Choice of wheels for trailer

[Anchorhandler]

Evening all
The build of the new trailer for 'Gwenn Ah Gwer' continues and i wanted opinions of what people thought of using alloy wheels on it instead of the standard galvanized steel wheels.
I have specified a common PCD for the AlKo axles so have quite a choice open to me.
I'm thinking of some 'deep' style alloys limited to 15" max diameter but not sure if this will be a bit too cheesy or 'bling'....
Dont get me wrong, im not looking for 22" alloys wrapped in black rubber-bands, just want something a bit different.
I appreciate that they will be submerged from time to time so am considering some cheap, but good condition second hand ones as opposed to spending big money on new. Im a stickler for looking after my trailers and so the wheels/trailer would be washed after each dunk to avoid any corrosion issues.
Load rating should not be an issue either as the gross weight of the rib/trailer is no more than a medium sized car.


Anyone got any pictures of boat trailers with alloys on?
What do you all think? Worthwhile or am i just re-living my teenage Mk2 Escort years?

Simon

[martini]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

am i just re-living my teenage Mk2 Escort years?

Wolfrace slot-mags

Being serious for a moment, alloys tend to corrode and bond themselves to the steel hubs/drums. Bad enough on cars that don't go in salt water, let alone on a boat trailer. I seem to remember having a range rover with alloys that I used for launching, I was beating the crap out of it with a sledge hammer for hours, think it was the oxy-acetylene that released it in the end

[gotchiguy]

You might be better asking that question over on the dark side. I think that many of them use alloys on their trailers, there's even a guy who has fitted stainless cladding on his trailer just to get that extra "bling" factor.

Seriously though, what's the point trailers and their wheels especially go so quickly after regular immersion that I wouldn't bother.

P.S. are you fully up to speed with all the trailer regs? It wasn't viable for us to import a trailer and go through the hassle of registering it, are you sure its even possible to pass the yearly MOTs with a homebuilt trailer?

[Anchorhandler]

trailers and their wheels especially go so quickly after regular immersion

Hence the reason for changing to aluminium...

P.S. are you fully up to speed with all the trailer regs?

Yes, we have two vehicles permenantly on UK plates and it will be these two that will be doing the towing.

Agree though, France is a pain with registering trailers, we have two Ifor Williams trailers here and they tried to down-rate the 3500kg one to 3100kgs.......kept it 'registered' in the UK in the end.

Thanks

Simon

[Dirk Diggler]

This is quite usefull

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PLANT-TRAILER-...#ht_2776wt_910

[Anchorhandler]

[quote=Dirk Diggler;380
[/quote]

This is quite usefull

Haha, like it,
Amazing what you can get there, an aquintance recently gave his car full main dealer sevice history by stamping up his book with a very convincing main dealer ink pad stamp......worrying realy

Im actually looking into getting some 'proper' constructor plates made up with the name of the workshop over here......

Back on track with this thread for a second, i found a website offering customization of 'Becktons' boat trailers.

http://www.customboattrailers.co.uk/

Interesting, but not sure alloy wheels really look that good now, somehow to me it just doesnt look 'right'.

Simon

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Hence the reason for changing to aluminium...

Unless it's a marine grade, don't assume that aluminium is rot proof - just ask any Defender owner whose vehicle has been in salt water and has soluble panels with lots of white powder on them

Galvanised wheels would be my choice, if possible. I have some cold galvanising paint which I am going to do some wheels for my trailer with when I fit the bigger wheels. Not as good as real galvanising but hopefully will help.

[Anchorhandler]

Hi BogMonster

[quote=BogMonster;380529]

Unless it's a marine grade, don't assume that aluminium is rot proof

- Actually, even marine grade (6000+ spec) will suffer galvanic corrosion and requires protecting with suitable anodes when submerged with disimilar metals....I know as i have fitted enough of them over the years on high speed aluminium ferries (obviously built with marine grade aluminium). The issue on the Defenders is the same (aluminium panels in contact with steel alloys) however the thin plate thickness of the body panels corrodes much quicker, even in an a electolyte such as rain water

As aluminium wheels are obviously quite chunky compared to body panels and as mentioned, i wash the trailer/wheels after each dunk (the wheels are also only submerged for such a short period of time) i dont believe corrosion will cause concern apart from maybe some paint/varnish blistering in the long term.

I think You are right though , galvanized wheels are the way to go as not only do alloy's look 'strange' on a boat trailer but are also harder to come by if i ever needed to replace one. Steel trailer wheels are readily available both online and in shops.

Incidentaly, do you know anyone from the Pole-Evans family at all? I ask as a colleague at work is from the the islands....


Simon

[BogMonster]

I'd like to get some proper hot galvanised wheels though I think that sealing tubeless tyres onto them could be a problem as galvanising tends to be rough, would probably need a tube in.

Wouldn't happen to be Ian P-E would it? Yes I know most of them.

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

.

Ahh, what a small world it is, yes its Ian.....smashing chap. I will be seeing Ian in a week or so, so if needed i can pass on your regards.

Simon