Bolt Pattern on trailer rim

[1988 Cherokee]

5 hole rim

Is a tape measure accurate enough to measure bolt pattern or do I use a rigid ruler to measure accurately the holes on trailers rim?

To confirm I do measure from the side of one hole, skip a hole, next holes center?


Its looking like I can slap on a 5x4.5(5x114.3) jeep rim onto my trailer (cardboard cutout), but will need 14" rim, not 15".
I have found a few rims kinda close, but not sure how they pan out.
108=4.25 and 112=4.41 and 115=4.52 mostly imports, but since this is a 1970's vintage, maybe its a big 3 (chev/gm, dodge, ford) rim. But it could also have been replaced.


http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Vehicle_Bolt_Pattern_Reference.cfm

[specialk]

I'm not sure that putting Jeep wheels on a vintage 70's trailer would be considered Tech Talk on a Jeep Forum so let's try to keep the questions related to jeep's in the future...  Thanks

 To help answer your question, you are likely measuring the bolt pattern correctly. The overall diameter of the of the wheel should not really matter.  I have put 16" rims w/ 31's on my utility trailer - the wheels have the same 5 on 4.5 bolts pattern. The issue will be back spacing and the amount of room between the tire and side of the trailer or the axle and  the bottom of the trailer, depending on how the axle is set up.  I had to use 2" wheel spacers, custom fenders and a cutting wheel in order to make my set up work.

For the budget minded individual, getting some new trailer wheels/tires would probably be best.

[1988 Cherokee]

Sorry about the misplaced thread, was a little when I posted   Shouldve put it in chit-chat

I am going to buy rims and tires from junk yard to save money, stabilize the trailer more, and raise it. It needs about 2" in the back, then it should be right, or a drop hitch. From the looks of the unit, 14" rims with whatever width is good because of the wheel well itself.

[cLAY]

You can often get the same size(or very close to it) tire for a 15" rim. If you are replacing rims/tires anyway I would try to go to a 15" rim. The reason is that 15" tires are a lot heavier duty and will last longer. Especially if you do a lot of gravel. Also you could run LT tires which will greatly increase the odds of finding a decent used set.

You REALLY  don't want to run a 14" "P" rated tire on there.

A P225/70/r14 is only half the tire that a LT225/70/r15 is. Also acceptable would be an ST225/75 in a 14" or 15" tire.

P-passenger
LT-light truck
ST-special tire---trailer tire

Load ratings are important as well. LT and ST tires are usually rated, B,C,D or E.  C for SUVs and 1/2tons, D for 1/2tons that are used like trucks and not cars and on 3/4ton gas models, E you will find 3/4ton diesels and 1ton trucks.

My car trailer came originally with 205/75/r15 load range C. I upgraded to 225/70/15 load rand D and have doubled the life span I get out of them. My trailer saw a LOT of gravel and I was only getting one season out of them.

Not sure how big your trailer is or how many axle it is but I would strive for a 15" rim with a load range C as the minimum.

[1988 Cherokee]

10 foot camper, with 2 extra feet of bars to my hitch ball, so total length is only 12 or 13 feet measured from ball mount to rear.
One axle, with no suspension.

I tried to take the tire off the trailer today and it does not come off. The tire is to wide to fit between the hub and the outter wheel well housing. It is going to be saws-all time pretty soon and the good news is, its definately a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern. I am going to try really hard to get matching rims for my trailer.

[Immortal]

If it is too wide to take off.... how the hell did it get put on?

[1988 Cherokee]

I have no clue, only had it for less then a month.
The spare tire is smaller, I think the smaller are the ones that came with it. They replaced the tire/rim and did some "renovations"
Wheel well tin looks fairly new from my gut job of the trailer.
I am going to cut it so the whole wheel well is exposed, no issues later on. I am also going to cut all the over-hang from wheels back.