Changing tire sizes on step deck trailer

How about an alignment? We align ours around once a year.

 

Yes.......

 

I own a Sawsall. I can make anything fit :smt074

 

Any one try lower the size from 22.5 low to the 17.5 or 19.5 tires for more height clearance loads?

I beleive this might cause problems underneath and would not lower clearance in the front.

Just curious if anyone has tried this since we are on the subject?

 

I adjusted the ride height on my step a week ago. The nose of the trailer (lower deck) is at 36" due to my lower suspension on the tractor. The rear was at 42" but I adjusted it down to 38" now (loaded height) so I was able to get legal on that CAT roller. It was 10'4" tall and wound up putting me at 13'6" so I was able to pocket all the permit costs

 

Alignment, shocks, dump valve, problem solved.

 

Your issue is brake drums. You would have to get brakes that are small enough to fit inside the smaller rims with clearance between the drum and rim. It is actually a real pain. Its not just the backing plate, its also the inboard mount for the s cam. I also think you would need 8 lug hubs, I dont remember any 10 lug 19.5's or 17.5's rims. The only logical way to do it is just buy a whole axle ready to be mounted to your suspension. The only downfall would be the loss in tire load rating.

 

If you run a decent tire you don't lose any load rating. I run 17.5's on my tridem stretch steps and regularly run 20k an axle. You don't run 75 mph with that kind of weight tho no matter the outside temp.

 

Thats what I mean, we run 23K per axle at 75 on the highway all the time. So it is less, but if you just run normal weight loads/ axles, then you wont see a payload difference.