"demountable" hubs vs standard 8 lug on Trailer

chillman88

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Hey everyone,

I have the old mobile home style wheels on my new Trailer...

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Is there any advantage to this style over a regular 8 lug style?

My trailer needs tires and I can get 8 lug hubs on eBay slightly cheaper than I can get new 8-14.5 tires. I have a set of LT tires on 8lug wheels in my barn that I could use.

What's your opinion guys?

@IDIBRONCO I would like your opinion too since you have the same style wheels.

Are these older wheels harder to mount square with the trailer? I've heard they can wobble if you don't install them right but never have messed with them before.
 

subway

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i am curious as well. i don't have a lot of input but i "thought" the 14.5 series tires were for basically mobile home "very short time" use only in general. having said that a lot of people have gotten significantly more wear and tear than a one time mobile home move.

i also thought that the axles themselves were specific to a one time use set up and didn't interchange with regular trailer hubs and spindles.

one of the reasons i was looking into this is i know a guy who does scrap and he had a dozen sets or so of mobile home axles i was tempted to try to use to build a car trailer. after my internet searching it did not seem worth it with all the limitations.
 

Randy Bush

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I have been down this road before. Built this trailer back in the 70s with trailer home axles, About ten yrs ago was going to rebuild them because of bad brakes, no could do , brakes on them are a one time thing. So thought well will just buy new hubs and weld flanges on for the new backing plates. Again could not do . the spindle on trailer house axles are where different and would not accept the new hubs. Ended up buying new axles they where not all that bad of price. Put 6 hole hubs on the axles , bought new rims 14.5 6 hole so I could run 8-14.5 lowboy tires, buy them for like $100 ea. Now have axle that can be rebraked when needed. Depending on size of trailer and what you haul think most areas require all axle to have brakes. This is a picture of my trailer.

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Thewespaul

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I also have had troubles getting parts for them as well, they work fine when they are working but not so great when you have a failure in bfe. Our gooseneck flat bed I bought cheap with these axles under it with a rotten bed, put a new floor in blasted and painted, and replaced the axles with some good American made 8 lugs.
 

Randy Bush

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I stayed with the 8-14.5 to not increase bed height and the tires cost less and last a good amount of time. triple axles are ******* tires. The 6 hole rim have worked out well too, I could of gone 8 hole but the rims where harder to come by for what I needed. My lift weights in at 15 thousand and have never had a problem braking a rim or studs.
 

Thewespaul

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Understandably, I went with the 16s so I could use the spare off our fords if I have too, in case the two trailer spares aren’t enough. I use this trailer for hauling our backhoe, dozer and round bales so the extra weight capacity is nice. It does set the bed up a good bit more than the 14.5 would
 

chillman88

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Thanks for the input guys. I'm aware of the height difference but I don't think it will be a problem for me. I don't really want the extra height but if it's cheaper long term...


I would also question whether the hubs would actually interchange...

I've seen some that are listed as for this purpose. As with anything it's a matter of actually making sure the bearing sizes are correct.
 

Randy Bush

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At the time I was doing mine I went round and round trying to find bearings, nope. Finally gave up and bought the new axles. In hind sight glad I did. Got the right length axles needed and they where not bad price ,plus got excellent brakes now , that I really need with weight I haul.

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chillman88

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At the time I was doing mine I went round and round trying to find bearings, nope. Finally gave up and bought the new axles. In hind sight glad I did. Got the right length axles needed and they where not bad price ,plus got excellent brakes now , that I really need with weight I haul.

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Yeah I looked a little bit. I can't afford $1200 for two axles. Didn't do a whole lot of looking but the shop near me said $660/ea plus $120 truck freight. I'm seeing them similarly priced online.

I'm going to pull a hub off tomorrow if the weather is decent and take some measurements. IF I get lucky and the sizes are right, 8-lug drum/hubs are $65 each on Amazon. Doesn't mean I've made up my mind but that's $30 per wheel cheaper than 14.50 tires. I'll let you guys know what I find out when I measure.
 

IDIBRONCO

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At the time I was doing mine I went round and round trying to find bearings, nope.
That's funny. I haven't had any issues finding bearings. All I've ever had to do is take an old bearing into a parts store and have them cross over the number on the bearing. As for me, I'm going to stick with the 14.5 tires on mine. I don't have a dove tail on mine and I mainly use it for hauling ATVs so I don't want it any higher than it already sits. Of course the 12 ply tires that are on there are definitely overkill! I'd still be interested in the info about the hubs exchanging. You never know...
 

chillman88

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Honestly the only reason to swap is already having tires and the availability of everyone having 16" tires in stock. Blowouts are bad enough without not being able to find another spare because you're spare is already in use.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Blowouts are bad enough without not being able to find another spare because you're spare is already in use
I've been there too. Some people think that I'm strange for carring two spares in the truck for longer trips. I had two when I went the 800 or so miles down to visit Thewespaul last January. I knew that my reat engine seal leaks, so I caught a little hell (not from Wes) about carrying 4 gallons of oil with me. I only leaked one quart, but better to be sfae than sorry. especially when traveling all night long in rural, unknown country.
 

Randy Bush

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That's funny. I haven't had any issues finding bearings. All I've ever had to do is take an old bearing into a parts store and have them cross over the number on the bearing. As for me, I'm going to stick with the 14.5 tires on mine. I don't have a dove tail on mine and I mainly use it for hauling ATVs so I don't want it any higher than it already sits. Of course the 12 ply tires that are on there are definitely overkill! I'd still be interested in the info about the hubs exchanging. You never know...
The problem was when I tried to change from the trailer axle hubs to 6 or 8 hole hubs. Could not find bearing to work. I use 14 ply on mine, Lowboy tires, a lot more meat and not as soft as normal trailer tires.
 

Randy Bush

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Honestly the only reason to swap is already having tires and the availability of everyone having 16" tires in stock. Blowouts are bad enough without not being able to find another spare because you're spare is already in use.
I rarely ever have a blow out on my flatbed with triple axles, I keep pretty good tires on all the time. They seem to be a common tire here to find. For $600 can put a whole new set on.
 

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