Trailer wheels

[ssmat]

Hello I am new here so sorry if I posted this in the wrong area. I want to put different wheels on my trailer I just picked up a 2017 23 LSV and the trailer has the stock rims. If I go to 18's and a 255/45/18 tire will it clear the factory stock fenders with out replacement?

 

Thanks

[Bill_AirJunky]

It's not the rim size that matters. It's the tire diameter & the offset of the rim.

Use a tire calculator to compare the size of the old & new tires. And make sure the rims have the right offset.

[Silveradolt18]

I had called Malibu direct on this and they advised the fenders are 1 3/4 wider to accommodate the 18" wheel upgrade.  They use a 255/55/18 tire on the accessory wheel.  Hard to imagine they are producing 2 separate fenders just for a wheel upgrade option...they would cut into a guy wanting to buy the Malibu accessory wheels after the sale to add on the trailer.

[Andrew63]

Original tires take out some of the bumps towing creating a smother trip for the boat.

while the 18" tires look great, remember how much harsher the ride in a car is with larger rims & low profile tires, same will happen on the boat.

[ssmat]

Couldn't take the stock look to long... Went with 18" Rockstar 2 and Kuhmo tires. Looks great had to make minor mods. May paint other set of black inserts gray to match trailer instead of red

Edited September 11, 2017 by ssmat

[That Guy]

Looks cool, did the original fenders work fine?

[ssmat]

Fenders work fine although I need to come up with an idea to put the inner fender liner back on that will space it out about 1.5" so nothing rubs.

[ssmat]

Any ideas besides going to have sheet metal fender extensions made?

[oldjeep]

thinwall 1.5" box tube, bending the radiuses will take a little thought - maybe a plywood template to bend it around.

[Fffrank]

I'd make some fender liners out of fiberglass.  Cheap and easy to shape.  Otherwise you're probably looking to find a guy that likes to work a hammer and dolly.

[ssmat]

Thanks. The other idea was some treated plywood attaching it to the inside liner and covering it with black carpet to match the factory liner.

 

[Fffrank]

59 minutes ago, ssmat said:

Thanks. The other idea was some treated plywood attaching it to the inside liner and covering it with black carpet to match the factory liner.

 

This would work awesome if you can clear the tires?  I was assuming there would be a clearance issue?

[kylesullens]

be sure to use marine lumber, not pressure-treated lumber.  The chemicals they use on pressure treated lumber is highly corrosive and will rust any metal that it comes in contact with.  Ask me how I know.

[ssmat]

OK Thanks!

[ssmat]

25 minutes ago, kylesullens said:

be sure to use marine lumber, not pressure-treated lumber.  The chemicals they use on pressure treated lumber is highly corrosive and will rust any metal that it comes in contact with.  Ask me how I know.

OK how do you know?

[Silveradolt18]

Great looking wheels.  Another option would be to hook up with a local glass company and check on a acrylic piece cut to match the fender profile as a spacer.  

[LeAnn]

Can you give me both the wheel and tire size you have on this trailer please? I'm trying to find those exact wheels for my trailer. Need 18" 5 on 4.5 with 0 offset is what they are telling me.

[justgary]

10 hours ago, LeAnn said:

Can you give me both the wheel and tire size you have on this trailer please? I'm trying to find those exact wheels for my trailer. Need 18" 5 on 4.5 with 0 offset is what they are telling me.

5 on 4.5" is the lug pattern.  If you have five lug nuts per wheel, this is what you want.

What wheel and tire do you have now?  Is it 205/75/R15, or the larger 235/70/R15?  Or different?  The tire calculator that @Bill_AirJunky posted is really great once you figure out what it is telling you.

[LeAnn]

I dont have anything right now. In the process of building a trailer with Tennessee Trailers and I am wanting to use these wheels but I need tires also. I need a tire that fits the wheel and the trailer.