Should I replace the wheels?

[Ag'71]

Hi everyone, I've got a 1971 Overlander, and while my wheels look a lot better than Tabasco's, I was wondering, How do you know if you need new wheels? We've only made a few 100 mile round trip outings, close to home. I don't want a major issue if we decide to make a 1000 mile round trip outing. Thanks.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Ag'71

Hi everyone, I've got a 1971 Overlander, and while my wheels look a lot better than Tabasco's, I was wondering, How do you know if you need new wheels? We've only made a few 100 mile round trip outings, close to home. I don't want a major issue if we decide to make a 1000 mile round trip outing. Thanks.

Visual inspection, usually tells the story.

But, the inside of the wheel, is typically rusted, which depending on how much, dictates the replacement.

Andy

[Joebanjo]

Had my first flat on my 1976 Ambassador 29'. Discovered the tire was fine, but the steel wheel had produced a pencil lead sized hole in the rim. Upon inspection, I found no rust and it seemed to be a perfect wheel. Now, after 35 years of service, I learned from some local trailer people, that tandem axle trailers, when turning, exert many times more lateral tension on the wheels than do say...an automobile. I figure that the factory wheels finally suffered from enough fatigue to produce a small rupture. Chatted with Andy and decided to purchase new wheels before taking off on another trip. The peace of mind is worth it!! Mike

[dwightdi]

Steel wheels sometimes develop fatigue cracks at the bottom of the curve where the tire is seated. I had two of them fail on my Lincoln Town Car. Under inflation can be a factor as well as alignment, design, load rating, miles of use, and conditions of use. Your trailer is 40 years old with an unknown history, so I would not be surprised by rim failing from fatigue. Like you say, if one fails can the others be far behind, so buy a new set.

[perryg114]

Wheel Only 15 Inch 6 on 5-1/2 Inch Tires and Wheels | etrailer.com

About $50 each for steel about twice that for Aluminum.

Perry

[Inland RV Center, In]

Always keep in mind that replacement wheels must have a rating of at least 2600 pounds, each.

Andy

[Joebanjo]

Thanks Andy, I ordered those 2600 lb. wheels from you and they arrived yesterday..;-)

[63air]

If they are steel wheels they can always be magnaflux tested as well as visually inspected. I'd rather have old US steel than new China steel.