16" Axle/Wheel Suggestions

[Heckraiser]

Hi Folks,

The wife and I just picked up our Hiker trailer last week. It's basically a teardrop concept without the teardrop shape. I plan to modify it for mild/moderate offroad use. Item number one on the agenda is replacing the axle and wheels/tires. I ordered the trailer with a wimpy 2000# axle knowing I was going to have to do mess around with this stuff.

Anyhoo, I want to run either 235/85r16 or 255/85r16 tires. Problem is, I can't find any 16" skinny wheels with a 5x4.5 lug pattern for the 3500# axle I plan to go with. There are some skinny 16" trailer wheels in 6 lug, but seems you need a 5000# axle or more to get 6 lugs. My trailer weights about 800 pounds, maybe 1200 loaded to the gills.

There are plenty of 16" car wheels available at the junkyard, but would probably require a custom length axle or spacers due to offset.

I do have a welder and could do one of those "weld your own spindle" kits to get a custom length, but I'd rather buy an axle ready to go if I have the option.

Any suggestions? Any harm in running a 5000# axle on a tiny trailer? Any good suggestions for a 5-lug 16" wheel that will work on a trailer?

Sorry for the noob-ness.

 

[Heckraiser]

Nevermind, found a place where I can get a custom length and 6-bolt hub on a 3500# axle for $120. That'll work! Standard 16" trailer wheels with skinny tires oughta bolt right up.

3,500 lb. Standard Spring Trailer Axle

 

[greentruck]

Nevermind, found a place where I can get a custom length and 6-bolt hub on a 3500# axle for $120. That'll work! Standard 16" trailer wheels with skinny tires oughta bolt right up.

3,500 lb. Standard Spring Trailer Axle

Dexter is the way to go. But you'll probably want to upgrade it from the base model.

They should be able to set you up with the Landcruiser bolt pattern, as I've looked into this before and just not gotten around to the upgrade myself.

You're in or close to the mountains, so a braked axle is a very good idea. There's also an option with a handbrake, another good idea for a small trailer that might need unhitched handling on the trail.

IIRC, getting what I needed to put under our M101 CDN would be in the ~$350 range. IIRC Redneck Trailer was another vendor that can help with these if that's closer than Southwest is (who I've also used).

You know what spring perches/system you're hooking up to, so that is also part of the spec depending on the need for any options beyond a leaf spring pack.

Get it spec-ed the way you want when ordered, as it's quite a bit cheaper doing it this way than ordering brakes to add on later.

 

[aktundra]

I have a pair of spacers that convert 5 x 5.5 to 6 x5.5 if that works into your mix