Thread: Trailer hubs, are they interchangable?

Originally Posted by Com_VC

Hi,

I've got a old trailer here that is fitted with VW 5 stub hubs and 16" steel rims, one of the tyres is flat so I can't really use it, the tyres are old so probably not very safe to use. I think by the time I pay for 16" tyres fitted it would be a considerable amount.

I am just wondering if I can fit different hubs to it or is the axle only made to suit the VW hubs. Reason being I have a pile of 14" commodore steel rims with decent tyres on them and maybe some ford rims as well. I have no other use for them so If I can use them on the trailer it would be great.

Just had a quick look on ebay and I can get a set of hubs to suit for $40 which i'm quite happy with. But will they fit? Holden Commodore Wheel Hub 5 Stud Trailer Part ONE Pair | eBay

This afternoon I pulled the VW hub off the trailer, so I can get measurements etc if needed.

Hopefully someone here has experience with this type of thing.

Also I heard something about ford hubs having a higher load rating than the holden, will this matter to me, it's just a 6x4 trailer so probably won't be carrying a lot of weight anyway?

Thanks

I thought VW were 15" rims?
I suggest that you price a couple of tyres first, if thbey are 15" then they should not be too expensive, (think second hand falcon, commodore or magna).
I will be surprised if the holden/falcon hubs fit your stub axles, so you probably will require a new axle etc. Ford hubs use a larger bearing and hence have a higher load rating, not that it will concern you in your application.

If the axle has been made from VW parts, (which is a favourite amongst backyarders, to use what's lying around to save a few dollars) then the bearing configuration will be different from "standard" trailer style. The three measurements you need are the bearing journal diameters, the seal diameter, and the spacing between the two bearing journals. If it's a standard trailer hub that's been drilled to VW then you might be in luck. If it's the small VW stud pattern, same as Porsche, then this could still be the case, but if it's the early Beetle with stud pattern around 200mm PCD, then you wont get a trailer hub big enough. Shoot me a pic and I can quickly tell you.

Originally Posted by VC

Also I heard something about ford hubs having a higher load rating than the holden, will this matter to me, it's just a 6x4 trailer so probably won't be carrying a lot of weight anyway?

Standard trailer hubs can be drilled to most stud patterns, but this doesn't determine the load capacity, that's all to do with the bearing sizes. Falcon front wheel bearings have a larger I.D. than Holden bearings, therefore larger bearing journals on the axle, hence a higher load rating. However, the O.D. of the bearing cups that press into the hubs is the same for both, so the same hub can be used for all three standard trailer bearing configurations.

If they are VW bearings and won't accept the standard trailer hubs, then a 39mm round trailer axle with lazy hubs should only set you back around $100.00. You'll need a 66" axle to allow Commodore wheels to fit a 6X4.

Sorry for the delay in posting back, I have been busy with work and haven't had a chance to reply until now.

Karl: They are definatly 16", I double checked them to be sure. I thought it was a bit unusual as well. Maybe they aren't VW, just what someone told me they looked liked.

Yonnee: To me the axle doesn't look home made, but I could be wrong. I've taken a few photos, so hopefully you can work out what I have. If you need the measurements just let me know.

Thanks

I'm going to have a punt and suggest that your hub is a machined down front brake drum from an early VW. But I'd need to know any bearing numbers to determine whether that's the case.

Also, without having a really close look, that section where the inner bearing and seal sit looks like it part of a ball race bearing, not a needle roller.

I just took a few photos of the front bearing.

The part number stamped on it looks like 909601

Looks old, don't think i've seen a bearing like that before, maybe in a bike. hehe

Putting that number into google will reveal they are bearings from 1930-50 chev front wheels. How old do you think the trailer is?

I've got a couple of wheels that look like that on my farm trailer. 16" tyres and I always understood they were from some vintage vehicle rather than a VW.

No idea on age of it, have had it for 11 years and it was my uncles before that, he was the one who made it. Unfortunatly he no longer is around.