Bought a 12ft trailer off a gentleman a few weeks ago. I knew it needed tires so its been sitting due to weather. Had some time to pull the wheels off to measure and well, wheels are wollowed put and the lug studs are bent.

Trailer was thia guys grand fathers and he believes it to be around 60 years old. I'm going to guess that age is close since 1 tire is a good year stamped 1978.

They seem to be similar to boat trailer hubs but trying to find more info before I go to a trailer specialist and get annoyed by them trying to sell me over priced items.



Some look worse than this one. But either way they are all welded to the back of the assembly

 

Oh and the bearings are good. So almost wondering if i would be better off just getting some new studs and lug nuts and rolling with it that way.
I have a press at the shop. But really don't wanna do all that if i don't have to

 

If the wheels roll good and you don't hear any noise from the bearings, I'd just roll with it, Billy. I'd remove the studs and clean the hubs up, paint them and replace the studs with new ones. Maybe slide the hubs off, clean and regrease the bearings and put new seals in, but that's just preventative maintenance.

 

That hub looks like a 1930 something wide five bolt pattern that someone added the smaller bolt circle to. And there are no springs so the tires carry all the weight with no give. If you mount a modern axle without springs the capacity is half. If you hit a bump at speed the trailer will go where it wants. Be careful Billy.

 

The tires and wheels on it are worthless. I'm trying to figure out what kinda hub assembly I need so I can do it right.
otherwise I'll drag it to scrap. I know I'll see my money back in weight for it.
I'm not opposed to updating everything. But I just need it to be safe.

 

So to make it safe, you'd have to replace the axle with one with leaf springs attached to absorb impact from the load and the road?

Could it maybe just be used to move items around the yard? Doesn't seem fit for highway use right now, but very low speed hauling off-road.... Maybe?

 

Main purpose of the purchase was to scrap on the side plus move larger items around.
I also want to buy a couple 4 wheels and motorcycle soon.

 

So just want to throw an idea out there since I cant find hub assemblies.
1. Price
2. Safety
3. Reliability

I have that 05 awd vue still. I was looking at a rear end diagram.
the cross member is a bolt on deal along with all the suspension.

My thought, I can use the rear cross member from the vue. Which would also allow me to use the vue rear suspension (or just the shocks, or just the springs) and sway bar.
Ideally not being a solid axle like mentioned above, should pull a lot smoother and less likely to wonder in theory.

I still need to figure out how to make a box/cage for it. I dont want it enclosed. But I don't want things flying out either.

I'm also curious how much higher it would make the trailer sit. If I would need an adjustable hitch. Or cut the springs/get shorter shocks. I'd like it to sit as level with my jeep as possible although ive been looking at air shocks for the back (pricey as all hell).