Camper trailer hub conversion

[mattg]

Hi has anyone got trailer hubs with brakes and disco2 wheels I've been told it can't be done.
Cheer Matt

[alien]

There are a few threads in the camper trailer area on this.
I'm also wanting to do the same and have hit a brick wall.
The D2 wheel is a @53mm centre and the smallest they can machine a hub with parallel bearings is 78mm.
The studs and spacings where not an issue
I've got to 2 options that may work.
1- Run a 16 rim off anything and carry tyre pliers to do be able to swap a tyre to the D2 if needed.
2- Convert to D3 rims all round. There is an offset difference and a hub spacer is required as the D3 has a bigger centre.

[mattg]

Bummer. Don't like d3 wheels on d2 personally. I think I will go with a 16 cruiser with the same tyres all round. Hoping any punctures can be plugged.

[PhilipA]

As I posted several months ago, you can have the hubs drilled with RRC pattern and then buy adaptors from UK. They cost $400 .

The adaptors need the centre hole to be opened up to clear the dust cap on the parallel hubs. The adaptors I bought were from D3 ( only ones available)which has a bigger centric hole than D2, but I ground the centric ring off.

The offset of the D2 hubs is much greater than RRC hubs and you end up with the wheels about 15mm further out than whether you use RRC/D1 hubs because the adaptors increase the offset while the wheels decrease it for a nett result of +15MM.
My Campomatic 1997 hubs and suspension were originally set up for Land Cruiser split rim offset , and RRC wheels were fine but only with 205x16 tyres as they were near the inner guards. The D2 wheels actually fit better as they leave more room inside and I could fit wider tyres if I wanted to.
So you would have to make sure the offsets etc were compatible.

Its a lot of trouble but if an extra spare is needed in the middle of nowhere you would not begrudge the effort.
Regards Philip A

[alien]

As I posted several months ago, you can have the hubs drilled with RRC pattern and then buy adaptors from UK. They cost $400 .

The adaptors need the centre hole to be opened up to clear the dust cap on the parallel hubs. The adaptors I bought were from D3 ( only ones available)which has a bigger centric hole than D2, but I ground the centric ring off.

The offset of the D2 hubs is much greater than RRC hubs and you end up with the wheels about 15mm further out than whether you use RRC/D1 hubs because the adaptors increase the offset while the wheels decrease it for a nett result of +15MM.
My Campomatic 1997 hubs and suspension were originally set up for Land Cruiser split rim offset , and RRC wheels were fine but only with 205x16 tyres as they were near the inner guards. The D2 wheels actually fit better as they leave more room inside and I could fit wider tyres if I wanted to.
So you would have to make sure the offsets etc were compatible.

Its a lot of trouble but if an extra spare is needed in the middle of nowhere you would not begrudge the effort.
Regards Philip A
I have read this in one of your posts before but is it legal in Australia?
I'd be worried a nut holding the adaptor on may come loose or break a stud.
Being in behind the wheel it would not be seen and could lead to bigger issues.
Cheers, Kyle.

[Redback]

You can get trailer hubs to suit Disco 2 alloys and steel rims, I know this because I have steel rims on 5 x 120 PCD braked hubs with 14mm x 1.5 pitch thread studs, at one stage I had Disco 2 alloys, then BMW X5 alloy rims, I was going to put Disco 3 alloys on, but these do not fit as the centre hole of the D3 alloy rim is tapered.

Here ya go, these are Gecho steel rims on 5 x 120 PCD braked hubs, which is the stud pattern for BMW X5, Disco 2, 3 and 4, RRS, P38a, Holden Commodore 98 on, VW Amarok.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bazzar/media/Disco%204%20Amarok%20Mods/IMG_7255_zps9a290fa8.jpg.html)

Be aware, you'll need to take 5mm of the wheel nut to fit D2 alloys.

I got the hubs from Melbourne Trailers.

Baz.

[alien]

You can get trailer hubs to suit Disco 2 alloys and steel rims, I know this because I have steel rims on 5 x 120 PCD braked hubs with 14mm x 1.5 pitch thread, at on stage I had Disco 2 alloys, then BMW X5 alloy rims, I was going to put Disco 3 alloys on, but these do not fit as the centre hole of the D3 alloy rim is tapered.

