I just finished a 8000 mile road trip around the US. Broke all of the original wheels at the weld on the rim to lug center. I was running 6 lug 15" wheels and weighed in at 10400 lbs. which was the max on the wheels. Each was stamped 2600 lbs. I was able to go to an 8 lug hub on the same axle. I checked with the Company, AL-CO, and they said that would be fine if total trailer weight did not exceed GVW on the tag. After changing out to bigger , heavier wheels, drums, tires everything now is fine. I feel Forest River undersized the wheels. Trailer just a year old. Who gets the bill? I do because knowone will except responsibility.

I broke 3 steel wheels on My Thor Wanderer, 2 originals and one replacement.2 at the welds and one at the bead area. Just like tires, they put the cheapest junk they can get on these rigs. The steel 16" wheels on there now are rated @ 3,500 #'s each.

Thanks for the input. I have a BP Sandstorm 28' Forest River toyhauler. Great trailer too, and not as much wear on the 16" tires and wheels either. Wore a set of the 15" tires out in less than 10,000 miles.

Raceline makes heavier rated aluminum rims in a 15" diameter 6-lug which can be purchased at Les Schwab locally. This is a good option if your tires do not need to be replaced. My Weekend Warrior ran dual 5600 lb axles and started showing signs of fatigue in the OEM rim's cutout pattern less than a year after I replaced all the original tires due to wear. It was typically carrying close 11,000 lbs on the axles when we were fully loaded with water, supplies and toys.

I called AL-KO who is the axle manufacture of these axles and confirmed their fix was ok and going from 6 lug 15" to 8 lug 16" on these axles is fine. The 16" rim is rated at 3500 lbs. As long as I stay under the 11800 GVW of the trailer I will be fine.

Wow! I have a 2010 BP 27tbl Sandstorm I have had for 3 years now and just replaced the tires and I am still using the same 15 inch rims. Seems identical to mine in terms of trailer weights. Sounds like defective rims to me.

Broken Wheels | Good Sam Community

63 Replies

Bedlam
Moderator
Jun 19, 2013
Raceline makes heavier rated aluminum rims in a 15" diameter 6-lug which can be purchased at Les Schwab locally. This is a good option if your tires do not need to be replaced. My Weekend Warrior ran dual 5600 lb axles and started showing signs of fatigue in the OEM rim's cutout pattern less than a year after I replaced all the original tires due to wear. It was typically carrying close 11,000 lbs on the axles when we were fully loaded with water, supplies and toys.
Thurbersfolks
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
Thanks for the input. I have a BP Sandstorm 28' Forest River toyhauler. Great trailer too, and not as much wear on the 16" tires and wheels either. Wore a set of the 15" tires out in less than 10,000 miles.
BobWanderer
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
I broke 3 steel wheels on My Thor Wanderer, 2 originals and one replacement.
2 at the welds and one at the bead area. Just like tires, they put the cheapest junk they can get on these rigs. The steel 16" wheels on there now are rated @ 3,500 #'s each.

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Broken Wheels

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