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need to beef up utility trailer for offroad

Posted By: magspa

need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/04/15 05:40 PM

When we had my son I traded my regular cab truck for an SUV (Xterra). Which i realy like, y 2dog kennel fits perfectly in the back for bird hunting. But not so good for big game hunting. So i bought this utility trailer to haul animals http://www.lowes.com/pd_253168-15476-3.5X5LSHS_4294641555__?productId=3680952&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

Well I used friday and saturday for a public refuge hunt. And as suspected - one light broke, one light completely fell off, and one tire is almost flat. The road to the refuge has TONS of potholes, and the refuge is caliche. I have been searching online and cannot find any 12"offroad tires, other than atv tires. Would those work? I did come across radial tires to replace the ply, but not sure they would be much better.Im thinking these tires would also help with cushioning for less impact with the light situation. Please offer some suggestions. thanks
Posted By: CharlieCTx

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 12:10 AM

The ATV tires most likely won't have the speed rating you'll need for highway use. Find a Northern store by you and look over several different tire/rim combos a size or 2 larger.

Charlie
Posted By: SouthWestIron

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by CharlieCTx
The ATV tires most likely won't have the speed rating you'll need for highway use. Find a Northern store by you and look over several different tire/rim combos a size or 2 larger.

Charlie


Also use trailer tires and do some research. I've heard of people using LT instead of ST tires just dont use a passenger car or atv tire on a trailer.
Posted By: Shotgun Willie

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 06:30 AM

You can always step up the size on the wheel, which would get you into a much wider selection of tires. It looks like the fenders would be easily cut off and either re-welded higher, or bigger fenders put on, for more clearance.

There's also the axle flip, rotate the axle from over the leaves to under them, lifts the trailer to keep it from dragging and allows for bigger tires. I did that on my 6.5x12 Big Tex.

As for the lights, mount a couple of THESE up high where they won't get hit, fill them with a couple LED trailer lights with soldered connections, and never have to mess with them again.
Posted By: BigPig

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 02:03 PM

I'm thinking if you flipped the axle and put on a LT tire it will fix a few things. It going to allow the trailer to roll easier, will soak up pot holes easier then 12inch tires, they are plentiful, and the extra height should keep the lights from dragging through the brush and being broken
Posted By: magspa

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 04:16 PM

Thanks for the suggestions and steel light bracket link. I have looked into the spring over axle kit and really want to do that but cant find one for a #2000 axle. Im thinking of 14" wheels. I found LT 14.5 tires. Would my axle be wide enough for this set-up, if i can find the spring over axle kit? thanks again
Posted By: TxAg

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 04:40 PM

I'm guessing you have a 4-bolt pattern? You don't have many options with those 12" tires. But, you can step up to a 13" wheel and tire that will bolt right up and give you a significantly larger (more ground clearance) and tougher tire. Northern tool sells the 13" tires on 4-bolt wheels, here:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200417227_200417227

Added benefit is that it's hard to flat-fix the 12" tires since they are so narrow. The 13" tires, however, can be fixed like normal.

Just check your fender clearance and relocate if necessary.

I did this on a small 4x8 trailer I used to own, helped considerably.
Posted By: magspa

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 05:43 PM

There are 5 lug nuts.
Posted By: TxAg

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 09:24 PM

Even better. Will be very easy to step up your tire size, same tire is offered on a 5-lug wheel. Only limitation is axle width as you mention above. But, those 13" tires should clear fine.

If you really want to get crazy with a wider tire, they do make wheel spacers. Puts a bit more load on the hubs, but might be worth it.
Posted By: Shotgun Willie

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/06/15 11:39 PM

There isn't a kit for the axle flip. When I did mine, I pulled the axle out from under the trailer, pulled the leaf springs off, flipped the centering pin on the leaf springs from facing up, to facing down (they just unbolt) and then bolted everything back together with the axle under the leaves. Nothing to it, only took about an hour with air tools.

As far as the larger tires fitting, just make sure you get a wheel with the same or slightly less backspace. It really shouldn't be an issue. I went from the small 15x6 wheels with tiny tires up to a 15x8 with 31x10.5 without any problems at all.
Posted By: magspa

Re: need to beef up utility trailer for offroad - 01/07/15 11:34 AM

thanks shotgunwillie. That makes it much easier. I think im going to go with 14" wheel and the toughest trailer tire i can find or a 14.5 LT tire. I may also get it galvanized (depending on price), living so close to the coast. thanks
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