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They're strong, but there are issues with backspacing, hub diameter, and, most notable, width. Could you use one on your Jeep? Maybe. That depends on a lot of factors unique to your rig.
But even if everything else was fine, they're "For trailer use only." Even if all the physical variables worked for you, you'd better hope your insurance company doesn't find out about them.
I'm not sure the older trailer wheels were any different than the stock jeep/ford wheels of the same vintage.
We live way out in the hills so sometimes when you have a flat, you want a spare spare for driving to town to get the flat fixed.
I guess I just need to jack it up sometime and see if one of my old spare wheels will fit. I would like to replace the honeycomb alloy wheels with some generic (modern!) steel wheels anyway.
I'm not sure the older trailer wheels were any different than the stock jeep/ford wheels of the same vintage.
In the 50s, that may have been true. But back then they were using bias ply tires that we're tall and narrow because of manual steering. 6" and sometimes even 5" wide wheels were common at that time. That hasn't been the case for a couple decades.
In the 50s, that may have been true. But back then they were using bias ply tires that we're tall and narrow because of manual steering. 6" and sometimes even 5" wide wheels were common at that time. That hasn't been the case for a couple decades.
Yeah, but an old 8.25-15 would be a lot better than walking
Rims used on trailers are typically 5-6" wide with dick for backspacing (centered on all the rims I've seen). Just because they look similar does not mean they are interchangeable.
You can get them in any size or backspacing that you ask for
...and if you look at those pics they are all slightly different from each other. Some are extremely different. I want the same type of wheel I currently have with the proper back spacing.
Also I said I have been looking for several years. Let me add that it has been a very casual search. I look in the salvage yards when I go and peruse CL for them on occasion. I'll find it.
Call a trailer shop and ask if they can get a matching one. Or not. Trying to help but if people want to insist that trailer shops can't sell wheels with car dimensions I'm okay with that too.
Did a bit of work this weekend on the pile of parts in my garage. Mostly building my suspension brackets, sorting out my rear brake line mount and breather, lots of measuring, and got my HD Offroad frame stiffeners and three link brackets the other day.
I decided to finish what I started. My liftgate was starting to have issues on the passenger side because the ball stud was pushing the sheet metal out of whack and starting to face the front of my XJ.
I drilled several holes next to the stud, next to the gap that was created by the ball stud bending the metal. I was able to get a screw driver in there and I was able to pry out the stud and nut. I hammered the metal flat and in to allow clearance for the nut when I reinstalled it. I also painted the exposed metal for protection.
I bought some medium thick flat strap from Home Depot and cut a 3.5 inch piece off of it. The old ball stud is fairly soft metal. Use a Torx bit or put Vise Grips on the stud shoulder that butts up against the mounting metal face. I then drilled a hole for the stud and bolted it into the new piece and painted it.
I stuck it up where I wanted it and marked where I wanted the Rivet holes. You really only need holes on the edge that faces the lifgate because there is always forward preasure on the plate. Drilled the holes in the plate off of the XJ on top of a piece of wood, then held the plate back up where I wanted to mount it and drilled a hole into my XJ's sheet metal, popped in a rivet and it held it in place while did the other 2 holes. I did the drivers side plate 4 years ago and it is still solid as a rock and is also when I replaced the struts I bought at Autozone. They are very good quality, they have held up in temps of -30 to temps of +118. It raises all by itself and actually has a lot of tension on it when you close it, they are very strong struts.
Last edited by Modrod; 04-21-2015 at 04:13 AM.
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