Upgrading Or Replacinging Axle, Hubs, Tires, Wheels And Springs On A 2008 Jet Ski Trailer  

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Expert Reply:

Hey Steve, I can definitely help with this. A lot to unpack here so I will do my best to cover everything. Let's start with the axle/spindles, since that will directly tie into what hubs, wheels and tires we end up going with.

As far as the axle, we do not have anything with a 54" hub face (HF) measurement. We do have the CE Smith Trailer Axle # CE33201GA-HUB, which has a 57-1/2" HF measurement. It is rated for 1,800 lbs and the axle itself is a 1-1/2" square tube. This axle also comes with a 5 on 4-1/2" hub which will allow for a lot of options as far as larger wheels and tires. I am not sure what size tube the current axle has, but if it is also a 1-1/2" square, using the CE Smith axle would allow you to keep the current springs and U-bolts.

Speaking of springs and U-bolts, depending on the condition, you may want to think about replacing them while you are at it. You will probably need something like the 4-Leaf Slipper Spring # SP-179275. Slipper springs are measured from the center of the eye to the very end of the spring. The # SP-179275 spring is 24-5/8" long, so I do encourage you to compare this measurement to the current spring and make sure it is a match. Then for a U-bolt kit you can use the CE Smith U-Bolt Kit # CE23102

Since the aforementioned axle has a 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern, there are a lot of tire/wheel options. As long as you are able to relocate the fenders to accommodate a larger tire, you can probably get away with either a 13" or 14" wheel. My recommendations are as follows:

Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire with 13" Galvanized Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range C # AM31952

Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire with 14" Galvanized Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range C # AM32156

I like these Karrier tires for a few reasons. They are 6-ply rated and also rated for highway use with an 81 MPH speed rating. The galvanized wheel is also ideal for a trailer that will be in/around the water. Please do keep in mind that our rule of thumb is that you want at least 3" between the tire and the fender, and at least 1" between the inside of the tire and the frame of the trailer. Another reason that the CE smith axle I mentioned with the 57-1/2" HF might actually be advantageous when adding larger tires as it will give you more space between the tire and the frame.

All of that said, if you want to just replace the hubs on the current axle, I would need you to provide the inner and outer bearing numbers from the current hub. There is no way to look this up with the VIN or anything, and this is the only way to know what hubs will fit. Also replacing hubs will likely mean replacing tires and wheels as well so that the bolt pattern will match. The 5 on 4-1/4" bolt pattern that you mentioned is obsolete.

For the LED light kit, I recommend the Optronics # TLL16RK kit. This comes with 8-1/16" long x 2-7/8" tall x 2-13/16" deep submersible LED taillights and a full wiring kit with a 4-flat plug. Optronics lights are known for being durable and long lasting.

For a spare tire carrier what I suggest is the Flint Hill Goods Spare Tire Carrier # FHG57ZR. This will fit trailer tongues up to 3" wide x 5" tall and it can support up to 100 lbs.

I know this is a lot of info, so you can feel free to reach out to me or comment on here if you have any further questions. Cheers!

expert reply by: Jesse M

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