Aluminum Trailer Wheels (15-inchers)

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:21 pm

As far as the tire lug holes fitting a ford, thats correct and for that reason I dont carry a spare on my trailer. The full size spare on my truck fits the Mac trailer. Except the center hole is to small like you said. Someday I plan to have the hole enlarged, That day will be 2 days after a blow out
If things work out like normal. But Its a good reason not to carry a spare. on the trailer. Anybody know of a three inch tapered drum sander that will fit in a standard electric drill? That would do it.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:40 pm

I actually took that Jeep alloy to the same machinist who re-threaded my gearcase for broken waterpump bolts. He wanted "nothin' to do" with trying to enlarge that center wheel hole. But aya's correct, IMO there's no rocket science in that job (just lots'n lots of sandpaper!)

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:36 pm

As far as the tire lug holes fitting a ford, thats correct and for that reason I dont carry a spare on my trailer. The full size spare on my truck fits the Mac trailer. Except the center hole is to small like you said. Someday I plan to have the hole enlarged, That day will be 2 days after a blow out
If things work out like normal. But Its a good reason not to carry a spare. on the trailer.

You might want to rethink that plan. Even if you have the spare wheel butchered to fit, the tire on your truck spare is unlikely to be correct in load rating or size for the trailer. If you're unlucky, it will interfere with the trailer fender. Even if you're lucky, I believe the very best you could hope for is to make it to the nearest tire store so you can get a new tire for the one that went.

A real spare will run you about $110. A wise investment, IMO.

BTW, what Ford truck has 15" wheels? Even my antique '94 Ranger has 16" wheels.

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:17 am

Nope Chip 2002 ford ranger 4x 15 inch wheels from the dealer 10.50x15
bfg's. and I dont worry too much about the spare anyway as the tow milage for the last 6 months was about 3 miles and I use the boat about
2 times a month.......Now how does he do that? welllllll the boat is right near the ramp.. Although your right if I was going to be towing any distance a few times a year I would get a proper spare its not that much money and saves a whole lot of hassle. Although the one time I did blow a tire on another boat trailer a long time ago a spare wouldnt have done any good, because the lugs were sawed off the wheel and the trailer was riding on the spring hangers bolts that ground down to useless metal. as the useless tire and wheel went flying across the freeway missing everthing and everybody thank goodness. all within seconds. lesson learned ...dont toe at 80 mph those tires cant take that. plus the tires were new!!

80.00 tow bill just to get it off the freeway half a day finding replacement parts and a couple hours installing them myself. Now I have AAA towing that covers RV and towed veh. I dont need no stinking spare.......

and besides you can always buy a spare 15 inch trailer tire and wheel then hang that baby under the ford truck instead of the OG. then you solve the storage problem and your not toteing two spares. Plus you dont have to what word did you use? oh well modify the ford rim. And that monster load bearing tire and wheel you have now will take the light load of the truck. see there is always a way..

Moe · Post by **Moe** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:51 am

10.5" tires on a 4" rim? BFG's spec for these is 7" minimum.

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:53 am

4X4 moe as in four wheel drive I believe the rims are 8 inch
But the point I was making issssss that Ford does sell trucks with a standard 15 inch wheel and the 16 I believe is an option at least when I bought my truck in 2002

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:33 am

aya wrote:Nope Chip 2002 ford ranger 4x 15 inch wheels from the dealer 10.50x15 bfg's.

Tire Rack says all 2002 Ranger 4x4 came with 16 inch wheels, and that in 2002 the 15 inch wheels came on the 2WD trucks only. Sure you didn't get those monster truck babies from Billy Joe Bob's House of Really Big and Stupid Tahrs?

My bad, my '94 Ranger 4x4 has standard 15" wheels, not 16 as I stated previously. Never bought tires for it so never checked until now. I was probably getting it confused with my '97 Explorer which had 16s.

But anyway, part of my argument is still valid. The 31-10.5-15 tire has plenty of load capacity, but at 31 inches is three inches larger in diameter than the standard Mac trailer tire. The clearance is already tight on the fenders; you'll have a problem fitting tires that size without interference. You'll also have a problem running the undersized trailer spare on the truck for the same reason.

But heck, if the boat is that close to the ramp and you never need to go any further, you don't need a spare of any kind. Tow it to the parking spot, take the tire off, and get it fixed or replaced.

Or just run it flat.

Or pick up a crappy but functional spare at a junkyard for $15.

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:13 am

Well tire rack dont seem to be right, or it really doesnt matter thats what I got and im pretty sure its a 4x4 How do you tell? but it should be easy enough to buy a brand new spanking clean white spoke 15 inch trailer tire wheel combo at a real cheap price with a mega load bearing double mac carry capacity. take your ford 15 inch spare sun of a gun out from under the bed of the pickup, strap on your new mega watt load bearing tripple
X brand fit under the trailer wheel well with the water ballast out, of the mac trailer tire and crank it up.. That baby will do in a pinch as a spare for the truck too. And if you do have 16 inch wheels a 15 will get you to the tire store unless you have some kind of traction device in the back no problem.

But if you really want to know have tire rack look up 2002 fx4 ford ranger.
that baby came stock with bfg's 31-10.50 15 inch all ground hugging tires
from ford. or you can come over and look at my sidewalls.

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:24 am

Any way frank I like your wheels

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:16 am

aya wrote:thats what I got and im pretty sure its a 4x4 How do you tell?

You're kidding again, right?

You tell on my 5-speed manual tranny by noting there is an extra stick shift for the 4WD transfer case labelled 2WD, 4WD HI, N and 4WD LO, interlocked with a red light on the dash saying same. It also has manual locking front wheel hubs.

On an auto tranny there's a handy little turn button on the dash, also labelled 2WD, 4WD HI and 4WD LO, and also interlocked with a red light on the dash saying same. You usually have auto locking front hubs to go with the auto tranny.

Go look for these and report back

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:50 pm

Yep little knob says lo-high and I looked under the the truck and it has two
drive shafts...Im so stoked. I guess I should read the manual.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:39 pm

Chip - I think I have four wheels on my truck...how do I tell??

Never mind, Ill drive over and you can show me...where do I park btw??

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:32 pm

Chip we were pulling your leg a little. I knew I had 4 wheel drive,
and 15 inch wheels.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:46 am

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:40 pm

On a modern 4x4 with anti lock brakes, it's foolish to use anything but the proper size spare. Especially true on full time systems. Even on 2wd vehicles, the differential may be damaged if the tire diameter is substantially different on either side of the rear axle and the vehicle is driven any distance at speed, especially if towing. Uneven size and/or make tires can make the antilock brake system malfunction. Trailer rims mounted on a truck may not have adequate clearance.

All in all- it's cheaper and safer to have the proper equipment.

Greg

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Aluminum Trailer Wheels (15-inchers)