Mag Wheels for the AS

[bigjohn]

I'm a newbie with lots of questions. I'm restoring a 1975 Internatioal, Sov. Land Yacht it has the old hubs caps, I'm thinking about adding some alum. wheels something better looking than the hub caps. What am I getting into? I suppose the AS version is expensive. Has anybody had any experience with this kind of a deal. I would appreciate your help.

[davidz71]

Look at #18 and #19 on the site below under aluminum wheels. They both have a loading of at least 2800 lbs, are 6 bolt pattern on 5.5" circle and have ) offset.
www.trailertiresandwheels.net

[Iver]

Can anyone direct me to the thread for these?

Thanks,
Iver

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by Iver

Can anyone direct me to the thread for these?

Thanks,
Iver

Do a forum search for PressurePro and there are 4 threads on units.

[Tin Tortuga]

Hey there john,

me too ! I work part time for a tow co. and they hauled in a 05 safari that had crashed on it's maiden voyage . Too bad for them . (no one hurt though ,good thing, ) anyhow I ended up with a frige that i needed and the power converter.
. now i am on the verge of getting three mags (no tires) and will have to buy another (obviously) but like you i am hoping to reep the benefits of a better looking and i suppose lighter rig ('73 sov.) intersted in anything you find out as well . AS company said I might expect to pay ballpark of three bills for the fourth ..

[RivetED]

At a rally this weekend one of the members showed up with three (3) brand new alloy type 'mags' on his trailer. The fourth wheel & tire are somewhere on the Texas highway system between Dallas & Perrin, it sheared off all 6 studs at the hub . There was also damage to the wheel-well, body-wrap, & a tear in the aluminum siding of the trailer. He said there was no indication of a problem until he was parking the trailer & noticed it missing! When he had the tire place (a major retailer) install the four new 'mags' they used the original lug nuts from the steel wheels. Make sure you use proper lug nuts when changing from steel to 'mags', & also retighten them after 50 miles of use any time a wheel has been changed.

[Janets Husband]

One problem I have always had with "Mag Wheels" really aluminum wheels, I actually saw a magniesium wheel back in the 60's; trivia. I find that cast wheels are very brittle and will shatter if hit hard enough.
The hubs will come apart real easy compaired to steel or billet rims.
Billet wheels won't shatter, but I it is really hard to justify the cost of them. Any thought on cast Mag Wheels?

[herbigrf]

I bought a 78 last winter and it has three of the original 4 mag wheels on it. It looks like the previous owner had a blow out or wheel failure in Mexico (he replaced it with a used steel wheel and a tire made in Mexico). Had a little body damage, but you would have to look hard to notice it. I looked for the first six months for a replacement to the original mag and finally gave up. I am thinking about putting a new set of steel wheels on it for safety. They sell them at all of the major tire stores in our area for anywhere from $75 to $150 each. Might be a good investment if you are going to pull it around much.

[Steve & Susan]

I don't know what size you need, but there are two pallets of wheel/tire combinations at the factory that they are letting go for $100 each - brand new. They are not quite MAG wheels, but they are aluminum and they are the style of the new Internationals. They are 14" with Goodyear tires.
Regular price is $250 each.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by RivetED

At a rally this weekend one of the members showed up with three (3) brand new alloy type 'mags' on his trailer. ... He said there was no indication of a problem until he was parking the trailer & noticed it missing!

He must have been either asleep or numb. I towed my trailer about 15 miles on 3 wheels and there was a pronounced lean to the one-wheel side that just couldn't be ignored. Every time I looked in the rear view mirror or in my street-side towing mirror, there was the tilted trailer.

Since towing with one wheel removed is limited by the manual to 30 mph, he was darned lucky that he didn't blow the other tire on that side.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

One problem I have always had with "Mag Wheels" really aluminum wheels, I actually saw a magniesium wheel back in the 60's; trivia. I find that cast wheels are very brittle and will shatter if hit hard enough.
The hubs will come apart real easy compaired to steel or billet rims.
Billet wheels won't shatter, but I it is really hard to justify the cost of them. Any thought on cast Mag Wheels?

I think that alloy wheels have come a long way since the 60's. Mag ( magnesium) wheels are virtually non-existent by now, as they would burn up under certain circumstances. Modern alloys will not burn during a normal vehicle fire.
Cast alloys are very strong these days, especially with their hardened tapered steel inserts where the lug nuts meet the wheel. Their main advantage is weight savings over similarly rated steel wheels. The weight saving is substantial, btw. A lighter wheel/brake assembly will reduce unsprung weight and make a suspension work better, hands down. This is academic, of course, on solid axle vehicles, but does make a difference on independent suspensions etc.

Forged alloys are usually reserved for the higher end vehicle marked, where weight is further reduced, creating a need for thinner material. This material is then forged, to add strength and safety.

I own and have owned vehicles with both types of wheels, and have never had but positive experiences. I can tell you that since I do a lot of maintenance myself, the alloy wheels do save my back, as they are easier to r&r than steel wheels. Chicks dig them, too.

Applying this to an Airstream makes it a matter of personal choice, alloy or steel, providing that the choices are limited to a wheel of the proper size and weight rating. ( IMO)

[john hd]

Chicks dig them, too.

that's enough reason alone to put them on any vehicle!

i like steel wheels for the reasons stated above. when i got my silverado it came with stainless overlays on steel rims. look like chrome without the corrosion problems.

i think that they are the best comprimise between attracting the chicks and durability.

john

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by uwe

......Chicks dig them, too.....

This chick digs any wheels in good repair that are paid for - and most especially digs wheels attached to new CCD with my name on the title.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Janet

This chick digs any wheels in good repair that are paid for - and most especially digs wheels attached to new CCD with my name on the title.

Well, just like I thought...it's the alloys!

[StingrayL82]

I picked up an original set of aluminum mags for my 71 Sovereign from a guy up in Washington State...$930, and that included the shipping...I think I got a good deal on them, considering they are polished and in pristine condition.

Frederic

[steelbird312]

I have chased an outlet for Airstream mags for quite a while. About a uear ago, I found that SOUHWEST WHEEL in Dallas, TX has them and sell them for less than half what Airstream wants for them. These are the ALCOA forged wheels, the five spoke, six lug style, part number 57111, the same that comes on the brand new Airstreams.
Matter of fact, I ordered two and received them this past week.
Price per was $137.00
The hubcap was $12 each
Contact information is as follows:

I ordered the Airstream Alcoa Wheels wheels from:
SOUTHWEST WHEEL CO.
8740 JOHN W CARPENTER FREEWAY
DALLAS TX. 75247-4626

PHONE 214-631-4626
Darrick Sweden was the fellow that helped me.

website:Southwestwheel.com