|
11-25-2021, 02:50 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Arizona
Posts: 27
THOR #13161
|
F53-F59 Aluminum Wheel Upgrade
Has anyone upgraded wheels with Forged Aluminum wheels? Did it make your Coach ride smoother? Did you feel any difference in your steering wheel input?
__________________
|
|
|
11-25-2021, 04:27 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Damon Daybreak
State: New Mexico
Posts: 359
THOR #19133
|
I don't understand how changing the rims, within the same size parameters, could change the ride or handling?
__________________
|
|
|
11-25-2021, 11:14 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,447
THOR #17765
|
It won’t. Although the weight would decrease. Including the weight in your pocketbook.
__________________
|
|
|
11-25-2021, 03:48 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
|
Aluminum rims look better and have the functional advantage of not having crappy "hub caps" to interfere with checking tire pressure or correctly installed extensions.
__________________
2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
|
|
|
11-25-2021, 05:30 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
|
I have the OE steel wheels with stainless steel simulators. My left front wheel “squeaks” when driving and I couldn’t figure out why. My alignment guy said it’s almost certainly just the wheel simulator flexing with the wheel. I didn’t realize wheels flex that much…
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 12:28 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,447
THOR #17765
|
If I were to go from 19.5 steel wheels to 19.5 aluminum wheels for steer axle and outside rear duals, will I need different lug nuts?
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 12:32 AM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,781
THOR #1469
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo56
If I were to go from 19.5 steel wheels to 19.5 aluminum wheels for steer axle and outside rear duals, will I need different lug nuts?
|
You shouldn’t
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 12:48 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo56
If I were to go from 19.5 steel wheels to 19.5 aluminum wheels for steer axle and outside rear duals, will I need different lug nuts?
|
That would depend if the new wheels are hub or lug centric.
__________________
2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 05:16 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
I don't understand how changing the rims, within the same size parameters, could change the ride or handling?
|
Aluminum wheels usually weigh a little less than steel, so they can reduce suspension unsprung mass a tiny amount. On a motorhome with live axles, which are very heavy regardless of wheel material, the difference between steel and aluminum wheels is likely undetectable by normal drivers. I’m not sure even professional test drivers could tell a difference.
Aluminum wheels are not only lighter, but also transfer heat better, and are usually stiffer
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 11:04 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo56
If I were to go from 19.5 steel wheels to 19.5 aluminum wheels for steer axle and outside rear duals, will I need different lug nuts?
|
It depends. Most lug nuts in use today are a conical seat. The aluminum wheels that were on the omni were a flange seat. Omni as you likely are aware are 19.5 and as I recall were Accuride brand. Current RV with 22.5 are Alcoa, as were the 22.5 on a previous DP, but not sure that makes a difference. They are a flange seat lug.
__________________
2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 11:36 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,447
THOR #17765
|
I was investigating purchasing a spare. Tire and steel wheel in the $700 range. I ran across a good looking set of 4 aluminum wheels for $1000 with free shipping.
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 11:48 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,447
THOR #17765
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by chunker21
It depends. Most lug nuts in use today are a conical seat. The aluminum wheels that were on the omni were a flange seat. Omni as you likely are aware are 19.5 and as I recall were Accuride brand. Current RV with 22.5 are Alcoa, as were the 22.5 on a previous DP, but not sure that makes a difference. They are a flange seat lug.
|
How would I visually tell the difference?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25585511602...mis&media=COPY
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 02:02 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Tuscany 42GX
State: Missouri
Posts: 1,158
THOR #9178
|
I have never had truck aluminum wheels that didn’t use flange washer type lug nuts
Simply makes sense, the nut rotates, and the washer doesn't
__________________
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 02:32 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo56
|
If you look at the listing the picture that shows the wheels without the hub caps the surface is flat not conical. Lug nuts for that "shouldn't" be much $$. I haven't bought aluminum wheels separately for a long time but that asking price seems OK. Bay does have a return policy for misrepresentations such as undisclosed damage etc even if an ad say "no returns". Personally I like the look of aluminum wheels.
__________________
2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
|
|
|
12-06-2022, 03:05 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,183
THOR #6411
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by vngaspar
Has anyone upgraded wheels with Forged Aluminum wheels? Did it make your Coach ride smoother? Did you feel any difference in your steering wheel input?
|
Generally the aluminum wheels from a Ford truck are 6" wide and not 6.75" like used on the F-53 chassis since 2011. The 6" rims are made for a 225/70-19.5" tire. Using these rims with a 245/70-19.5 tire will cause the rear duals to rub.
__________________
Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
|
|
|
12-07-2022, 12:30 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,447
THOR #17765
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beau388
Generally the aluminum wheels from a Ford truck are 6" wide and not 6.75" like used on the F-53 chassis since 2011. The 6" rims are made for a 225/70-19.5" tire. Using these rims with a 245/70-19.5 tire will cause the rear duals to rub.
|
Yep. I backed off as they are 6” not 6.75”. So I’ll just go look for a used bread truck tire & wheel for a spare.
__________________
|
|
|
12-07-2022, 03:22 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.3
State: Iowa
Posts: 1,233
THOR #28145
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo56
Yep. I backed off as they are 6” not 6.75”. So I’ll just go look for a used bread truck tire & wheel for a spare.
|
You could get the wheels powder coated, then you would not need the wheel covers the only problem is that you will have the motorhome up on jacks while the powder coating is done. I did something like that with my jeep a while back. I put it up on jacks took the wheels off, rented a pickup truck took the wheels to the tire shop to have the 11-year-old tires dismounted and then took the wheels to the powder coating shop. Hopefully, you can find an understanding tire shop the will put the unit up on jacks in their parking lot and take the wheels off and dismount the tires. Then you can use your TOAD or rent a truck to get the wheels over to the Powdercoat shop.
__________________
Dan
2018 Thor ACE 30.3
Towing 2020 Jeep Gladiator
Former 1996 28' Tiffin Allegro owner
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|