What Is Minimum Distance You Can Have Between Front and Rear Tires of Tandem Axles

Published 05/06/2025

Question:

I have a 1999 Cardinal Fifth Wheel camper, GVWR 11,670 lbs, UVW 8290 lbs. It came with and I am running ST225/75r15 tires with a 6 bolt 5 1/2 pattern. I have about 5 between the tires. I would like, if allowable, to go to ST235/80r16 tires and new 16 wheels. This would reduce the space between the tires to about 2 1/2. Would this be allowable? Do you have any other suggestions? The axles have been replaced within the last few years.

asked by: Mike M

Expert Reply:

Hey Mike, generally you want at least 4 inches between the tires on a tandem axle trailer like what you have. If you are going to get down to around 2.5 inches you probably would get the tires touching each other when the suspension compresses.

As far as other possible solutions what are you looking to accomplish by going to the larger tire size? Maybe there's a different way to get there.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Mike M.

5/6/2025

Thanks for the response. I have had so many tire issues over the past 20 years with this camper, numerous blowouts and worn tires. I moved up to load range E tires years ago and I replaced the axles when tires kept wearing fast and unevenly. It's a good camper except for the undercarriage. If there was a shop that could move the axles slightly to accommodate 16" tires, I would look into that.

Jameson C.

5/6/2025

@MikeM It would really just come down to moving the suspension hangers a little further out. You could grind the welds to get the hangers off and then reweld them an inch forward on the front axle and inch backwards on the rear axle hangers.

Mike M.

5/6/2025

Thanks again for the advice. I weld, but I'm not sure I would trust my welds, but I think I know of a shop that might do this. I'll check.

Jameson C.

5/6/2025

@MikeM You might check out the welds on the hangers and see if you think you could replicate them. It shouldn't be anything too complex or hard to pull off.