Trailer tires: converting Alum alloy Ranger truck rims to work on boat trailer

[Hunt'nFish]

So I have a couple boats and trailers. Both go into salt occasionally. One has white spoke and the other has galv rims.

Picked up a set of 4 14" Ranger 2x2 truck tires on alum alloy rims. and thought I'd swap out the white spokes on the duck sled, and figured to swap the galv's out on the Crestliner and use the galv's for spares on both. Besides, the alum alloys look so much cooler.

Only problem....well the hub hole isn't big enough. Just a little shy.
So I thought I'd machine them out on the mill. Only the bed on the mill isn't large enough w/o taking tire off the rim first. Didn't want to do that as added cost of un-mounting/remounting & balancing kinda killed the cost savings.

So, out comes the the hole hog and hole saw. Figured I'd just machine a mandrel for the hole saw and drill by hand, but didn't even need to do that as there was a 3" step flange that would center the hole saw in the rims already. 30min later two rims were opened up and ready to mount on the trailer.
Worked slick!

Slow and steady w/ the the hole hog drill set in low speed. Lots of tourqe, WD40 helped a lot but still got away from me a couple times. Oh well, got the job done.
Pretty spiffy don't ya think?
Hunt'nFish

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Mike_in_Oregon/Projects/Boat%20Trailer%20tires%20-%20Ranger%20Truck%20to%20boat/Photo0311.jpg?t=1240852447

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Mike_in_Oregon/Projects/Boat%20Trailer%20tires%20-%20Ranger%20Truck%20to%20boat/Photo0313.jpg?t=1240853288

[baitsauce]

Outstanding!! :applause:

Another option is to use Chevy rims. If memory serves a Chevy will fit a Ford, but a Ford won't fit a Chevy becuase the center hole is a scosh larger on a Chevy. (Not 100% sure on that though)

I have thought about grabbing a pair of alloy wheels like you did, but wasn't sure they would work. I also thought about making the center hole larger (like you have), but wasn't sure it could be balanced. Sounds like you are onto something really good!

Again, excellent job! :applause:

BTW: Is that a King trailer?

//

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks. The rims & tires cost me $200/set of 4....I they add more that in coolness, not to mention they handle the salt better than the old steel white spokes.

Chevy rims are 4.5" lug centers and Ford (and most boat trailers) are 4.25". So measure carefully.

Not particularly worried about balancing, since the hole saw centered well and any changes are so close to center of rotation I doubt it will change it much...if any.

Easyloader trailer.

The only issue I found is that the lug bolt holes are recessed and require a breaker bar & socket to remove lug bolts. A normal lug bolt T/star wrench won't fit inside the recess. I consider my breaker bar & socket a security tool. But it needs to stay in the truck and not at home in the tool chest, if I expect to be able to change a flat.
Hunt'nFish

[Chrome Bumper]

Sooo, you don't have a hole saw the right sized for the lug bolt hole countebores?

[Hunt'nFish]

Oh yeah, probably have a piloted reamer here to open them up.
But, like I said, after thinking about it I kinda decided I liked the idea of needing a "special removal tool" to get the wheel off......security is a good thing. I had someone try and swipe one of my cheap white wheels at the launch during duck season. I can only image how much more inviting these alloy tire would look to a thief. Evidently they got spooked away and only loosened the bolts. Sadly they all fell out on the way home, accompanied by a KEER-THUD & sparks, as my tire passed me going down the highway. :passout:
Scwabey to the rescue!

Maybe this way, they won't get tampered w/ in the first place. Hopefully.
Hunt'nFish

PS: I suppose I could take my star wrench to the grinder and thin it a bit to fit the counter bored holes.
You know, that's probably a good idea.
I just know I'm going to take the breaker bar out of the truck for some project and forget to put it back.
You know.... Murphy at his best.

[wheatie]

Do you have plans for the old rims and tires?

[Lead Bouncer]

They do look nice. However, the meat you took off the center of the wheel, will reduce the strength of the wheel and more prone to cracking. Youll need to run a razor blade to detect a hairline crack, since they dont rust like steel. Proper torgue is required and it must be evenly distributed.

The clearance of the fenders wont allow tire chains in the snow.

[Soulakala]

In the future if your doing the hole saw deal first hole saw out a plug from a 1 inch thick board. Then glue this plug to a scrap board that spans the lug bolt holes, drill in two bolts thru the wheel lug holes and tighten with washers. Now you have the center hole for the drill solidly in place - drill away. If your watching your drilling this one plug will do a lot of wheels. However if your into 'Macho" drilling your going to need one for each wheel.