My 97 19 Scamp project trailer has 13" tires which for some reason must have been stock even though the trailer has the factory lift option. It really looks out of whack, but has anyone gone to 15" or would I only be able to go to 14" wheels and tires?
Mon, 09/14/2015 - 21:35
#1
15" Tires and Wheels
Greg
I guess you are speaking of your 5er. Many people have upgraded to 15" tires for the big pick ups, no problem if the trailer axle has been lifted. On some Scamp trailers when putting on larger tires people have had to remove and replace the black lower trim strip and trim the WW opening up a little wider but that should not be an issue on a 5er. If you add 15" tires to a 5 er. you may have to use a double entry step to get into the trailer and carry a folding ladder to deal with a 2500 awning.
Eddie
LOL, yes the 13 Scamp was our last completed project, but the 5er is not ready for a prime time avatar pic opportunity yet. Coming soon...
So it sounds like the 15 would be overkill, but would going from the 13" which looks way undersized on the trailer to a 14" be a good move without major modifications like you mention on the 15's?? I'll try and get a side pic of the wheel well up in the next couple of days so folks can see what the clearance looks like.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-height-chart/
Use this chart to figure out the size of the desired tire.
Eddie
When I was at the factory 2 weeks ago, I bought a new axle, tires and wheels for our 1988 5er. I was told that I could use 13's, 14's, or 15's, thought the 15's could be difficult to mount on the axle. Space issues maybe.
Bob H.
I got tired of worrying about the maximum 65 MPH speed rating of the original ST 13 inch tires on my trailer, so I changed the tires on my Scamp to pickup truck 14 inch 8 ply rating tires that have a speed rating of 109 MPH. This gave me a better safety margin when pulling the Scamp on the interstate highways. Some of the interstate highways I have traveled on have a max. speed rating of 85 MPH. The advantages I found were less bearing heat, less tire heat, stiffer side walls helped trailer sway, and three times more tread than the 13 inch ST tires. This was an easy mod.; I tired to keep the 14 inch pickup tires as close to the width of the 13 inch ST tires that came on my Scamp as possible. I added a 1 inch steel spacer to both sides of the axle to raise the trailer up higher for the same wheel well clearance as the 13 inch ST tires. I then cut a little fiber glass out on the out side of both sides of the trailer for easy installing and removal of the tires. I was even able to use the same black fiber glass trim material that came on the trailer to finish my modification. This mod. only raised my trailer about 2 inches from what it was with the 13 inch ST tires on it. I hope this helpful.
D. B.
I went to the factory to have the axle replaced on my 5er. I had them install the 4 inch axle lift blocks at the same time. The trailer tows nice and level behind my Nissan Titan (14 inch tires on the 5er). The only gotcha I found was now the rear stabilizer jacks don't even come close to the ground.
I am considering welding on landing gear type stabilizer legs. At a minimum I need 28 inches and 32" would allow for uneven terrain
How have others solved this?
1984 5er
Those work real well on my lifted 19' and run up/down in seconds with a drill gun and 3/4" socket. I have a 2 stair step and need it. Most annoying problem was finding the 2" ball with the 2" hitch while backing and not being able to see over the bed cover. I jammed a stick in an old 3/4" socket and set it on the center plate bolt. Stress free locator.
hI had a lifted 5er and found when everything is extended to the max the trailer is wobbly. I carried four short pieces of 6x6 post, two for the landing gear and two for the rear and the trailer was much more stable.
Eddie