Tire Size For Trailer

[WFTW]

I got a Outlander Sherpa II RL trailer today. Below is a picture of one with 35" tires mounted. I've never towed a trailer and am wondering if there would be a downside to mounting 37" tires on the trailer.

My thinking is that the higher the trailer, the more top heavy it would be. One fix for that would be making the trailer a few inches wider (maybe 3" or so). But, I'm not sure how difficult it would be for the company to do. It would require a longer axel and change the dimensions of the trailer bed too.

Would the larger tires make it more difficult to handle on pavement?

 

[CA-RJ]

How about adding 1-1/2" wheel spacers?

 

[spray]

Do 37's fit those wheel openings dont look big enough

 

[WFTW]

Didn't think of spacers...thanks for the idea.

My contact at Outlander said the trailer can be made to "fit any size tire." Although, I don't know if he thought I'd be wanting THAT large of a tire.

There's been a slight change in plans...after kicking it around a bit, I've decided it would be nice to run the same wheel/tire combination that I have on my Jeep. That would be 40x14.5x17 tires on 17" wheels with a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern.

I shot an email off to Outlander to see if this is possible. Would be cool rolling on 40's all around.

 

[Robert Bills]

I've decided it would be nice to run the same wheel/tire combination that I have on my Jeep. That would be 40x13.5x17 tires on 17" wheels with a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern.

Where are you going to wheel that requires 40" tires? The weight and rolling mass must be huge, and I can hear those axles snapping now.

Personally, I haven't found anywhere I wanted to go that I couldn't negotiate with 35" tires and some finesse. Many of my jeeping buddies are now running 37s, but I haven't felt the need. (Also, if my jeep gets any taller I'll have to remodel my garage and install an 8' door. As for running anything larger than 35" on the trailer, I woudn't. That's a lot of weight.

 

[TheGillz]

I agree its rediculous overkill, but he's running D60's and a Hemi conversion, so snapping axles "shouldn't" be a worry.

 

[WFTW]

I just heard back from Robert at Outlander. Apparently they are custom building the entire trailer (starting with drawing up the designs). He said 40" tires won't be a problem, so I'll be going with those.

Talk about an AWESOME company. It's not often a company says they can do something like make a trailer that will fit any size tire, and then when you throw out something they've never done before, have them willing to do so.

Robert Bills...yes, I agree that the 40" tires on a trailer are a bit on the extreme side, but then again, so is the Jeep.

An immediate advantage of having the same wheel/tire combination is that I can get away with carrying one spare for both the Jeep and trailer. If I still decide to go with two spares, that's another spare for the Jeep or trailer if needed.

I can't afford to go halfway with this build. I might go as far to say that what I'm going to be doing has never been done before. Not only will I be traveling all over the United States on pavement, but I'll be doing some extreme off-roading every weekend for 6 months...as well as occasionally wheeling during on weekdays.

I honestly can't be certain of what's out there because I haven't been to the places I'll be going. The last thing I want is to come across a trail and have to turn back because my set-up can't handle it.

Are there places I'm not going to be able to go? Sure. There are places out there where only rock buggies can go. However, I want my Jeep to be able to tackle at least everything a registered vehicle can.

I've done a lot of research on all the parts I've put on my Jeep over the past 7 months (that's how long I've been building it thus far...and I'm still not done). I must say that this forum has been EXTREMELY helpful and has really opened my eyes to the expedition aspect of building a capable Jeep/trailer combination. It's been quite a balancing act building a set-up that is not only a capable rock crawler, but also one that I can sustain myself in for an extended period of time (half a year). Without this forum, I'd be WAY behind the 8-ball.

 

[stick]

40" tires on a trailer :Wow1: I can't wait to see this thing.

 

[WFTW]

40" tires on a trailer :Wow1: I can't wait to see this thing.

X2! They are hoping to have the plans drawn up by the end of August and will then start the build. I'm guessing it will take a few months to have it completed.

 

[boknows]

X2! They are hoping to have the plans drawn up by the end of August and will then start the build. I'm guessing it will take a few months to have it completed.

Jason,

I thought you were loking into a teardrop, are you going to throw your Magiolina on top of this one?

Jason

 

[WFTW]

I was close on going with the Little Guy teardrop trailer. They had initially told me they'd be able to make some slight modifications that I wanted (larger tires, for example). However, due to how busy they are filling orders, they couldn't do that. Also, I wanted something more nimble for the trails. There are some trails that I want to take the trailer down and the teardrop wouldn't have survived (the Rubicon Trail, for example).

Don't get me wrong, the teardrop trailer is nice...real nice. But, it's built more for a routine camping trip and not so much for expedition traveling...much less rock crawling. With being on the road for 6 months, I think the Outlander is the way to go.

I got rid of the Maggiolina roof top tent...sold it to a friend. The rooftop tent I'll be using on the Outlander trailer will be the same show mounted on the trailer on their website. There are advantages to that one over my last one (a screened-in changing room, for example).

 

[Martyn]

One thing to think about is tire brand and side wall construction.

With a 40" tire you are going to have a lot of side wall. Sidewall stiffness varies from brand to brand and the less stiff your side walls the more prone to sway your trailer is going to be.

We have had good luck with BFG and Goodyear tires.

 

[WFTW]

One thing to think about is tire brand and side wall construction.

With a 40" tire you are going to have a lot of side wall. Sidewall stiffness varies from brand to brand and the less stiff your side walls the more prone to sway your trailer is going to be.

We have had good luck with BFG and Goodyear tires.

The tires I'll be using are the BFG KM2 (40x14.5x17). They're the same ones I have on my Jeep. I like them a lot and think they're the best tire for this application.

 

[Willman]

WOW....

Can't wait to see this sweet setup!

40's on a trailer is mostly going to be a first!

Congrads!

:camping:

 

[WFTW]

Glad you approve Willman! Outlander is just as excited as I am about this trailer. I'll be leaving Iraq tomorrow, get back to the States the next day, and will be speaking with them over the phone soon after that to go over some ideas and plans. From what they've shared with me thus far, it's going to be incredible! :jumping: