Couple questions about wheels, and axles on my rig

[Ride Fly]

First question I have is “how can I tell if my current wheel will fit the stock spare tire rack”? My rig doesn’t have a spare, and the wheels are 15x7 Enkies from a mid-to-late 90s 4Runner/Tacoma. It was powder coated black and has BFG AT 31x10.5x15. I found a couple of used wheels on eBay but I’m not sure if they’ll fit the spare rack bolts. I was thinking I could get longer bolts if needed, but then I took a look at the back of the rack and there is no way to remove those bolts as they are welded in place, as well as the backing plate is partially welded over the bolts. This leads to my second question which initially led me to question whether the Enkies would fit the stock rack bolts. My wheels stick out about 3” from the wheel well. Initially I thought it was the tire size and wheel combo. But I went to my Les Schwab dealer and he said it looked to him that the axles might be wider than stock. Would like the experts here to opine on that on. Here are some pics. Let me know if other pics would help. TIA!

 

[pbgbottle]

Have you taken a wheel off and tried. That might be the best way to find out
Looks like there may also be a spacer behind the wheel.

 

[jim land]

You probably need the same spacer for the spare too

 

[imyahucklbrry]

33x12.50.... pushin it some but they fit (til I get my steelies finished that is!)

 

[Ride Fly]

Have you taken a wheel off and tried. That might be the best way to find out
Looks like there may also be a spacer behind the wheel.

Haven’t taken the wheel off. I suppose I should do that before making the purchase of the spare wheel. Assuming that a spacer is what is causing the wheel to stick out, which was my concern whether the current bolts would be long enough, I wouldn’t want them on the rack would I?? I was flummoxed because the 15x7 Enkie wheel is 1” narrower than the commonly used 15x8 Jackman wagon wheel. If the Jackman wheel fits, the Enkie should fit too. But since it stuck out of the wells, I started to question my logic.

 

[Ride Fly]

33x12.50.... pushin it some but they fit (til I get my steelies finished that is!)

Are you using the stock length bolts? How close is the spare tire to the metal on the body? Thanks!

 

[imyahucklbrry]

Are you using the stock length bolts? How close is the spare tire to the metal on the body? Thanks!

Bolts are stock length... I’m not home right now or I’d shoot a picture but the tire does mash up against the carrier a little... tight fit!

 

[jim land]

stock wheel and most wagon wheel are 3.5 backspacing , your wheels are more likely 4'' or 4.5'' BS , this is the problem

 

[imyahucklbrry]

I’m almost finished restoring my steelies and switching to 33x10.5 BFGs... you weren’t so dang far away, I make you great deal on my current wheel/tire combo

 

[Ride Fly]

stock wheel and most wagon wheel are 3.5 backspacing , your wheels are more likely 4'' or 4.5'' BS , this is the problem

Thanks for the clarification Jim! I’ll ask the seller on eBay what the back spacing is. If it is 4”, would it fit? 4.5” a definite no?

If it doesn’t fit, rather than jump through huge hoops, I’m inclined to buy 5 new Jackman style wheels and Wild Country tires from Les Schwab. I’d like to get the tires to tuck into the wells anyways. Maybe I can go taller and skinnier to get the look hat I like.

 

[jim land]

stock steelies with hub cap and 33x10.5 is a classic

 

[shawnfj40]

Any backspacing will fit if you use the right wheel spacer. Thats what you have right now. If you are buying a spare rim I suggest you get one with the proper backspacing (like a stock steel rim).

 

[Ride Fly]

Any backspacing will fit if you use the right wheel spacer. Thats what you have right now. If you are buying a spare rim I suggest you get one with the proper backspacing (like a stock steel rim).

The point would be to get a matching spare. If I can’t make it work with a matching spare on the current rack, I’ll likely get 5 white Jackman style wagon wheels and tall tires.

I’m almost finished restoring my steelies and switching to 33x10.5 BFGs... you weren’t so dang far away, I make you great deal on my current wheel/tire combo

I’ll take your steelies and 10.5s! 12.5s are too wide for my tastes.

stock steelies with hub cap and 33x10.5 is a classic

Where is the best/cheapest place to buy steelies and wagon wheels? I know Les Schwab carries them but haven’t called to ask for the price. I think I’ll do that today.

 

[imyahucklbrry]

You can still get wheels from Toyota... Also, @Racer65 has them on his website - they’re 16” which gives you more tire options: 16" Wheels / Rims for Land Cruiser FJ40 FJ45 FJ60 70 Series

 

[Ride Fly]

Ok, the eBay seller told me the wheel has a +12mm offset. Given that it is a 7” wide wheel, the centerline is 3.5” plus 12mm or .5” means I need 4” for the wheel to fit on the rack if there was zero rubber extending from the edge of the rim. However, that isn’t the case so I tried measuring the rubber protrusion. I couldn’t get an accurate measurement of the rubber extension from the inside but assuming but it is the same for the outside, the rubber extends 1”. That means, I need a distance of 5” to have the rubber flush with parts of the rack. Of course, greater than 5” is preferred. However, measuring the distance from the most restrictive bar to the edge of the bolt mounts, it is 4.75”. Looking at the bolts, would it still work with the 1/4” to 1/2” excess space between the back of the rim and the mounting plate? Would I need spacers? Do I have enough bolt length?

Here are some more pics to give you an idea what I’m talking about. Thanks bubbas for your inputs so far.

 

[shawnfj40]

A loose rule of thumb for you is, if you need a spacer to run a rim, you prolly need a spacer to hang those same rims on a stock carrier.

 

[cruiserkev]

Yep, get a spacer for your spare carrier and look for a rim from a late 90's Tacoma or 4 runner. They'll match your Enkies pretty well when painted black. Backspacing changed a bit from the 70s to the 90s. Once I swapped wheels between my 40 and Tacoma, just to see if it would work. While they physically fit, the front Tacoma rims rubbed the Disc brake caliper on the 40, hence the need for the spacer. Good luck!

 

[UltraFJ40]

All 40 wheels are 6 x 139.7, the same as all Toyota trucks up until 98. That's when they switched to 5 on 150. The studs for the rack might be the only difference but 6 x 139.7, If I remember correctly.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

All 40 wheels are 6 x 139.7, the same as all Toyota trucks up until 98. That's when they switched to 5 on 150. The studs for the rack might be the only difference but 6 x 139.7, If I remember correctly.

Damn, the monkey left chit-chat!!!

Hide your tools y’all!!!!!

 

[UltraFJ40]

Damn, the monkey left chit-chat!!!

Hide your tools y’all!!!!!

Please leave your outside lights on, I'm getting old and can see very well at night anymore.