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

Lantley
Nomad
Aug 04, 2013
Nothing like a happy ending. I experienced the exact same issue with my prior 11K GVW TT before upgrading to 16" rims and LT tires.
Thurbersfolks
Explorer
Aug 04, 2013
Its been a month or so but today I received a compensation check from Forest River Co. for the replacement of the broken wheels on my RV. My faith has been restored in Forest River RV.
64thunderbolt
Explorer II
Jun 30, 2013
nice to recoup some of the cost, good deal
Thurbersfolks
Explorer
Jun 30, 2013
Sold my 6 lug 12 X 2 drums today at a auto swap meet. Good to get those out of my shop.
Thurbersfolks
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013
Thanks for the info. Will keep the spare for each, TT and TV.It was a good thought anyway.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2013
Don't assume a 8 lug truck wheel centers will go over a trailers 8 lug hub.

I was going to use a extra 16" chevy 6 lug wheel as a spare for my 10k car hauler but the center hole in the truck wheel was too small.

Check them first at home rather than on the road.
64thunderbolt
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2013
mapguy wrote:
64thunderbolt wrote:
probably not much diff in cost . So go big & be comfortable. I would have done the same.

If OP's axles were T60/D60 AlKo "go big" in this case would be 2 more lug nuts and a slightly larger outer bearing. The original drums would've handled a 7k brake lining -if they weren't already 7k rated friction material.

Biggest thing is getting rid of the questionable capacity 15" size stuff.

Hope the OP has luck getting some reimbursment from OEM.

Oh well, I still agree with his decision. Now he's comfortable.
mapguy
Explorer
Jun 26, 2013
BobWanderer wrote:
I fully understand the offset differences, it would only be used if I had a second tire failure or 2 at once and only to get to a tire shop.
I have an extra spare for both truck and trailer as it is, so it doesn't matter to me.

Bob, I agree - in an emergency would not hesitate to use a +29mm offset wheel. Definitely would not use in normal duty though.
BobWanderer
Explorer
Jun 26, 2013
I fully understand the offset differences, it would only be used if I had a second tire failure or 2 at once and only to get to a tire shop.
I have an extra spare for both truck and trailer as it is, so it doesn't matter to me.
Thurbersfolks
Explorer
Jun 26, 2013
Good info here. Thanks for enlightening me on the differences in these wheels.

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