Trailer tires/wheels

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C

Chuck

Picking up a 1993 H23.5 tomorrow, no spare for the trailer. Any body have a Hunter trailer, single axle, and know the tire/wheel size? Are they the same as the tires on a H26 double axle trailer?
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
My son said that he needed wheels and tires for

a trailer and just matched the bolt pattern to some used car wheels from a junk yard.
 
D

dave

trailer tires need to be trailer tires

I would be real careful "just matched the bolt pattern to some used car wheels from a junk yard" Tires for trailers are different than tires for cars. And most junk yard tires are dry rotted and have been deteriorating for some time. Trailer tires are rated for loads and sidewall characteristics that make them quite a bit different than car tires. Then factor in what the cost of the trailer load is worth, and the vehicle pulling it (in the event of a blow out at speed of either) and ask yourself if it is worth it to skimp. You have been warned.... dave
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Dave, a one ton car on four wheels is awfully

similar to a half ton load on a two wheel trailer. I agree about tire age but wheels are wheels.
 
Oct 3, 2006
1,024
Hunter 29.5 Toms River
Also remember

That it is a spare. Theres a good chance that it will never be used. Just keep in mind that if you have a car tire as a spare it will be akin to a donut on a car. Just be careful, but it's much better than nothing!
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Just check the load rating and maximum tire

pressure. Car tires have greater traction demands than do trailer tires. But a quick look at the rear axle on a front wheel drive car sure looks like an axle on a trailer.
 
D

dave

wheels are wheels...

I agree wheels can be wheels, but car tires are NOT trailer tires.... whether front drive or rear drive, trailer tires are vastly different than car tires.... Even wheels will have different offsets and widths, that may appear to be the same as a trailer wheel, but they are. I have lost a trailer tire that was only too wide by a half inch, but that caused the fender to cut it when the trailer was loaded. I have also had tracking issues with trailers that had "similar" wheels and tires. Certainly you are free to do what you like...I wouldn't, unless I knew the rig. And yes people do it all the time, I have seen a 1/2 ton Blazer pulling a 32' wooden ChrisCraft that would outweigh the tow vehicle by two times...doesn't mean it is safe. Have a good trip. dave
 

Paul Z

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May 17, 2004
53
Macgregor 24 Oregon City, OR
Tires

Trailer tires are bias ply so they track straight. There is no differential action on a trailer so one tire is going to mush around corners. Radials will mush off to one side. This is especially true on double axle trailers. Good news is; I bought NEW tires for my trailer for 35 bucks ea and sleep better.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,554
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
It is a 14" Ford Rim

I forget the spacing but it is the pretty much standard 14' 5 lug rim. A car tire will work just OK for a spare to get you off the highway and to a tire place if there is one and if it is open when you need it but you'd be much better off with a trailer tire. Also make sure your jack will work with a flat tire on the trailer. the axle is going to be real cloce to the ground and not leave much space for a jack. A way to overcome this is to pull the flat tire up onto the spare rim so you can get the jack under. A better way to do it is to carry a couple of 4 X 4s added benifit here is you can use them as chocks too.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,554
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
A Spare set of Bearings is Prudent as Well

Noticed no one including myself answered the question you asked. the tires are F-78-14 and yes they are the same as on the 26
 
C

Chuck

Thanks Rick

exactly what I needed, only a 70 mile tow, but tires are old but little used. I'm ready to pull the bearings and check them before I start.mf3j
 
Jul 19, 2007
156
Hunter 26 Brookville Indiana
Yesterday's Blowout

Just picked up a H26 in West Virginia. I was 30 mins from home, Indiana, and had a blowout on the driver side trailer.
 
G

George

Spare Trailer Wheel and Tire

Good Discussion. Of course all of us have spare tires and bearings so changing them is no problem even on a Sunday night when all the stores are closed.:) Go to this link for more info: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/trailer1/trailer1.html
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,554
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Is a Spare Hub Going Overboard?

I keep thinking that would be the way to go. So much simpler than changing out the bearings on the side of the road. Somewhere I saw a bolt on spindle to mount the spare huband tire on the trailer. What would really be slick is if it was mouted to the end of the tounge jack and then you could use the spare instead of those silly little plastic wheels that do not roll just skid left to right get flat spots and then do not roll at all.
 
Mar 8, 2005
193
Hunter 170 Ventura, California
I agree !

One should inspect the trailer frequently and carry the tools / parts necessarry to be able to get your self back on the road. I carry an extra hub, bearings, and tire ect.........
 
C

Chuck

Post

Since I started this post, I thought I should let you know how it turned out. I didn't have time to find a spare tire/wheel, I did have spare outer bearings and seals. When I jacked up the right side and spun the wheel, I heard that growl that no one wants to hear, same on the left. Well, it was the inner bearings and races on both sides. PO bought kits for both sides and I bought new tires and put everything back together and had a safe, calm ride home. Thanks for all the help and info. Going in the water this week.
 
Aug 9, 2005
825
Hunter 260 Sarasota,FL
Spare project not done by me.

Alas, I can't help with much more than the photo which I was so impressed with that I filed it for a future project(which I haven't quite gotten to). I had saved the pic for my brain storm to possibly strap launch a fixed keel 27'-30' behemoth, which thankfully was abandoned when I found the deal of the century on our 260. As I recall the parts came off of an old 1/2yd cement mixer a guy had in his back yard so I think it's only Galv paint. The torsion(?) axle had an 1 1/2" square yoke that was cut and drilled for a pin which can be pulled to rotate the yoke 90/180degrees into place. The 2" square stock female piece had a flat plate welded to it and was then "U-bolted" to the trailer neck as shown. All this is backyard scrap from my neighbors backyard or a barnyard near you;), just gotta search a little. It'd be a really simple cut/fit job but finding the parts would take me longer than putting it together. These type of axles can be bought new but I never quite got to it while I'm distracted with all the other cool mods you accumulate for everyone. This spare idea is simple and ingenious...but simply not my genius;). Hope that helps. Have a great season, Michael
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,554
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Only thing Better Would be if it Turned

If it were a round axle you could put in a few different holes and be able to adjust the height.
 
Aug 9, 2005
825
Hunter 260 Sarasota,FL
Weld a rnd sleeve to it....

...and use slightly larger round stock for the fml end on the trailer with a larger pin or two. A great idea to simplify the transition from up to down(or in between) without totally removing/replacing the yoke. Although the sq stock would distribute the tongue weight more effectively without concern of shearing a pin. A design detail you should work on and let us know....... Michael
 
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