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interstateflyer · 08-01-2013, 11:56 AM

I recently replaced the 15 inch Goodyear Marathons with 16 inch Michelins on my 2013 International 19.

The drop down spare carrier underneath the front of the trailer needs to be modified to accept the new tire. The 16 is thicker and of greater diameter than the 15. I've bent the side rods to accept the 16 but the tire hits the trailer underbelly so doesn't allow the carrier to engage.

Has anyone here modified their carrier and if so how? Thanks.

m.hony · 08-01-2013, 12:31 PM

Is it necessary to have a 16" spare? Our previous trailer had 15" wheels on the ground, but a 14" spare! My Tundra has 20's on the ground, but a 17" spare. My Pathfinder has 16's on the ground and a 16" spare, but it is a different wheel.
When I had a flat on the previous trailer I felt like I had to fix it right away. I was afraid to drive around with different size wheels/tires.

interstateflyer · 08-01-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Is it necessary to have a 16" spare? Our previous trailer had 15" wheels on the ground, but a 14" spare! My Tundra has 20's on the ground, but a 17" spare. My Pathfinder has 16's on the ground and a 16" spare, but it is a different wheel.
When I had a flat on the previous trailer I felt like I had to fix it right away. I was afraid to drive around with different size wheels/tires.

Mine is a single axle 19.

I'm not sure that I want to travel any distance in the rather unpopulated West with a 16 tire on one side and a 15 tire on the other. I already have the 16 spare.

btw.....my 2013 RAM 1500 has 20 on the ground and a 17 inch spare......BUT....while the spare wheel is 17 the tire diameter is 20. That seems to be the way they do it these days.

BAB · 08-01-2013, 07:18 PM

I went to the 16" wheels and Michelin LT's within 60 days of delivery of my 2012. I ordered 5 wheels and tires. Probably overkill to have spent the $ for an extra aluminum wheel, but.... Modifying the carrier under the front was VERY easy. You just have to bend it outward about an inch on each side and it'll fit fine. I'm not a body builder, but I was able to do this with a good size set of Vise Grips. You could probably do it with a pipe placed over each of the rods and bending them downward. I'm clueless on mixing a 15" wheel as a spare with 3 16's. (I sold all five of my original wheels/tires, BTW.)

interstateflyer · 08-01-2013, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAB

I went to the 16" wheels and Michelin LT's within 60 days of delivery of my 2012. I ordered 5 wheels and tires. Probably overkill to have spent the $ for an extra aluminum wheel, but.... Modifying the carrier under the front was VERY easy. You just have to bend it outward about an inch on each side and it'll fit fine. I'm not a body builder, but I was able to do this with a good size set of Vise Grips. You could probably do it with a pipe placed over each of the rods and bending them downward. I'm clueless on mixing a 15" wheel as a spare with 3 16's. (I sold all five of my original wheels/tires, BTW.)

The rods bent very easily. The tire goes right in the cradle.

The issue is getting the cradle to lift up far enough the engage the locking hasp. The larger tire has created clearance issues with the underside of the trailer.

Bluto · 08-02-2013, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

The rods bent very easily. The tire goes right in the cradle.

The issue is getting the cradle to lift up far enough the engage the locking hasp. The larger tire has created clearance issues with the underside of the trailer.

If I had this problem, I would partially deflate the tire so I could lock the carrier in place and carry a 12V air pump in the truck to reinflate when the spare is actually needed. Or, if that didn't work I'd replace the "U" shaped piece of metal that latches the carrier in place with a longer "U".

interstateflyer · 08-06-2013, 12:17 AM

SOLVED. Fabricated two new vertical supports for the the tire carrier. Lowered the carrier 3/4 inch. There is just enough tire clearance to allow the hasp to easily lock.

interstateflyer · 08-06-2013, 01:00 AM

......lowered 1 1/4 inch.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 08-06-2013, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

SOLVED. Fabricated two new vertical supports for the the tire carrier. Lowered the carrier 1 1/4 inch. There is just enough tire clearance to allow the hasp to easily lock.

Hi, pictures?

Bluto · 08-06-2013, 09:03 AM

Ya, pictures would work well on this thread.

Can you hear us chanting?

We need pics, we need pics.

interstateflyer · 08-06-2013, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, pictures?

This worked on my 2013 International 19. Your trailer's carrier dimensions/placement may be different.

The angle iron uprights needed to be redone in order to add 1 1/4 inch vertical capacity to the carrier. This measurement was derived through trial and error. I factored in both the increase in tire depth of the 16 but also and more importantly as it turns out, the diameter and the way it affected the clearance front to back.

I bent the outside rods to make it easier to move the tire in and out. Be caerful that you don't snap them off.

Unbolt the carrier from the trailer.

Cut the two hinge pins with a hacksaw and remove the uprights (angle iron).

Cut two pieces of 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 11 inch angle iron.

Measure the hinge pin placement on the original uprights and drill a 13/32 hole in your new pieces at the same place.

On the opposite side of the angle iron piece, measure from the center of the hinge hole up 8 3/4 inches and drill a hole large enough to accommodate the chassis bolt (1/32 larger drill bit than the bolt diameter).

Bolt each piece of angle iron to the carrier. I used two grade 8 bolts, 3/8 x 2 1/2, washers and stainless ny-lock nuts. Whatever bolt you use make sure that the non threaded shoulder is wide enough to act as a hinge pin surface.

Paint everything with black Rustoleum paint.

The 16 inch tires added 1/2 inches of ground clearance. Lowering the carrier 1 1/4 inch effectively decreased the clearance by 3/4 inch from stock.

**ignore the welded bit....trial and error.

HeavyAssault · 09-09-2013, 11:22 AM

FWIW as long as the overall tire diameter is the same the wheel sizing doesn't really matter. So if you were to run the 16" wheel/tire combo just make sure the spare is the same diameter. This might mean ordering up one or two tire sizes over the OEM spare size if available.