Upgrading lightweight trailer tires, where to start?

[DaveM]

I have a Venter 6’ trailer, imported to US under the name "Kace, Trekker 6". It’s a lightweight luggage trailer from South Africa that I’ve modified as our camping gear hauler. I’ve recently upgraded our travel vehicle from a modified Outback to a mostly stock Jeep Willy’s. I want to upgrade the trailer tires a little to allow it to handle slightly more rugged trails. Looking for some help on where to start with making changes.

Current tires are 155/80 R13 Brightway Energy X1 trailer tires. The rim is a light weight 13” 4 bolt, not sure of the spacing or rim width. I want to upgrade to a small light truck AT tire. Maybe a 14” rim. I have about 3” of space under the fender. Where do I start with figuring out this upgrade, I assume I need new hubs, but what size? Do I start with the hub and figure out the tire from there, or the other way around, find the right tire and rim combo then figure out the hub?

Eventually I'll want to upgrade the suspension and add an extension to the tongue. For now I just want to make sure the tires are rugged eniugh to be dragged behind the Jeep on moderate forest trails.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

You've got a few options:

1. Look for larger wheels that'll fit existing bolt pattern.
2. Find larger wheels of a different bolt pattern, and get thin/narrow spacers that'll convert from old bolt pattern to new one.
3. Install new axle w/ desired bolt pattern, install new wheels, move/replace fenders as needed.

As it happens, I just did #3 on my utility trailer this past week. I replaced the original axle (likely 1500lb rating) with a 3500lb one from a local Princess Auto (similar to Harbor Freight in the US), along with new wheels & tires. Basically more than doubled my axle/tire capacity. Total cost was under $800 CAD.

Simple bolt-off/bolt-on installation, about a 1.5 beer job. I went from 5.3x12 tires, to ST205/75/15. Significant difference all around.

Entire shopping list included:
- axle
- matching u-bolt kit from the same (axle) manufacturer
- 3 wheels (1 is a spare)

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

I have always matched the trailer wheels to the truck. Exactly.
There is a long list of why this is a good idea.

Same trailer, earlier truck.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Buddha.]

I would contact etrailer, they have good customer service.

 

[DaveM]

You've got a few options:

1. Look for larger wheels that'll fit existing bolt pattern.
2. Find larger wheels of a different bolt pattern, and get thin/narrow spacers that'll convert from old bolt pattern to new one.
3. Install new axle w/ desired bolt pattern, install new wheels, move/replace fenders as needed.

As it happens, I just did #3 on my utility trailer this past week. I replaced the original axle (likely 1500lb rating) with a 3500lb one from a local Princess Auto (similar to Harbor Freight in the US), along with new wheels & tires. Basically more than doubled my axle/tire capacity. Total cost was under $800 CAD.

Simple bolt-off/bolt-on installation, about a 1.5 beer job. I went from 5.3x12 tires, to ST205/75/15. Significant difference all around.

Entire shopping list included:
- axle
- matching u-bolt kit from the same (axle) manufacturer
- 3 wheels (1 is a spare)

Swapping out the axle is an option I was thinking about. In my case I would probably put the axle-less Timbren spindles on.

 

[DaveM]

I have always matched the trailer wheels to the truck. Exactly.
There is a long list of why this is a good idea.
View attachment 874779
Same trailer, earlier truck.
View attachment 874780
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

This would be ideal, but my trailer is so small and lightweight I'm not sure it's worth the expense of fitting matching wheels and 33" tires. I should roll my spare in there to see what it looks like though!

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Being able to wear the tyres out on the truck (instead of throwing them away because they are past their use-by-date) will save some cash.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[RKRUGER]

Being able to wear the tyres out on the truck (instead of throwing them away because they are past their use-by-date) will save some cash.

Agree whole heartedly with this. I am surprised how light weight the axle/ spindle is on your trailer. I would be very concerned that you may bend it off road.

I love the trailer body itself. Very cool. And the gear bag under the lid has me thinking. If I were looking at this I’d measure eye to eye on the springs and find replacement w more arch. Then match wheel tire to the Jeep. Find a tire that “fits” for now and then, when you replace on the Jeep, move the tires back.

Did you install that gear bag?

 

[DaveM]

Agree whole heartedly with this. I am surprised how light weight the axle/ spindle is on your trailer. I would be very concerned that you may bend it off road.

I love the trailer body itself. Very cool. And the gear bag under the lid has me thinking. If I were looking at this I’d measure eye to eye on the springs and find replacement w more arch. Then match wheel tire to the Jeep. Find a tire that “fits” for now and then, when you replace on the Jeep, move the tires back.

Did you install that gear bag?

Thanks. As I'm looking at this more I'm leaning towards just grabbing the largest trailer tire I can fit on the 13" wheels for now and then upgrade the whole axle and suspensions assembly in a while (maybe next year). If I had the cash I'd make up a whole new heavier duty frame and move the two trailer compartments over.

The bag was an add-on available from the importer, but I had to drill the holes and mount it. You could probably rig up something similar pretty easily with cargo netting or similar. I'm planning to glue on velcro fields to the other half of the lid for mounting smaller velcro backed pouches like the stuff from Blue Ridge Overland.