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Trailer that has same tires as the truck

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HarryN

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I am planning to buy a 2025 ram truck.

Most likely a 3500 SRW megacab.

I am kind of boring, so probably will just use the standard tires or something similar size that runs quieter.

The goal is to tow a 4 - 5 k lb enclosed trailer - TBD the details.

It would be handy to have a common spare tire for the truck and the trailer, even if that means some other compromises, but I have yet to find a trailer that uses a tire of similar size, or even common trailer axles like that.

A long time ago, I built a small trailer that used a front straight axle from an old van, so I guess in theory I could do that again, but this is probably more work than I am up to right now.

Are modern trailers just not built with tires of similar size to pick up trucks ? Open to suggestions.

Thanks
 
My buddy had a trailer he towed with his F350. He did a little machining and put the same brakes and hubs as the truck on the trailer. Ran the same wheel and tire combo as the truck. Only needed 1 spare. And coukd use parts off the trailer on the truck if needed.
 
I have had a blow out on the tow vehicle and the trailer at times I would not want a common spare unless I had 2 at which point may as well just throw the trailer spare in the box or mount on the trailer somewhere.
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
I have had a blow out on the tow vehicle and the trailer at times I would not want a common spare unless I had 2 at which point may as well just throw the trailer spare in the box or mount on the trailer somewhere.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that insight - one of my buddies drove up to Alaska in a van and went through a few tires along the way, same concept.

This is one of the reasons for the idea of a common spare. That way I can carry 1 of them in the normal truck location for when I driving without a trailer, but then have another spare mounted on the trailer. That way, no matter which 2 tires go out, I can cover it. The trailer I am thinking about is something in the 20 - 25 ft long range, 4 -5 K lbs, so not that big.

I am not that worried about needing a large diameter spot for the tire on the trailer, but I had not considered how wide truck tires are compared to trailer tires.

The bed of the truck will typically already be full of stuff, and I am starting to really like the ram box setup, so not a great deal of room to carry lots of tires.

It may or may not make sense to go down this path - TBD.

Thanks
 
HarryN said:
Thanks for that insight - one of my buddies drove up to Alaska in a van and went through a few tires along the way, same concept.

This is one of the reasons for the idea of a common spare. That way I can carry 1 of them in the normal truck location for when I driving without a trailer, but then have another spare mounted on the trailer. That way, no matter which 2 tires go out, I can cover it. The trailer I am thinking about is something in the 20 - 25 ft long range, 4 -5 K lbs, so not that big.

I am not that worried about needing a large diameter spot for the tire on the trailer, but I had not considered how wide truck tires are compared to trailer tires.

The bed of the truck will typically already be full of stuff, and I am starting to really like the ram box setup, so not a great deal of room to carry lots of tires.

It may or may not make sense to go down this path - TBD.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Trailer tires are cheap truck tires are not, I get what you are saying but I don’t see this as practical. I would be more inclined to keep a couple trailer spares and setup a tire winch under the trailer like the trucks spare tire is setup under the bed.
 
The biggest standard trailer tire is a 235/85R16, which is ~31.7”x9.25”. The tires on these trucks are ~33.2”x10.8”.

You will have to do some custom work to a trailer to get a tire of that size to fit.

Also, you’re talking a pretty small/light trailer for 7K axles with the correct bolt pattern. If you are able to find one with 7K axles and only load it it at 4-5K it’s going to ride really harsh even for a trailer.

I do my share of driving/towing where I want 2 spares for the truck and 2 spares for the trailer, so I get the interest but as @H3LZSN1P3R said what if you need the common spare in multiple locations?
 
Reality is that I have only had 4 - 5 flat tires in almost 50 years of driving, but I usually don't drive anywhere at all challenging.

Half of those were just a nail from being too close to construction materials, and one was a tire that I knew was marginal but was broke at the time.

For 98% of the driving that I do, if the trailer had the same size tire as the truck, I probably would not even need to carry a second spare.

Also if the trailer frame height was close to the truck bumper ball hitch height vs needing adapters, that seems handy.

The 1 -2 % of the trips that I would go somewhere more risky ( not super risky, but potentially with some rocks sticking up ), then carrying a second spare would be handy.

I remember on the trailer that I built from that old van front axle, we took out some of the leaf springs, the main thing that I needed it for was to carry a 68 Triumph Daytona, and it did fine.

I tend to buy used when I can, so reality will probably be different than the idea. Appreciate the inputs.
 
AH64ID said:
The biggest standard trailer tire is a 235/85R16, which is ~31.7”x9.25”. The tires on these trucks are ~33.2”x10.8”.

You will have to do some custom work to a trailer to get a tire of that size to fit.

Also, you’re talking a pretty small/light trailer for 7K axles with the correct bolt pattern. If you are able to find one with 7K axles and only load it it at 4-5K it’s going to ride really harsh even for a trailer.

I do my share of driving/towing where I want 2 spares for the truck and 2 spares for the trailer, so I get the interest but as @H3LZSN1P3R said what if you need the common spare in multiple locations?
Click to expand...

Excellent point. I guess if I only have the truck with me, then hopefully just one spare is enough because that is all that I would have.

If I have a trailer with me with a single matching axle, that is 2 tires plus the trailer's spare to pull from in a pinch. Worst case, the trailer would get left behind and ( hopefully ) recovered later, but at least I would have the option.
 
HarryN said:
Excellent point. I guess if I only have the truck with me, then hopefully just one spare is enough because that is all that I would have.

If I have a trailer with me with a single matching axle, that is 2 tires plus the trailer's spare to pull from in a pinch. Worst case, the trailer would get left behind and ( hopefully ) recovered later, but at least I would have the option.
Click to expand...

With an air compressor and a safety seal kit I’ve been able to fix every flat, except 1, that I’ve ever personally had.
 
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