Need help figuring out axle width for trailer

[kozaz]

I'm ready to order an axle for my trailer project.
The trailer is 31.5 inches wide and it looks like I may have to order a custom axle.

Measurements
31.5 inches is the trailer width, lets call it an even 32 inches (gives me an additional 3/16 extra play per side)
6 inch backspacing on Jeep JK wheels
1 inch thick wheel adapters 5x4.5 to 5x5
Tires P255/75R/17, when mounted to wheels they are 10.75 inches wide, so lets call it 11 inches (gives me an additional 3/16 extra play per side)

With the 1 inch wheel adapters installed on the wheels, it gives the wheels 5 inch wheel backspacing, which is just about the middle of the 10.75 inch wide tires.

With that said I figure I need at least 2 inches of clearance between the tire and the trailer box/frame.

Adding up the following info I get the length of axle that I believe I need.
32 inches, trailer width
7 inches, for 5 inch backspacing of wheels and an additional 2 inches added for clearance (Right Side)
7 inches, for 5 inch backspacing of wheels and an additional 2 inches added for clearance (Left Side)
46 inches, total.

With the above measurements I have at between 2 and 2.25 inches of space between the tire and trailer/frame.

I noticed that the shortest 2000lb 1.75 round axle is 49.5 inches, however, I did find a company that will build an axle to your required length.

Question,
How much space between the tire and trailer is required?

If I got the 49.5 inch axle, I'm thinking the tires would stick out to far and I would have around 3.75 and 4.25 inches of clearance. This could effect fender choice, since I would need one at least 10inches deep, and the wider axle could cause me to extend the fenders outward to cover the tires.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Ryan

 

[ManleyORV]

Our axles are 55-1/2" hub face to hub face. Our trailer is 41" wide. With my JK wheels and 1.5" Adapters my tires are close to even with my 12.5" fenders.

So... using that math you would want a 47" axle measured from hub face to hub face. However I would order it 46" wide and use 1.5" adapters so you can clear the center caps; you'd have to modify them with 1" adapters. Even with 1.5" wide adapters you will likely have to massage the dust cap(see attached pic).

I'd have to measure but with our setup we probably have ~1-1.5" between the tire and the frame; I could double check when I get in the shop tomorrow.

And I am running 255/80/17 KM2's.

-Josh

 

[Shadow's Walker]

If you mind me asking, where do you get your fenders? I can't find any that wide.

 

[ManleyORV]

If you mind me asking, where do you get your fenders? I can't find any that wide.

We couldn't either, we had a die made to our specs and have them stamped. I'm hoping to offer them for sale at some point to guys building their own trailers or for retrofit. Right now I just have enough in-stock to go with each of the trailers I have in-stock.

Out of curiosity, what would you pay for a set of galvanized fenders 12.5" wide. Would you want them powdercoated black or just bare?

PM me so we don't threadjack Kozaz's thread.

-Josh

 

[ManleyORV]

Kozaz, I just measured and we have approximately 1.5" between our frame and tire on our Explore model that uses 10.5" KM2's.

-Josh

 

[kozaz]

Thanks Josh! Did not even know the dust caps would be and issue. Will have to make sure I get good measurements on the wheel adapters when I order them. Might Order them first. You can hihack the thread on the fender topic. I too keep thinking alot of the fenders out there are to small for the tires larger than 31inches. And would be interested in raw fenders as well.