New Trailer Jack Wheel Conversion

larrygon

My driveway is made of pavers. The plastic wheel rolls roughly over them and it is an up hill push to put the T@B in the garage. I looked around and found an eight inch pneumatic caster wheel. It will handle 250 lbs. I then took a square foot plate and attached the caster to it. I am now able to swap out wheels and roll the T@B almost effortlessly around.
The only real gotcha is that it will not lower far enough onto the tow ball, so I have to swap out wheels or use a jack when I am ready to hitch the trailer up. A small price to pay for convenience!

Cyclonic

Looks like a nice solution to your problem.  Not really fond of the plastic wheel either.

Dalehelman

If it does what you want it to that's what counts.
I love it when a plan comes together.

Dalehelman

Your project got me thinking. I also hate those cheep hard plastic wheels. The pneumatic was not quite right for my need either. I did find a 6" direct replacement hard rubber actually poly wheel with ball bearing axel. Thanks your project helped be find an answer to a problem I did not even know I had.

jdargis

What brand and where did you purchase the poly wheel?

Michigan_Mike

jdargis said:

What brand and where did you purchase the poly wheel?

Here you go!

http://www.accesscasters.com/ac-2712-6-swivel-plate-caster-poly-on-poly-wheel-900-lb-capacity.aspx

Dalehelman

Harbor Freight $14.99 with a 20% off coupon.

jdargis

Thanks for the info.
Jeff

Cyclonic

Gotta love Harbor Freight.  We live literally blocks from one.  My wife used free coupons for all of her stocking stuffers last year

larrygon

I initially thought about a poly wheel but I needed a pneumatic tire so it would not get stuck between the pavers. Still looking for an inexpensive 6 inch pneumatic tire caster. Harbor Freight had the 8 inch pneumatics for $14.99.

Michigan_Mike

I had an 8" inflatable tire on my 5-wide Little Guy trailer and if you are in loose or sandy soil this type of adaptation is best since you can move the trailer around with ease.  The issue as noted above is in your ability to raise the trailer up and get the tire on.....  

I solved that issue by fabricating an additional stand (with attached jockey wheel) that was welded inside the trailer frame behind the tongue.  This was pinned into place and once the trailer was jacked up high enough I unpinned the jockey wheel, rotated it down and pinned it back into position and lowered the trailer tongue jack down until all weight was on the portable jockey wheel assembly.  this type of set-up is doable and the trailer is easily maneuverable in loose, sandy soil.  

Dalehelman

Do you have any pictures?

JandJ92010

Tractor Supply has a pretty good selection of casters also.

Mercator

larrygon said:

I initially thought about a poly wheel but I needed a pneumatic tire so it would not get stuck between the pavers. Still looking for an inexpensive 6 inch pneumatic tire caster. Harbor Freight had the 8 inch pneumatics for $14.99.

Would this one fit as a straight replacement for the plastic wheel?  If so, I think I would switch for the pneumatic tire too.

Dalehelman

Most of the time with pneumatic wheel and tire combinations the 6" is referring to wheel diameter not tire. It's unclear about axel size 3/8 bearing is to small needs to be 1/2". Measurements are not very clear.

Dalehelman

Pneumatic tires work fine but if they loose air and they do over time they are useless.

jdargis

Also, looking at the specs, it has a 150 lb dynamic load rating, which the tongue weight of a T&B starts at around 150 lb unloaded.

MN_Jim

The little trailer jack wheel sank in the mud, so I purchased 2 additional wheels/bushings online and an 1/2 x 8" bolt locally.  

dsatwork

MN_Jim said:

The little trailer jack wheel sank in the mud, so I purchased 2 additional wheels/bushings online and an 1/2 x 8" bolt locally.  

Wow that is clever

Sharon_is_SAM

Trailer jack training wheels!

Michigan_Mike

This still doesn't solve the issue of mud or an uneven surface.  An inflated rubber jockey wheel that can handle the weight will spread out better and does distribute weight much more evenly.  

Dalehelman

Until it's not inflated

Pika1

@dalehelman, do you have the item # for the wheel from Harbor Freight? Side note: #1, holding tank mod is great, #2 cold air deflector mod for ac using old yard sale sign. Works great.

Dalehelman

        HFT # 61651 if I remember correctly 

TabberJohn

Access Casters also lists a 6" no-flat pneumatic (250lbs) that looks like a good candidate:
http://www.accesscasters.com/6anf62-6-no-flat-pneumatic-wheel.aspx

Pika1

@dalehelman, thanks.

Sharon_is_SAM

Wow, your Amazon delivery is uber quick.  Matter of hours.  I am impressed.

RedDoorGals

Folks: I'm looking for reference item #'s or sources for any of the solid rubber "extra" 6" wheels. The HF reference number listed by Dalehelman takes me to an item which includes the caster. They list an 8" tire; but not a 6" (that I can find).  The 6" solid tires I've found with random web searches turn up wheelbarrow tires rated for only 50 lbs.  Thanks Team!! 

RedDoorGals

Seems like this might work?   http://shop.servicecaster.com/6-x-2-Phenolic-Wheel-p/scc-phr620.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgfDBh8vh1gIVD3F-Ch1IeAYJEAQYAiABEgKB0PD_BwE

Dalehelman

Dalehelman said:

Your project got me thinking. I also hate those cheep hard plastic wheels. The pneumatic was not quite right for my need either. I did find a 6" direct replacement hard rubber actually poly wheel with ball bearing axel. Thanks your project helped be find an answer to a problem I did not even know I had.

Up grade thanks to trikepete.https://m.harborfreight.com/6-in-rubber-heavy-duty-rigid-caster-61647.html

TerryV6

Is this kind of tire better than the original?