Tires too big for wheelwell

[ice2fire]

A friend (really !) has a Rockwood MiniLite 2109. Forest River. It has a torsion type suspension. He has four tires installed that are ST205/75R14, load range C. Psi = 50 lbs. These are the recommended tire sizes as specified on the manufacturer's label on the outside wall of the trailer. His trailer has a GVWR of 4777lbs. The rims are 5.5".

Trouble is, there is only about 0.25" between the top of the tire and the underneath of the wheel well. On driving to Alaska, one tire gradually rubbed away the wheel well so that dirt and stones got inside the trailer.

I looked at the connection between the torsion unit and the I beam, and it doesn't look very amenable to adjustment.

It looks like the only solution would be to go to 13" rims ?

Comments or suggestions gratefull received. Thanks.

[MitchF150]

Here is how my Dexter torsion suspension is setup. I have probably 6" + of space between the top of the tire and the wheel well.



I also have the 13" tires. I think they are 175/80/13 but are load range D. More than enough for my #5000 GVWR trailer. The original tires were the same size, but only load range B..



Good luck!

Mitch

[WDP]

Here is a link to the Forest River Forum, seems FR and Dexter were (are) having a similar problem and yours may be handled by the manufacturers.
Forest River Forums

WDP

[westend]

If you bolt in a spacer of 2" x 2"-1/8" tube over the axle mounts and are literate with a measuring device, you can bolt it all up into the same holes. For an application like this, I'd probably break out the welder.

[ice2fire]

goducks10 wrote:
Depending on the frame make Dexter makes spacers that bolt on. You can also change the angle on the torsion axles. Looks like they have the wrong degree setting on the axles. Not sure of what style Dexter or if any of this will work, but worth a try.
http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/Trailer_Axle_Resources/Torflex_Information.pdf
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/371159764433?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

Thanks to you and 3oaks. Having spring leafs on my own treailers, I wasn't aware of this potential problem with torsion suspension. I've passed on all the good info from this forum to my PhD friends ! Thanks everyone.

[ice2fire]

Re:
"To the original poster. Your "friend" should have not taken the trailer anywhere with only a 1/4" clearance between the top of the tire and the wheel well, let alone traveling to Alaska."

I agree. Husband and wife both have PhD's in the arts. Lovely couple, but just not very experienced trailer wise.

If the torsion is set at the wrong angle, shame on the installer.

[3oaks]

goducks10 wrote:
Depending on the frame make Dexter makes spacers that bolt on. You can also change the angle on the torsion axles. Looks like they have the wrong degree setting on the axles. Not sure of what style Dexter or if any of this will work, but worth a try.
http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/Trailer_Axle_Resources/Torflex_Information.pdf
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/371159764433?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

You got there before I did and provided the specific information. My first thoughts were that the torsion suspension was set to the wrong degree for this particular trailer.

To the original poster. Your "friend" should have not taken the trailer anywhere with only a 1/4" clearance between the top of the tire and the wheel well, let alone traveling to Alaska.

[goducks10]

Depending on the frame make Dexter makes spacers that bolt on. You can also change the angle on the torsion axles. Looks like they have the wrong degree setting on the axles. Not sure of what style Dexter or if any of this will work, but worth a try.
http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/Trailer_Axle_Resources/Torflex_Information.pdf
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/371159764433?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

[ice2fire]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Spacers per Dexter/etc is a good point.
Rubber in a torsion axle can weaken letting the trailer down closing the gap on top of the tire.

Also ST205/75-14 C has 1760 lbs capacity X four = 7040 lbs capacity. The 4777 GVWR trailer need 1120 lb per tire as a minimum. Sounds like the trailer may have the wrong size wheels/tires.
A ST175/80-13" C tire would give the 4777 GVWR trailer a 20 percent reserve capacity.
Sometimes more isn't better.

Agree, however:

ST175/80/13 vs ST 205/75R/14: How much higher is a 80 compared to a 75 ? i.e. going from 14" to 13", you gain 1". But how much do you loose by going to a 80 as opposed to a 75 ?

I think an ideal would be 185/75R/14. I will have to see if they are made.

[Huntindog]

ice2fire wrote:

westend wrote:
Spacers under the torsion axle mounts would be an easy fix, IMO.

I looked at this. NOT so easy IMHO. Not as secure as now. Need new holes drilling right alongside existing holes, thus weakening fixture.

The ones I have seen done basically built a frame under the frame. Very strong, and the existing holes are not an issue.

[beemerphile1]

Weigh the trailer and compare to the GVWR.

[ice2fire]

westend wrote:
Spacers under the torsion axle mounts would be an easy fix, IMO.

I looked at this. NOT so easy IMHO. Not as secure as now. Need new holes drilling right alongside existing holes, thus weakening fixture.

[JIMNLIN]

Spacers per Dexter/etc is a good point.
Rubber in a torsion axle can weaken letting the trailer down closing the gap on top of the tire.

Also ST205/75-14 C has 1760 lbs capacity X four = 7040 lbs capacity. The 4777 GVWR trailer need 1120 lb per tire as a minimum. Sounds like the trailer may have the wrong size wheels/tires.
A ST175/80-13" C tire would give the 4777 GVWR trailer a 20 percent reserve capacity.
Sometimes more isn't better.

[westend]

Spacers under the torsion axle mounts would be an easy fix, IMO.