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greenrig · 03-27-2008, 09:20 PM

is there anyone who likes the purist originality of spit rims and original airstream baby moons? i do and realize the dangers. we have a set of those originals on our 61 globetrotter and want to keep it that way unless we can find another steel wheel that has the same look and feel of the originals. question being how do i measure lug pattern. they are 6 lug but do i measure from center to center and from lugs opposite each other or aside each other? we need the spare at least. anyone have a set of the gory story split rim 6 lugs they want to part with (in the SF bay area)?

thanks

Inland RV Center, In · 03-27-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenrig

is there anyone who likes the purist originality of spit rims and original airstream baby moons? i do and realize the dangers. we have a set of those originals on our 61 globetrotter and want to keep it that way unless we can find another steel wheel that has the same look and feel of the originals. question being how do i measure lug pattern. they are 6 lug but do i measure from center to center and from lugs opposite each other or aside each other? we need the spare at least. anyone have a set of the gory story split rim 6 lugs they want to part with (in the SF bay area)?

thanks

6 lug or 6 hole wheels, have a bolt pattern of 5 1/2 inch bolt circle.

It's a US standard.

Split rim wheels at this point in life, are extremely dangerous.

I am not aware of any company that would install tires on them.

Andy

greenrig · 03-28-2008, 07:14 AM

thanks andy

maybe i am being stupid. i thought they would have some sort of value on the trailer for being original and desirable for that reason -especially with the original airstream baby moons.
does anyone know what vehicle (maybe specific model/year) came with stock steel wheels that are 6 lug and the proper width, backspacing, and accept a baby moon.? i was thinking of a 50's ford f100 or chevy truck but i think they are all 5 lug.

thanks again

Dwight · 03-28-2008, 07:42 AM

I replaced the steel wheels on our Airstream last year and I have 7 of them with the center caps and chrome trim rings if you are interested. The photo file is too large to post, but I can e-mail it to you if you are interested.

47WeeWind · 03-28-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenrig

... question being how do i measure lug pattern? they are 6 lug but do i measure from center to center and from lugs opposite each other or aside each other? thanks

Hi greenrig:

On a wheel with an even number of lug nut holes, you measure from the center of one hole to the center of the hole directly opposite it ... or from the same position on one hole (left edge or right edge) to the same position on the hole directly opposite it. That hole-to-hole distance is the bolt circle diameter.

On wheel with an odd number of lug nut holes, you measure carefully from one hole to the adjacent hole, then do some math.

bertro · 03-28-2008, 08:32 AM

What year did they quit useing the split rims. Robert

bredlo · 03-28-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Split rim wheels at this point in life, are extremely dangerous.

I am not aware of any company that would install tires on them.

Andy

Les Schwab in the Tacoma, WA area worked on ours just before we bought it 4 years ago. Split rims sound dangerous though - it's one area where stock originality really should take a backseat to safety.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-28-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertro

What year did they quit useing the split rims. Robert

Some where around 1964.

Andy

Twotone · 03-28-2008, 11:29 AM

I'm restoring a 1948 truck with split rims that I kept for originality. The guy I bought the truck from lives a couple of farms away and he showed how to work on these. ( he also owns a trucking company) He brought over a tire cage for inflating as safe as possible with a split rim.

I had the rims and rings sandblasted. I then epoxy primed and painted them. My friend said it is important to keep the ring with the wheel it came from, and inspect for any damage or corrosion. Mine were in excellent shape and turned out well.

I too like the looks of original wheels on an Airstream, but I personally wouldn't use them on an Airstream. Not many places will service them and they are dangerous. I guy I work with had both of his legs broken when he was inflating a flat tire on his grain truck and the ring blew off.

Tom

greenrig · 03-28-2008, 12:44 PM

so if you get a flat on the road, and want to change it out with a spare, you are at risk just changing the deflated tire/wheel ???? at what point does the ring like to pop? i guess there is a chance it could pop attached to the trailer in the case of a flat before you get a chance to pull over??

greenrig · 03-28-2008, 12:46 PM

and oddly enough, as many tire shops that dont do split rims, there is a very busy one just down the street from me that does. Lloyds of santa cruz

Twotone · 03-28-2008, 01:30 PM

Yes, there is a chance that a ring will blow off an INFLATED tire at any time, although it would be rare. A deflated tire is safe. It's when inflating the tire if the ring is not seated properly that it will blow.

Tom

fotochop · 03-28-2008, 01:44 PM

c'mon greenrig, you know you wanna bail on those splits ya? if you haul that rig out in the boonies like you oughta you might have a heckuva time just getting a flat fixed....assuming you survive! yow!

but BABY MOONS! now you're speakin' some Mr. Horsepower-ese... I'd much rather see a safe, beautifully finished/painted one piece rim with those beautiful moons on it anyday... I know VTS has the "pointed" ones (they were out of stock of the much more expensive but beautiful round ones last I checked) but where can we six-luggers get the true round moons these days?

greenrig · 03-28-2008, 07:52 PM

yes you get the idea. safe vintage look. no pointy. (just my own preference). if i could search craigslist with a keyword of a model and year wheel of a vehicle that had them stock back in the day, i'll bet i could find them. or i would be happy now with a split rim spare if anyone ...anyone?

drag'nwagon · 03-28-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenrig

yes you get the idea. safe vintage look. no pointy. (just my own preference). if i could search craigslist with a keyword of a model and year wheel of a vehicle that had them stock back in the day, i'll bet i could find them. or i would be happy now with a split rim spare if anyone ...anyone?

Greenrig,

You are a couple weeks too late, I just pitched 2 original '56 split rims that were still on my Overlander. I called Dexstar in Elkhart, IN. to buy stock steel 15" 6 lug on 5.50" zero offset wheels, they quoted me and I purchased for $33.00/ea brand new.