Replacement Hub/Drums for Utility Trailer with Drum Brakes and Utility-Style Hubs

Question:

I have a Hudson 16 foot dual axle trailer with single hole rims [mobile home style wheels]. This is not a mobile home axle conversion but a factory manufactured Hudson small equipment trailer. One axle has brakes and there is a brake control module setup on the tongue near the hitch. The brakes were disabled to eliminate the state need to have the trailer inspected [only hauling lightweight loads]. I would like to change from the single hole rims to 5 or 6 lug wheels and want to know if the hubs can be changed without changing the entire axle. I would also like to know if any of these options could re-ad the brakes to one axle as it was originally built [shoe brakes]. The tongue plate lists the trailer weight rating at 20,000lbs total but I believe it only has 7,500lb axles and it has four G weight rating heavy equipment tires which are getting very hard to find to replace in the 8-14.5 size in a lasting quality brand tire. It does NOT have a pintle hook, just a standard 2 5/16 A-frame coupler.

asked by: AJ

Expert Reply:

Thank you for the clear description and photo of your Hudson utility trailer and its hubs.

You have what appear to be what we call 5-spoke utility hub/drums, part # 8-174-5UC3, shown on the linked page. With such hubs the wheels rest on the hub's outer rim. This hub is rated for use on 6K and 7K axles.

In order to change these to more standard RV hub/drums you will need to know the inner and outer bearing parts. Any alternate hub has to use the same bearings or you will need to change either the spindles or the entire axle. This particular hub uses inner bearing # 25580 and outer bearing # 15123. Please refer to the linked diagram to see where to look for the bearing numbers.

On the linked page you can see all hub/drums that use this same bearing and that have a 6-on-5-1/2-inch wheel bolt pattern. These hubs are rated for 5200-lbs or 6000-lbs. I also linked our main page for all hubs; just click on the inner and outer bearing parts to see compatible hub fits.

Drum brakes for these axles can be added so long as you have brake flanges on the spindles. We offer both hydraulic and electric drum brakes; both are shown on the linked brake page. It sounds like your trailer has an electric-over-hydraulic brake actuator like HydraStar # HBA-10 on the tongue which would allow use of hydraulic drum brakes along with an electronic trailer brake controller in the vehicle, such as the Prodigy P3 # 90195.

Two articles covering addition of brakes to a trailer are linked for you; one for electric drums and one for EOH hydraulic drum brakes. Both explain the steps required and parts needed. Generally it is a lot easier and less costly to go the electric drum brake route, instead of hydraulic.

As for your tire size 8-14.5, we do not offer any 14.5-inch tires.