Any issues with 19.5 wheels???

BigBlockTank wrote:

Have you had issues with a 19.5 wheel, or are you just here to up your post count? Or some other agenda?

Q1: No for steel wheels. Yes for Aluminum wheel.
Q2: No.
Q3: No.

2000 Thor Hurricane

rgatijnet1 wrote:

BigBlockTank wrote:

And your attempt to make me feel like a dummy? Ok, I'm a dummy because I think the wheels aren't strong enough for 20,000lbs. That's my thought, nobody else's.

So, back to the original question, have you had issues with a 19.5 wheel, or are you just here to up your post count? Or some other agenda?

I've had that size on several RV's and commercial trucks with no problems. Fed-X and UPS have also have been using that size wheel on their delivery trucks for decades. I have yet to see one of their trucks with aluminum wheels. Those wheels can handle the 20,000 pound load as proven by millions of examples. As far as what you can do to prevent it.....nothing if the previous owner damaged the wheel by hitting a curb, which is one of the easiest ways to bend a wheel.

You appear to be a person that needs to win a disagreement, so you win, I'm a dumb a$$. Feel better?

People have been killing others for centuries, that doesn't make it right, does it? And FedEx and UPS trucks don't weigh near 20,000lbs now do they? McDonald's is still serving fattening food, doesn't make that right either, does it? Are you starting to smell what I'm stepping in here, Einstein?

I don't care what any previous owner has done in the past, I can't do anything about it. What I can do, is pay attention to what I do.

Are we cool now? Remember, you win, I'm a dummy.....

BigBlockTank wrote:

And your attempt to make me feel like a dummy? Ok, I'm a dummy because I think the wheels aren't strong enough for 20,000lbs. That's my thought, nobody else's.

So, back to the original question, have you had issues with a 19.5 wheel, or are you just here to up your post count? Or some other agenda?

I've had that size on several RV's and commercial trucks with no problems. Fed-X and UPS have also have been using that size wheel on their delivery trucks for decades. I have yet to see one of their trucks with aluminum wheels. Those wheels can handle the 20,000 pound load as proven by millions of examples. As far as what you can do to prevent it.....nothing if the previous owner damaged the wheel by hitting a curb, which is one of the easiest ways to bend a wheel.

I cracked a high dollar forged aluminum wheel when I hit a pothole on I-40 east of Knoxville, TN.

Aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, etc. - you hit a bad pothole, etc. and you can damage a wheel. The stiffness of the 19.5" tire has very little flex.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

BigBlockTank wrote:


From my experience, I kinda know that those 19.5 steel wheels are just too small for this motorhome and it's weight.
Thanks in advance, Tank

Some of us actually read the original post and make our determination of what to reply by what the OP says. This sentence from your original post sort of says that you are very experienced and that you came to a completely false conclusion.
19.5" wheels are definitely strong enough to handle the load of your coach. This has been proven with tens of thousands of various vehicles using steel 19.5" wheels for decades.
Manufacturing quality issues on certain wheels, built by a particular company, are an entirely different subject and could happen on ANY wheel, aluminum or steel. The material used DOES NOT guaranty anything. The equipment and operator does.

Everything that I wrote in the first post, and this is all that you grabbed on to? Everything I wrote, and that's it......

And your attempt to make me feel like a dummy? Ok, I'm a dummy because I think the wheels aren't strong enough for 20,000lbs. That's my thought, nobody else's.

So, back to the original question, have you had issues with a 19.5 wheel, or are you just here to up your post count? Or some other agenda?

BigBlockTank wrote:


From my experience, I kinda know that those 19.5 steel wheels are just too small for this motorhome and it's weight.
Thanks in advance, Tank

Some of us actually read the original post and make our determination of what to reply by what the OP says. This sentence from your original post sort of says that you are very experienced and that you came to a completely false conclusion.
19.5" wheels are definitely strong enough to handle the load of your coach. This has been proven with tens of thousands of various vehicles using steel 19.5" wheels for decades.
Manufacturing quality issues on certain wheels, built by a particular company, are an entirely different subject and could happen on ANY wheel, aluminum or steel. The material used DOES NOT guaranty anything. The equipment and operator does.

chili's trip wrote:
I read these replies to the poster's question with interest. I too have 19.5" wheels and suffered no problems over 35,000 miles. (second Owner) I hate to say it but Tank had his mind made up before he posted. Id like to say thanks for the feed back provided. I appreciated your efforts! Thanks.
Jack H

Not neccessarily true. I was hoping for some experience with this issue, but it seems that almost everybody wanted to clown on me, and poke fun. I thought this was an adult forum, but just like the rest of them, I was wrong. And to be honest, I'm a little disappointed. Like anybody wouldn't know the rim would bend when you hit a pole/tree/ or whatever? Really?

I did other research, outside of this forum, and found that there is an issue with some of the 19.5's that were made around the time my coach was built. The rims had a bad out of round problem during this time. I know if one of my rims are bent, somebody hit something, at one time or another. I think we all know that.

After reading a lot of informational posts elswhere, That's when I decided to get the aluminum rims, because the steel replacements are over $200 each. And, I felt like I"d have the same damn problem again. The steel wheel are made to a tolerance of .XX, and the aluminum ones are .XXX, that makes a very big difference at 65MPH in a 20,000lb vehicle.

I guess since I had an issue that I was really asking for any experience, and I needed some good advice, and experienced help, I think that's what made me disappointed the most. I see a post when somebody is having a problem, and I'll give the best advice from my experience, I don't post just to be posting, I actually try to help, and that's what I kinda expected from this group. But, now I know.

Thanks again to all those that gave it the old college attempt to help, I appreciate it.

I read these replies to the poster's question with interest. I too have 19.5" wheels and suffered no problems over 35,000 miles. (second Owner) I hate to say it but Tank had his mind made up before he posted. Id like to say thanks for the feed back provided. I appreciated your efforts! Thanks.
Jack H

I have determined that I don't like the steel wheels, just like a lot of others that own them. I have bought a set of 4 aluminum wheels, and will have new tires put on when they get here, in a few days. Thanks for the answers. I'm out.....

BigBlockTank

Gjac wrote:

BigBlockTank wrote:

Gjac wrote:

BigBlockTank wrote:
The question is, have you had issues with these wheels? If you have, what did you do to correct it, and prevent it from happening again?

Whatever happened previously has happened, and can't be changed. What have YOU done to fix the problem, or to prevent it from happening again. That is the question.....Thanks

I had one issue with my wheel when I hit a pot hole in Alaska and bent the rim on the MH and the tow car. I straitened the rim on the tow car with a hammer easily. The MH 19.5 rim was a lot harder to straighten but straightened it enough to return home then used it for a spare. Having said that the same thing would have occurred on a 22.5 in steel or Al rim. Steel is easier to reform than cast Al. The steel rim is a stamping and less accurate than a machined Al rim. + or - .030 vs + or - .005. Are you concerned about the accuracy of the rim itself?

Wow, that was a great response, and, mighty helpful too. Just so I don't get it wrong, are you telling me that if I'm going to be hittign poles, I should have the steel wheels, and not aluminum? I don't want to misunderstand your instructions here......

hahahaha made me laugh, good one!!

Stamped steel is a lot stronger than cast Al. If you truly have bent wheels I would check your ride height, if low that could be your problem. I don't know what kind of front end suspension you have but with the IFS and low ride height, the stops hit hard against the upper A arm when you go over a bump or pot hole and can bend the wheel. I would hate to see you crack you new Al wheels so I would check that first before you put them on.

You did see that this about my 2003 Flair MOTORHOME right? Were you aware that this model Ford chassis has a straight front axle?