Today - New axle u-bolts installed, new tires and rims installed.
Let's face it. We all want whatever it is we pull behind us to be something we can be proud of. And if you're proud of your tow vehicle, and you have - what? 35's? I don't know...
Dear son-in-law (DSIL) caught me checking out his truck tires the other day. Super Swampers. And those ain't cheap. So when you do drive it around it's gotta matter, because who can afford to wear rubber on a daily driver? So you take the beater to work. Right? Most times.
And you don't necessarily want to pull a cutesy glamper around with a big, black Chevy on 35's, and what? 4" lift? 6"? Glamper's are for specific situations - and camping with friends and family in generally unimproved camp sites around Wyoming, certainly isn't one of those situations - necessarily.
No - most vintage campers around here might fit better in the modified setting, like I said earlier, back in the day we flipped the axles to outfit our cheap, used camp trailers for hunting camp.
So I was looking over his tires to see what I could find by way of affordable "copies".
Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about baby!
I started at a favorite local tire store. What can I get in this size that has mud tread? I was told I really had to size up from the originals 215x75R15 to 235x75R15 to get the tread. And you know, in that size and up, and in that tread and up, you are getting close to a couple hundred a piece! And we need a spare too!
So when the Big-O Bigfoot XT is offered as a choice, and because it's discontinued, and there's only two left in the country, and they are $100 each, well now my frugal ears perk up.
A week later we discover one of those was an inventory error, and this trailer ain't a unicycle!
Next choice.
I had been researching tires back ago when I was looking for new on my pickup, and I seem to recall good things expressed online about Hankooks. I think some call them Han-*****, but I think they are Han-Kooks, by way of pronunciation.
I did some more quick research and they seemed quite respected by owners. At $121 a piece, we're in the ball-park. And they were the original 215x75R15 size, something I was kind of attracted to for: tracking, general appearance (a little guy called Tow-Mater, trying out a new thing), lesser price than huge, and the visual. I didn't want the tire statement to be TOO great, just enough. And I'm satisfied I got it!
And when you have to buy a used tire (spare tire) for a little bit-o-coin anyway, and still pay for balancing and tax and stuff, and when the tire out back on the bumper is part of the statement, well, when you can, you just add a bit to the overall and get a third.
Hankook Dynapro MT.
Upon texting pictures DSIL said "Oooooooo meaty!!!"
And that's a good response! :)
Back when the wheels had been primed with rust reformer/converter, we located the paint. Rustoleum spray cans. My mainstay. Walmart called it Red Lobster Tail. The home center called it Allis Chalmer equipment orange. I think it's darn close to Husqvarna. Either way, it was a great choice for tomato-soup red.
Painting in process.
Done and waiting.
I had been waiting for the u-bolts, which arrived yesterday.
So those went on slick and quick.
They got torqued down. Note the spring pack centering bolt nut end fits into the spring plate center hole. And with the head end in the new hole drilled in the axle surface, that won't shift.
The new nuts are a combo lock washer. Nice, new, clean. Great confidence.
Then the wheel bearing pre-set was done and a new cotter pin.
The next couple of pics sent to DSIL elicited "Looks killer sweet!!!"
I think that's a positive statement. ;)