Here ya go, these are Gecho steel rims on 5 x 120 PCD braked hubs, which is the stud pattern for BMW X5, Disco 2, 3 and 4, RRS, P38a, Holden Commodore 98 on, VW Amarok.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/Disco%204%20Amarok%20Mods/IMG_7255_zps9a290fa8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bazzar/media/Disco%204%20Amarok%20Mods/IMG_7255_zps9a290fa8.jpg.html)

Be aware, you'll need to take 5mm of the wheel nut to fit D2 alloys.

I got the hubs from Melbourne Trailers.

Baz.
G'day Baz,
Are you running the parallel bearing hub with the 2 bearings the same size?
I should have asked what hubs mattg wanted as the standard hub has a smaller outer bearing but carries less weight.
Cheers, Kyle.

[harlie]

Commodore hubs, punch the studs out and fit 100 series Landcruiser studs - M14x1.5 metric to take the LR wheel nuts. Parallel bearing won’t fit through the center bore of a D2 wheel, slimline only – even then depending on make of hub it will either be snug or not quite fit.

I did a camper in 2001 with D2/P38 alloys. At the time we couldn’t get LR studs, Toyota studs were pretty cheap. How many times did the trailer tyres need to be interchangeable? Zero. Slimline bearings still going fine with 1100-1200kg.

I wouldn’t bother again.

[LandyAndy]

Can be done,I had to machine the rim centre to make it fit.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/1521.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/LandyAndy_2006/media/007_zpsd932b36d.jpg.html)

Martins Trailer Parts in Bayswater WA did the work.Ford Parralell bearings 100 Series Landcruiser studs Commodore VE stud pattern,electric brakes.
I found out after machining the wheels that the steel D2 wheels fit the hubs with no modifications.
Andrew

[mattg]

What size tyre are you running there redback?

[PhilipA]

I have read this in one of your posts before but is it legal in Australia?
I'd be worried a nut holding the adapter on may come loose or break a stud.
Being in behind the wheel it would not be seen and could lead
to bigger issues.
Cheers, Kyle.

Well they have done a lap including the GRR and no problems. Yes they are technically illegal on a CAR although several cars do have them from new eg Porsche 924 turbo , but so is machining a D2 wheel. Only in Australia BTW not in USA or UK.
I have never heard of a RRC under normal conditions (let alone on a camper weighing 700Kgs or around half the wheel loading of a RRC) breaking a stud as they are enormous. I must say I carefully prepared the hubs by wire wheeling all rust and scale from them before fitting the adapters.

I preferred to keep the wheels legal as there would be very little meat left between the opening and stud holes and the consequences of a wheel failing while on a car would be far greater than an adapter coming loose on a camper trailer.

AFAIK there has been NO loosening of the RRC nuts but I intend to check them and do the bearings before another trip away.

To each their own but the question was asked and I haven't seen another way to do it on an existing trailer using parallel hubs.

BTW I believe the tapered hubs on the pictured trailer have an insufficient safe load rating for offroad use according to trailer building guidelines that I read to double the load rating of the axle for offroad use.
Regards Philip A

[adam mann]

Active fabrications done mine just last week. I ordered them for my tandem trailer, d2 hubs. I did however need to press in 14 x 1.5mm (landcruiser) studs as the ones that came with them were 9/16. Also had to slightly die grind where the centre cap sits so the wheel would sit on the hub face. All good now though. Just cant fir the centre caps.

[Redback]

G'day Baz,
Are you running the parallel bearing hub with the 2 bearings the same size?
I should have asked what hubs mattg wanted as the standard hub has a smaller outer bearing but carries less weight.
Cheers, Kyle.

No Kyle, slimline Ford bearings, axle is rated to 1500kg, Melbourne Trailers were the only ones that would fit the 14mm x 1.5 pitch metric studs.

The only issue was I had to move the backing plate bracket too suit the new hubs.

Baz.

[Redback]

What size tyre are you running there redback?

The Gecho steel rims are 17 x 8" with 245/70/17 KM2s, previous alloys were 17 x 7.5 BMW X5 rims, previous to those were 16 x 8 P38a and 16 x 7 D2 alloys, still have the X5, D2 and P38a rims under the house.

Baz.