Can I Lower my New Braxton Creek Bushwacker Plus 15FK By Putting Smaller Tires On

Question:

Hello, I wonder if you can help me with a question I have about trailer wheels and tires. I may purchase a New Braxton Creek Bushwhacker Plus 15FK. If I do I would like to lower it at least a couple of inches. It comes with ST235/75R15C off-road tires with of course 15 inch wheels. The tire is approx. 28 in diameter inflated as the trailer sits ready to go. So, are there tires I could put on it to get the tire diameter down to 24 or better? I assume that would lower the trailer by 2. How much could I lower can I go with a new wheel and tire combination? Sorry, I dont know the width, bolt pattern except that is a five bolt wheel, center hole size, etc. of the stock wheel. Thanks for your help

asked by: Rich K

Expert Reply:

Technically you could try to go with a smaller tire and wheel combo if you can find one that will match your bolt pattern, but there are some issues with this; my biggest concern would be the significant reduction in capacity as you go down in tire sizes. You're also significantly reducing the ground clearance of the trailer, so if you're planning on using this "off-road" you may have that issue going forward which could result in damaging the axle.

Using the original 15" wheels you could go down to a 205/75R15 tire like the Provider # TR20515D and would be roughly 2" smaller than your 235/75R15 tires; the # TR20515D have a 2150-lbs capacity per tire, so you'd still be within the weight of the New Braxton Bushwacker Plus 15FK you've got which weighs about 2400-lbs.

The smallest tire you could likely go down to and still keep enough capacity to handle your trailer would be something like the Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 13" Aluminum Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - LR D - Black # AM32001HWTB, which are 24" tall and have a capacity of 1610-lbs per tire. These come with wheels with a 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern, so if there is a different bolt pattern, let me know and I can see if there is another combo available or a way to piece this together.

expert reply by: Erik B