Since most trailer axles use the 5X4.5 bolt pattern (which was standard for many Jeeps for years), using any wheel that matches the tow rig requires adapters. The adapters do more than change the bolt pattern though, they also adjust the spacing so that aftermarket wheels will fit on the trailer axle. Many aftermarket wheels have shallow backspacing they won’t fit a trailer axle even if they have the proper bolt pattern. What’s more, the hub on a trailer axle sticks out further than a vehicle axle in most cases, so the adapter has to take that into account as well.
By the time you add in the cost of the adapter, more expensive wheels to match the tow vehicle, and associated hardware, many times it’s more cost effective to just stick with a standard trailer wheel in the original bolt pattern and add a spare
. Another result of using the spacer is that the wheels will push out from most trailers an extra inch or so, which can be good or bad depending on your setup.
So think carefully about the intended use of your trailer and which vehicle(s) will be pulling it. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best.
Thanks to Josh Manley from Manley ORV for helping with content for this article.
Whether you’re buying an overland style trailer or building your own, one of the first aspects of your setup you have to decide on is wheels & bolt pattern. Many people (especially those with Jeeps), prefer to match their trailer wheels & tires with their tow rig. This is easy for some tow rigs, but for those of us that drive other vehicles (such as Toyota trucks), it can be a bit more complicated.
Since most trailer axles use the 5X4.5 bolt pattern (which was standard for many Jeeps for years), using any wheel that matches the tow rig requires adapters. The adapters do more than change the bolt pattern though, they also adjust the spacing so that aftermarket wheels will fit on the trailer axle. Many aftermarket wheels have shallow backspacing they won’t fit a trailer axle even if they have the proper bolt pattern. What’s more, the hub on a trailer axle sticks out further than a vehicle axle in most cases, so the adapter has to take that into account as well.
By the time you add in the cost of the adapter, more expensive wheels to match the tow vehicle, and associated hardware, many times it’s more cost effective to just stick with a standard trailer wheel in the original bolt pattern. Another result of using the spacer is that the wheels will push out from most trailers an extra inch or so, which can be good or bad depending on your setup.
So think carefully about the intended use of your trailer and which vehicle(s) will be pulling it. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best.
Thanks to Josh Manley from Manley ORV for helping with content for this article.