Front and Rear Tire Overall Outside Measurements

[Olde Man]

Do most people narrow the rear axle? I am looking at a TT Cab that is 85" rear outside to outside. Tight for a small garage door. 19 1/2" w tires. Could probably be helped with rim setback. Is it desirable to have the front and rear match outside to outside.

 

[Spanky]

Welcome, from another one! (old man!) A lot of folks do narrow the rear axle, usually for looks. Mine is an un-narrowed '72 Camaro axle, and I don't mind the large gaps between the rear tires and the body. Width for trailer ingress/egress is another story. And yes, wheel offset can help.

 

[LongJohn]

I narrowed my rear end to center the pinion. I think it was a fuzz over 4”. I ordered extra splined axles from Speedway and narrowed one side. That way I also got the bolt circle I needed for the wheels I have. Oh, I also narrowed a Super Bell front axle a little over 8” to line up with the torsion bar suspension I’m using. Super Bell sold me an unwelded axle for $200 I think plus the correct TIG rod to weld it.

 

[Indycars]

If you think or even if you don't keep your rear tires outside dimension at 80 inches or less. You will not be able to use an enclosed trailer to (travel 1000 miles, it will happen) .

The trailer will be called a car hauler and be 8.5 feet wide, but the fender wells inside will be 80 inches. But even more important will be the tongue weight and what your vehicle capacity will allow legally. If you can't put the TBucket far enough forward, then there might be a problem.

 

[Spanky]

Great point, Rick. Mine comes in right at 77 inches. That's with 10" wide ARE Torq-Thrusts and BFG 305/50-15's.

 

[rbsWELDER]

Great topic! For conventional trailers with ball-mounted hitches, proper tongue weight is roughly 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight, per GMC.

When I started towing the bucket I use the bathroom scale techniques, as outline in several Youtube videos. Eventually, I bought a dedicated tongue weight scale. It is quick and easy to use. Once I had the weight where I wanted it, I marked the trailer floor, where the tires need to be.

I have loaned my scale to many bucketheads at T-Bucket events around the country, in the hopes of keeping others safe on the highway.

 

[409T]

I built ramps over the wheel wells. The front wheels will clear the inside of the wheel well while going forward, the back ones go over or stop on top of them depending on if I am putting in 2 T-buckets or just positioning one.