Should Trailer Wheels Have Washers Between The Wheel and Hub On a Flatbed Gooseneck Trailer?

Published 06/11/2022

Products Featured in This Question

Provider ST235/80R16 Tire with Silver Vesper Dual Wheel - 8 on 6-1/2

(23)

$274.13

Westlake ST235/80R16 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range G

(548)

$345.62

Question:

My friend bought a trailer from an individual, its a gooseneck with a 20foot deck over wheels. The person had single 235/80 R16 tires on a dexter 9000 lb tandem axles with oil filled hubs. How many tires should be on that axle? Also behind all 4 wheels there were 2 washers on each stud. Guessing because the lug nuts were bottoming out on the studs. Advice...

asked by: Jonathan P

Expert Reply:

It definitely sounds like you should have a dual wheel setup like the Provider ST235/80R16 Radial Tire w/ 16" Vesper Silver Dual Wheel # TA96FR and 4 wheels and tires per axle. Since the highest weight capacity ST235/80R16 Tire # WE76FR is rated for 4,080lbs per tire this is almost a thousand pounds less than the axle capacity. And as they used washers to space out the wheels I also worry about the trailer stability by not having the wider wheel track you get with dually wheels.

expert reply by: Bud M