Trailer Rim Clearance - Custom Wheel

[tnvolgrad]

I am in the process of upgrading my wheels/tires and have a question that I hope the forum can answer. I currently have a DHM trailer which has a 28 inch clearance (ground to the top of the fender well). I measured from the hub center to the top of the fender well (hence the 28 inch clearance), but if you measure from the tread to the top of the well there is about 1.7 inches of clearance.

My question is around how much clearance is required between the tire tread and the fender well? Below is a link of several boats that have been upgraded from 18" to 20" wheels. The difference in overall diameter of my current 235x60x14 tires to a 245x45x18 tire is roughly 1.5 inches and only .6 inches on the 17 inch tire. Unfortunately the fender is welded or this would be any easy fix. My main concern is the potenital for rubbing of the fender on the wheels (e.g. going over a speed bump), but I know that tandem axle trailers do not move too much. Has anyone had any similar experiences with custom wheels?

Another question - my current tires are bias ply and most of the tires running custom rims are radial tires. I have found XL rated tires 1920 lbs rated on the 18" and 1709 lbs rated on the 17" - appears to support the weight (4,200 lbs boat + 1,200 lbs trailer x 20% factor = 6480 lbs requirement). There is much debate around the two, but again is anyone had any experience in radial versus bias ply tires?



http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=779754

[rushin]

Where ever you take the trailer, have them put different set ups on it to see about the clerance.

[Timmy!]

I have an Illusion trailer with 20" wheels on it and they have the Goodyear radials on them and it trailers beautiful! BTW - your 6480 # is pretty close to where your setup is at before you add 20%, these boats and trailers weigh more than we think they do.

[mikehayburn]

I upgraded as well and looked into 17s 18s and 20s.. I had alot of "back and forth" thoughts about it. I pull a 24v Tige and talking with others about it.. I went with 17s 225/55/r17 radials ..... My thinking was when traveling 17s give the boat some cushion and also if you roll over a curb or hit a pot hole or even in a tight spot your not damageing a rim ( you never know )check out this site.. good luck

http://www.trailer-wheels.com/Trailer-Rims_c_266.html

[tnvolgrad]

I have an Illusion trailer with 20" wheels on it and they have the Goodyear radials on them and it trailers beautiful! BTW - your 6480 # is pretty close to where your setup is at before you add 20%, these boats and trailers weigh more than we think they do.

What is the real weight? 4200 lbs is the spec from Tige - granted you have fuel and other fluids/ gear to account for. Does the spec not include items such as the tower, speakers, board racks, etc? You bring up an interesting point, but I can't figure where 1200 lbs. of additional weight would be hiding outside the spec.

[Ewok]

What is the real weight? 4200 lbs is the spec from Tige - granted you have fuel and other fluids/ gear to account for. Does the spec not include items such as the tower, speakers, board racks, etc? You bring up an interesting point, but I can't figure where 1200 lbs. of additional weight would be hiding outside the spec.

The spec on the 24ve I believe is 4350 (2011 model). My RZ2 spec is 4150 dry weight. I recently discovered that the tower is not included in that weight. The dry weight only includes the basic boat, no accessories, no swim platform, no batteries, not even the oil in the engine and transmission. When you add the stereo, speakers, amps, tower, board racks, xx qts of oil, water in the engine, gas in the tank, life jackets, tool kit, wakeboards, surfboards, ballast tanks and plumbing, taps plate and ram and reservoir, Bimini top, it all adds up. Got a spare tire on the trailer? That gets added too. Trailers come from different manufacturer so that weight varies too. You are only going to know by weighing your boat.

I just moved and weighed my boat and trailer empty. I removed all my gear, the board racks and the Bimini. The only thing in the boat was stereo, batteries, and 1/2 tank of gas and the boat and trailer was 5800 lbs, just food for thought.

[Timmy!]

Ewok's recent weighing of his boat is what I was referring to.

[Ewok]

Ewok's recent weighing of his boat is what I was referring to.

Yup, just backing you up with real world numbers.

[gman]

Folks, Make sure your ball and hitch are rated for the weight that you are towing.

[Ewok]

Yup, my 4runner is rated for 7,000. The hitch is rated for 10,000. The ball mount is rated for 12,000 with a 3" lift, and the ball is good for 10,000. Had to get it all from truck and trailer accessory stores, walmart and home depot only have hitches and balls up to 5,000 lbs, there might be some 6,000 stuff too but it's still not enough.