Wheel Offset Differences on Tandem Axle Trailer

Updated 07/16/2018 | Published 07/13/2018

Question:

I’ve had to replace the two rear tires and wheels on my 1984 Frontier 24 ft travel trailer. The new wheels have an offset that is 5/8 of and inch further out the the front. Will this be and issue

asked by: Stewart

Helpful Expert Reply:

You should never change the wheel offset on your trailer or use different offsets on tandem axle trailers. Your axles should match, as should your tires. Your wheels can differ in style, but they should not differ in offset. This basically means your rear axle will track differently than your front axle on your 1984 Frontier travel trailer.

Offset means the wheels and tires will either stick out further from the frame (negative offset) or be closer to the frame (positive offset). I've attached a video to help further. Most trailer wheels have a zero offset so the center of the tire is carrying the maximum weight of the trailer in a balanced manner. Most trailer tires have the zero offset for that reason.

Because you are currently running one axle with a zero offset and the other with an offset, the tires will not wear evenly and may fail prematurely as well as having more friction around corners.

My recommendation is to match all 4 of your tires and wheels. If they all match then your trailer whether it has an offset or not, will track together and be a much safer way to travel.

expert reply by: Jason S