested in the bolt pater and size along with any possible hub interferance.

 

[Skyco]

The offset is different on trailer wheels usually.

 

[radioman]

good question. It would be nice to have something that we all can cross reference with the equipment we have for something just in case. I hate those sunday nights drive home. Not a store open after 6pm and most tire places in country are closed weekends. When I got caught without a spare, TWICE!!!! I had to make do with what I had. I had to borrow my camper 14" rim and put it on landscape trailer that uses 15" and limp home without a problem. Later this year, I blew tire on camper and was able to borrow my chevy malibu tire and limp home with it and put donut tire on the mailbu. (had both with me at the time). I just happened to luck out with bolt pattern that fit perfect but yeah the tire hieght is difference by inch or so. Perhaps its time for you to pull the full size spare off your truck and see if it fits your trailer. Also check the lugnut size and have 4 way wrench packed away. First time I had nothing that fit. Had to go home and get tools and steal tire from my camper anyway. Second time I was a little more prepared and had 4 way wrench with me. Hopefully my misfortune will help others.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would just spend the $150 and get a spare plus a 6 ton bottle jack and 4 way folding lug wrench. Both available at WalMart for under $25. You may be able to get buy for now but when you get a new truck it will not have the same lug pattern more often then not. The spare is a good investment and you will get $200 back on your investment when its time to sell the trailer.

Chris

 

[firefighter jim]

I could never understand why someone would tow a trailer without having a spare. You carry one for your vehicle but not one for your trailer?

 

[NIdaho]

DiamondPilot,
Years ago I started using a lug wrench that I found at Harbor Freight. I had grown up using the traditional 4-way lug wrench (infact I was a teenager before I knew that they even had other ones). The one I got from H. F. is telescopic and has a 1/2 drive on the end. It then uses double ended sockets on the 1/2 inch drive. That extra length makes a huge difference for stuck lugs. Since it collapses it stores very easily. I still have a 4-way in the shop but I carry the telescopic ones in all the rigs. Even my wife or daughter can make pretty short work of breaking the lugs loose with the handle extended.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That sounds like a neat product. I will have too look for them. I have a set of HF flip flop lug sockets that live near my Impact wrench. Love them, 3 sockets and it covers the common 6 lug size.

What would we do with out Harbor Freight?

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

I could never understand why someone would tow a trailer without having a spare. You carry one for your vehicle but not one for your trailer?

Me either. I carry a spare on the side of the trailer. As I just changed from steel to Al wheels, that meant 5 new rims for it. That meant a cost of $535 plus $20 to have the Goodyear dealer throw them on the trailer. Sold the steel wheels and used tires for $150 to recover some of the cost. The spare had never been on the ground but who wan't to be caught in the wilds of WV, VA, or NC without one?