Putting Large Off-Road Tires on Custom Camper and Recommended 3,500 Pound Axles

Question:

Are there any major disadvantages to running 37”x12.50x17 bias ply aggressive off-road tires on a custom built, tandem axle camper trailer besides expense and short lifespan of the tread? Trailer will weigh about 4000-4500lbs and I am trying to decide on using either 2 3500# Dexter torsion axles, or 2 sets of Timbren 3500#. It will be occasionally towed on long hauls in between exhibitions, be never loaded over 75.

asked by: BG

Helpful Expert Reply:

You are right on track with the potential disadvantages of going with aggressive off-road tires on your camper. The tread is going to wear down quicker and they can be quite a bit more expensive than standard trailer tires. Also keep in mind that they will be pretty loud, especially when going down the highway. You might not be able to hear it as much all the way in the cab of your truck but it's just something else to keep in mind.

In a perfect world you might get a set of trailer tires to use for the longer journeys between exhibitions and switch them out for the off-road units before pulling into your destination.

As for the axles I do recommend going with a Timbren Axle-Less Suspension System like the 3,500 Pound # ASR35HDS02 that features 4 inch lift spindles for increased ground clearance and spindles that are designed to accept larger hubs and tires like what you are looking to do. For custom applications like yours the Timbrens just allow for an easy setup since they typically don't even require a thru-axle, can fit any frame width, and will provide a smoother ride because of the independent suspension components. This might also help to slow down that tread wear on the tires.

For this particular setup you can use the Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum # 8-201-9UC3-EZ along with the Dexter Electric Brake Assembly # 23-458 for the Left Hand and # 23-459 for the Right Hand.

I have attached a short video demonstration on the Timbren Systems that you can check out as well.