HUB Question

[Thelgord]

Greetings all, in the hopes this is the right place, I have a question about wheel hubs.

I am looking to change out my 5 lug hubs for 6 lug with electric breaks. This will 1) Give me breaks and 2) allow me to use the same wheels as my tow vehicle. However, I have never tried such a thing. I have been reading everythingI can find, but can't find anything specific to changing wheel hub from 5 to 6 lug. Any advice, tips, or anything really would be of great help. Thanks.

[Dale M.]

If your lug pattern is 6 on 5-1/2 (standard 6 lug pattern) there are drums/hubs available

Suggest you go to a site like "e-trailer" and ask tech support on what the axle and bearing and brake surface dimensions are for the 6 lug in relationship to axle and bearing your trailer has now.... Also there is question if brakes and hubs for 6 lug will bolt up to flanges for your 5 lug style axle...

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer ... Drums.aspx
http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Brakes.aspx

Would suggest you may be able to have your present hubs redrilled and new studs placed in them to match your 6 lug pattern... But I only mention this as maybe last resort...

Dale

[Thelgord]

Thanks for the links!

My tow vehicle is a Toyota Tacoma. 6 lug, 5.5 inch.

[MtnDon]

If the trailer is already built is there sufficient clearance for the change in wheel offset that you will probably also have happen?

[H.A.]

You will may have to go for a new axel. (What btw are remarkably inexpensive considering)
Measure all carefully, & mock-up to double check spacings, you may find your Toyota wheel much larger when in position than envisioned.

[Thelgord]

I will have to get a new axle. The current one is a 4" drop axle. Makes the entire trailer far too low. I am thinking that with the larger tire size and the 4" lift from a strait axle I should be at least close to the clearance of the tacoma. However, it seems that in order to get a 6 lug hub, I also need to get a 3500 lb axle. No biggie, except that I am having issues finding one the right length. Measure from the center of the leaf springs, it's 48". All of the 3500 lb axles I have found are around 8 feet long. Much to long for my needs.

[Padilen]

Axles can be lengthened or shortened. But just swapping hubs is easier to bad you can't.

[dales133]

Tacoma stud pattern is the same as lx450 land crusier just so you know.
I got disc's straight off the shelf for mine no problems

[Socal Tom]

You also have to pay attention to the size of the center hole in the rim. Many newer cars are hub-centric, so the hub fits tight into the middle of the rim, but trailer rims are centered by the lug nuts, so the center hole is lose, and the hub is usually bigger.
Tom

[Thelgord]

You also have to pay attention to the size of the center hole in the rim. Many newer cars are hub-centric, so the hub fits tight into the middle of the rim, but trailer rims are centered by the lug nuts, so the center hole is lose, and the hub is usually bigger.
Tom

Good point ... I haven't thought of that.