14" wheels for 16' Scamp?

[ruscal]

I am worried about the 2800 lb loaded trailer weight on the 13” tire designed for 1360 lbs loading. With the tire running at maximum rated load it would seem to be asking for failure during long hot pulls. Also I doubt the trailer is perfectly balanced left to right, which would overload the tire on the heavy side. I know there are some 13” tires that have a higher load rating than 1360, but having a little bigger diameter would slow down the wheel RPMs a little. I felt around inside my wheel well and discovered only 2” clearance to the top of the fender well. If I mount a 14” wheel and 25.5” diameter tire it will use up ¾” of that 2” of travel. I don’t know how much the axel will travel beyond static sag, but 1.25” isn’t much room to move.
My question is has anyone mounted 14’s on a 16’ Scamp? Did you have to space down the axle (lift the trailer)? Cutting the wheel openings is no big deal to ease tire removal. What specific wheel did you use? Zero offset? Kumho makes some interesting looking 65 PSI trailer tires in metric sizes. (Small diameter and narrow tread) load range D. They seem to have a favorable reputation. The 65 PSI design would be thrifty on fuel at the cost of some cushy ride. Maybe less bounce? Kumho 857 is the one I researched. My axle is 10 years old, as are the Goodyear Marathon tires, so the tires should be canned even though they look new. The axle is an Al-ko U35 3500 lb rated. I don’t know if the axle has sagged over time. The top of the tire is even with the top of the wheel opening with trailer loaded. I could gain about 400 lbs capacity per tire by going to the 14’s.
Anybody do it?
Russ

[Roy in TO]

Fritz recently posted that he went from 13" to 14" on his 16' Casita.
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post294765

[ruscal]

I crawled under my trailer to check the wheel clearance. There is about 3" clear between the inside of the tire and the trailer frame. On the wheel well opening outside it is about an inch, and from top of tire to fender well above about 2.5". The trailing arms are angled down about 10 degrees with the trailer partially loaded for camping, but no water, no food, no fire wood. Next time I am fully loaded I will re-check the angle. With a new axle the arms should be level with 3500 lbs on the axle.
To install 14" tires I will need more upward clearance. I could replace the axle with a new one, which may raise it a bit, if mine is in fact bad. Or I could install spacers between my axle tube and frame. 1" is about all I think I would need.
Russ

[john warren]

well,,,how many years have they been running that size tire on 16's?
has there been problems?
if not,,,it isn;t broke don't fix it

[Donna D.]

Sorry, I can't help. I have 15" tires on my 16' Scamp New Dexter axle, 45 degree down. Love the ride and tow!

[paulw]

As I recall, I went to a 185/80-13 Marathons when I had my Scamp and the same concern.
I just checked etrailer and they now have 8 ply rated Kenda tires in a D load rating, 1610# @ 65psi - no personal experience with them, tho'.

[ruscal]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Sorry, I can't help. I have 15" tires on my 16' Scamp New Dexter axle, 45 degree down. Love the ride and tow!

Donna,
That certainly proves there is space in the Scamp wheel well to accommodate larger diameter tires. By angling your trailing arms at a steeper angle you solved the clearance problem up on top and gained more ground clearance under your axle tube. Do you know what diameter tire you have? I don't know if I should spend the time to space my axle down, since it is ten years old, or go for a new one. Mine still seems to have some travel left, and rides fine. Decisions...

Russ

[ruscal]

Originally Posted by paulw

As I recall, I went to a 185/80-13 Marathons when I had my Scamp and the same concern.
I just checked etrailer and they now have 8 ply rated Kenda tires in a D load rating, 1610# @ 65psi - no personal experience with them, tho'.

Paul,
I saw those tires. That option would be the lowest cost to solve the overload problem. My Scamp tire cover would even fit! I keep thinking a little more diameter would be gooder though.
Russ

[Jayfor]

Hi Russ,
Our first trailer was a 16' Scamp. We changed the tires to 14" No problems
at all. I did trim the wheel wells out about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. I drilled out the rivits holding the trim carefully and put it back on. Keith

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by ruscal

Donna,
That certainly proves there is space in the Scamp wheel well to accommodate larger diameter tires. By angling your trailing arms at a steeper angle you solved the clearance problem up on top and gained more ground clearance under your axle tube. Do you know what diameter tire you have? I don't know if I should spend the time to space my axle down, since it is ten years old, or go for a new one. Mine still seems to have some travel left, and rides fine. Decisions...

Russ

Russ, I'm running Goodyear Marathons ST 205/75 R15. Remember, only the smaller sized Goodyear Marathons had problems... not the 15"

The axle on my trailer was dead, so a replacement was a no-brainer. If I was to do it again, I'd add a spacer and go with a 22 degree down. Only because I have another idea going for the plumbing and would prefer space between the axle and the bottom of the trailer. Right now it's flush. At any rate, I'm very happy with what I've got.