Question About Trailer Tire Size

[ChockFullOnuts222]

I'm in a bind with getting tires for my trailer. The boat is a 1972 V2-22, and it's the original trailer. The rims are 14"...and I cannot find anyone who carries something smaller than a 205/75R14 trailer tire.

The 205/75 won't fit under my fenders. The trailer had bias ply 185/75R14s on it when my grandfather had the boat, and then my dad up until he put a set of regular radial (car) 195/60R14's on it--which I want to get away from. What are others with comparable rigs using for wheel/tire packages?

Can these drop axle trailers be lifted?

 

[Sumner]

How far do you tow a year? I'm not a fan of car tires on a trailer but in this case would probably just continue doing that. Can the fenders be rasied at all?

Don't like longer shackles but that along with taller spring mounts might be an answer and it isn't that hard to have that done. Also is the current axle under or over the springs now? Options there also possibly,

Sumner

=========================================

1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac

Endeavour 37 Mods...

MacGregor 26-S Mods...

Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

Hi, Sumner!

Unfortunately, the fenders can't be raised---not enough clearance with the boat.

The axle is currently mounted over the springs. I thought about moving the axle below the springs, but it's a square tube...and all of the kits I find are for round tube.

Taller spring mounts would be an idea; but the OE ones are welded on...so that would be a job for a shop.

I don't tow a lot of miles...but car tires are really squatty on this.

 

[BudGates]

Is there no way to use the existing hardware to mount the axles below the leaf springs? sounds to me like that would be the best solution if it's possible. If not I'd keep looking for hardware that will allow you to do that even if you end up having to find someone to make the hardware for you.

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

I don't think so, due to it being a drop axle. No hole on top of the tube for the stud in the leaf springs. Otherwise, I initially had the same thought...there has to be way to make it work...

 

[Sumner]

Cutting the spring perches off...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trailer/trailer-mods-9.html

.... and welding longer ones on or making longer ones should take a welding shop less than an hour I'd think. It didn't take me long to cut the old ones off,

Sumner

1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac

Endeavour 37 Mods...

MacGregor 26-S Mods...

Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

A friend and I are going to try moving the axle below the springs this weekend. By measurements, it should give just enough extra clearance to get 205/75's in there and allow the same clearance under the fenders that I have now. I'll post back after we're done...here's hoping...

 

[Fred Villiard]

Mike, a word of caution, most trailer axles are cambered so that with a load on them will cause them to straighten. If the axle is cambered you can't turn it over or you'll get excessive tire ware. Put a straight edge on the axle to check for camber, the bow goes up.

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

Thanks for the caution, but we didn't turn the axle over. We were able to move it below the leaf springs, and picked up just about three inches of clearance for the new tires. Talk about a difference in height, though...

 

[Doc_holiday]

New larger fenders are the least expensive. I got some at northern tool bolted a couple angles on and had a friend weld bolts to the angles so I could bolt them to the frame. Just make sure the boat is on the trailer so you can keep an inch or two clearance from the fenders to the boat.

 

[BudGates]

Just make sure the boat is on the trailer so you can keep an inch or two clearance from the fenders to the boat.

Good point. My V-222 didn't have enough clearance when we got her. After only a couple of trips to the lake I noticed the fender was wearing a hole through the side of the hull. After patching the hole I added spacers under the bunks to raise the boat 1-1/2 inches.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Years ago, I simply 'bobbed' the fenders on my very ancient trailer for my O'day 17. This had 15 inch tires and the fenders and boat were so high to clear the tires(causing the boat to need some serious depth before floating off) that my full sized ford van would have water gushing into the drivers door if I opened it while launching - definietly had that effect when recovering while I waded in to position the boat on the trailer.

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

That is actually a very big concern for me. I plan on extending the tongue of the trailer 2-3 feet to hopefully offset the extra 3 inches of height when floating the boat free.

I don't think extending it will be a problem, as the tongue weight isn't extreme. But first, I think a trip to the launch would be helpful in determining how much extension is really necessary.

 

[TortugasRoyal]

Go to harbor freight, get a cheap hand grinder, trim the fenders so tires fit.

 

[TortugasRoyal]

found a tire on tire easy
bias ply trailer tire 205/65 14 its shorter at 24.5" then your 185/75 14 at 24.9"

http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Breite=205&Quer=65&Felge=14&Speed=&kategorie=6&LoadRange=&Marke=&ranzahl=4&search_tool=standard&tyre_for=Trailer&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW&tyre_for=Trailer&s_p=trailer-tires&suchen=View+Tires

 

[TortugasRoyal]

It occurred to me your grandfather used commercial van tires. I like it.
http://www.nankangusa.com/tires/rltsuv/nankang-cw-25?tab=specs

 

[Rick Webb]

what about 13" trailer tires?

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ce-sm...-13c-st175-80dx13-bias-1360-capacity--5345228

Bet they could even be found for less

 

[StinkBug]

Yeah I don't love the idea of lifting the trailer. Seems like you're adding a bunch of issues to solve one small one. The fenders on my trailer rusted right off it. I didn't bother replacing.

Also, don't go through all the work of extending the tongue. Again, adding more issues to solve an easy one. I just made a 4'long receiver extension that slides into my hitch for launching. I float my boat with my back tires just barely touching the water now. The added hitch length also makes kicking the trailer around while backing really easy.