Grimy Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 I'm helping a friend prepare to transport his 1948 Spartan Manor travel trailer (single axle, 25' long) 300 miles to a semi-permanent location. Original wheels are 15-inch 2-piece "widow-maker" truck wheels, 5 on 5.5 (five bolts, 5.5" bolt circle, 4.0" pilot hole) with **9/16"** wheel bolts. The etrailer white-spoke design is OK because authenticity is not a consideration, but the 9/16 bolts are the unresolved problem: there just aren't any that I've been able to find so far--1/2" is the largest size available. Changing hubs might be even worse. Does anyone have any truck wheel interchange information to get us to a single-piece wheel? Again, 15-inch (there's clearance to go to 16" if other parameters are met, but 5-bolt 16" wheels are hens' teeth), 5 on 5.5 bolt circle, 4.0 (or 4.25) pilot hole, WITH 9/16 BOLT HOLES. Thanks in advance for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) The Hollander gives interchanges but not bolt sizes or centre opening sizes. Buick '34-35 ser. 50 had 16x4.5 on 5/5.5". The same spec. was an option on some Graham of the same years. '33 Chrysler CT, Lt 8 had 15x5.5, 5/5.5". Wire or wood. Buick '38 60 had 15x5.5, 5/5.5". Disc. Buick '36 60, 80 15x5 or 15x5.5 on 5/5.5. Steel. Chrysler '41-48 C30, 33, 36, 37, 39. " '46-48 6 7 pass. 15" De Soto '46-48 7 pass. 15" Dodge '46-48 7 pass. 15" all had 15x5 or 15x5.5 on 5/5.5" Steel Mercury '41-48 15x5 5/5.5" Disc. Lincoln '42-48 15x5 5/5.5. Steel Mercury '49-51 15x5.5 5/5.5" . Disc. Lincoln '49. Chrysler '49-50 8 cyl. 47, 50; 15x6.5. Chrysler '49-50 C45, 46, 48, 49, 7 pass.; DeSoto D14, 7 pass.; Dodge D34, 7 pass. 15x6. Steel and that's it from 1952! They don't make this easy. Edited July 25, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 Thank you, Spinneyhill, I appreciate your research. I'm leaning toward TRUCK wheels which would work, given the 9/16" wheel bolt holes required. Even my >5,000 lb 1930s Pierces use 1/2-20 wheel fasteners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 None of the truck wheels shown are any good. Usually too big or too many bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 Agree, the 5 wheel bolt factor is the killer. Even 1-ton trucks of the vintage have 6 or 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 5 on 5.5 is Ford 1/2 ton truck isn't it? Could the holes be bored out? Even if this is not possible on a "stock" type rim, possibly some aftermarket HEAVY (overweight) pickup wheels, like the white spokes that are just thick flat steel at the center, or maybe some aftermarket alloy wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 I was just about to ask about boring out the holes on the white spokes - it's not like you are going to go cross country or tow it much. Barring that, if you have the original wheels most big truck repair places (at least around here) still have a cage in the corner "just in case" and will install new tires and tubes for you .... probably won't be cheap. The last one I had done was at a local garage and he had quoted me $10. When I picked it up he told me up front the next one would be closer to $40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13CADDY Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Grimy, did you look at foreign truck wheels--Nissan or Toyota--2wd--been out of the junk business to long, one was 5 lug, one was 6 lug--just a idea for you--Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Trailers put a lot of stress on their wheels, so they are usually heavier than a car wheel. This may account for the larger bolts as well. Whether a truck wheel is strong enough is a good question, you won't go wrong using trailer wheels. When you say semi permanent does that mean you won't need good wheels or tires after the trip? If that is the case maybe a trailer dealer will rent you some wheels. Or a professional mobile home transporter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 (edited) Thank you very much, gents. Yes, this will be a one-way trip where my friend will live in the trailer while building a second home, after which the Spartan will become guest quarters. As I mentioned, the 9/16 bolts are the problem, as easily available trailer wheels with generous weight limits are bored for 1/2-20 bolts/studs.. I proposed drilling out the trailer-duty white spokes to Customer Service at etrailer.com and was advised against it--but that may be legal CYA on their part. This is a single-axle trailer of about 4,500 lbs, currently with NO spare, and I clearly need one. I agreed to tow the Spartan to its new home with my F-350 diesel DRW, but only if we have decent wheels and tires. My friend is willing to buy trailer-spec tires, 13CADDY, I'll research foreign truck wheels, thank you--hadn't thought of that. Bloo, postwar Ford pickup is a possibility too, but Hollanders doesn't show bolt size. Once we find suitable wheels, I'll check clearances and get trailer tires to suit. I'll look at the spare trailer white-spoke wheels (15-inch) for one of my car trailers and see how much meat is left should I bore out readily available similar wheels. I'm DEFINITELY not running over 55 mph! I REALLY appreciate your help! This started out to be a simple task but isn't due to the 9/16 bolts. BTW, I have tasked my friend with contacting other Spartan owners for their wheel solutions. Edited July 26, 2019 by Grimy added one sentence (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeleh Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 You might be further ahead to just replace the entire axle. I’m sure you can find a second hand axle complete with electric brakes from someone dismantling a modern junk RV trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Maybe the best answer would be to have new trailer tires installed on the original wheels. Any good tire shop should be able to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Grimy said: Bloo, postwar Ford pickup is a possibility too, but Hollanders doesn't show bolt size. I don't believe the studs are as big as you want, however Fords of that period (60s, 70s) in general used bigger (larger hex) nuts than similar Mopars, etc. on the same size stud, and so the holes on a Ford wheel may be bigger than expected. It wouldn't surprise me if they went on without drilling. The 4" pilot hole might be a problem. but I'll bet aftermarket white spokes would have a huge center hole. Edited July 26, 2019 by Bloo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Grimy said: postwar Ford pickup is a possibility too, Maybe after 1952, else The Hollander 1952 would have said so. There were some, but 16" from memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 Thank you, gents. Drilling looks like the best solution now, if there's enough meat--but I will check out foreign truck wheels. Will have to taper the new holes as well. I need one spare (one additional wheel), but believe me, at this stage, the two original wheels are a real possibility. Aftermarket white spoke of sufficient capacity have 4.25" pilot hole, which will work. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the ideas and support on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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