Replacing Hubs and Wheels on 1964 Alpine Sprite Camper Trailer

Question:

Hello ! i have a 1964 alpine sprite camper that has been converted into a mobile vintage coffee trailer the curent wheels are 13inch 4 bolt pattern with 5 1/2 bolt spread back spacing 3 3/4 this wheel seems to be near impossible to find . My ultimate goal is to put white walls and baby moons on it to look very vintage i have 2 options 1 is to buy coker 2 7/8 thick whit walls for $490 and have no space and not get the look i really want OR switch this hub to a common 5 lug with a then back spacing never done it so help ! lol wht do i need ?

asked by: Dusty

Expert Reply:

Older classic trailers like your '64 Alpine Sprite may need new hubs in order to use the wheels and tires you wish for that vintage look. The only 4-bolt trailer hub/wheel bolt pattern we offer is the 4-on-4-inch format, like hub # AKIHUB-440-2-1K and wheel/tire # AM3S120. We do offer one agricultural hub in a 4-on-5-inch format, part # AH15450ECOMP, but this is for 3000-lb axles, much more than your trailer weighs.

To use new hubs with the easy-to-find 5-on-4-1/2-inch bolt pattern you will want to match up the bearings in your existing hubs. New hubs must use the same bearings in order to fit on your spindles. If you pull one of your hubs you may be able to find the part numbers on your inner and outer bearings. Please refer to the linked photo for help in where to find these part numbers. If you cannot get bearing numbers you can measure the spindles where the bearings ride using a precision digital caliper and use those measurements to help determine your bearings.

The linked page for trailer hubs allows you to search using your bearing numbers. Click on your inner and outer bearing numbers to see all hubs that will be compatible with your spindles. If you can find an axle rating on your axle you can use this too to narrow the items shown to just those with the matching capacity.

If there are no compatible hubs you might consider a complete axle kit like those shown on the included link. Kits like 2K-rated # 20545I-EZ-72-15 come complete with idler hubs, bearings, races, seals, grease caps, wheel studs, lug nuts, and marine-grade wheel bearing grease.