Aluminum wheels: can 200 lbs make a difference?

[tracer]

As I'm getting ready to pick up my stepdeck, I'm thinking of how I can make the truck lighter. I'm going to remove the full size air fairing from the roof (400 lbs) and am flirting with the idea of changing my rear STEEL rims to used aluminum. Salespeople say you save roughly 25 lbs on one wheel. I can get one used rim here for Cnd$150. Since my front ones are aluminum, I figure I can decrease the truck's weight by 200 lbs if I get rid of the 8 steel rims on the drive axles. Can someone tell me if that can make a difference in terms of freight availability? I mean, can I beat other stepdeck guys if I can take 200 lbs more than they? I don't care too much how the truck looks. My steel rims still look good (I painted the wheel hubs in my truck's color - yellow - and it looks great).

[dieselmanic]

Depends. First, you need to be able to accept a 48,000 lbs load as that is considered a "full load" for a flatbed. After that, some loads pay by the 100 weight so the the more you can take,the more you make. Installing aluminum wheels may also help to balance your load (axle weights) and besides, they just look cool!!

[tracer]

Installing aluminum wheels may also help to balance your load (axle weights) and besides, they just look cool!!

I agree. This is what I have now

[GMAN]

A few hundred pounds may not make much of a difference with a step deck unless you plan on hauling more flat bed freight. I rarely have 45,000 on my step deck. With one truck I can scale 44,500 with my step deck. The other will enable me to scale about 46,000 pounds. It can make a little difference on occasion. In any case, the lighter you can make your truck the less fuel you burn. You may not notice any difference with 600 pounds.

[allan5oh]

Usually the problem with a step deck is getting the weight moved forward on to your drives.

[b00m]

I don't know about the aluminum wheels, but i have super singles on my tractor and that's like 400 pounds savings in weight.If i would have that setup on my trailer total weight savings would be around 800 pounds.That would be ideal for my application .I haul produce with a reefer and because of the pallets size i always had trouble moving the trailer tandems or fifth wheel.Also,with less weight carried over a 130-160 thousand miles a year and you can think of some savings in fuel,engine,tires and overall truck wear.

[tracer]

Usually the problem with a step deck is getting the weight moved forward on to your drives.

Well, actually for me that's not going to be a problem for me:

- I have 230" wheelbase
- I spec'ed FIXED tandem with 61" spread on the trailer.

If the weight distribution analysis Wilson did is close to truth I'm supposed to carry LEGALLY 57,000 lbs in Canada and 50,000 lbs in USA. That's with full fuel tanks but without tarps, chains, straps and - most importantly - the driver having had pancakes for breakfast

[tracer]

I don't know about the aluminum wheels, but i have super singles on my tractor and that's like 400 pounds savings in weight.If i would have that setup on my trailer total weight savings would be around 800 pounds.That would be ideal for my application .I haul produce with a reefer and because of the pallets size i always had trouble moving the trailer tandems or fifth wheel.Also,with less weight carried over a 130-160 thousand miles a year and you can think of some savings in fuel,engine,tires and overall truck wear.

So, what I figure 200 lbs is not such a big deal and I can do it later when I'm raking the cash in from my stepdeck operation I guess for now I'll just get rid of the 400 lb ROOF AIR DEFLECTOR... Anyone in the market for one?

[allan5oh]

Well, actually for me that's not going to be a problem for me:

- I have 230" wheelbase
- I spec'ed FIXED tandem with 61" spread on the trailer.

If the weight distribution analysis Wilson did is close to truth I'm supposed to carry LEGALLY 57,000 lbs in Canada and 50,000 lbs in USA. That's with full fuel tanks but without tarps, chains, straps and - most importantly - the driver having had pancakes for breakfast

That all depends on how long the load is. I've had a few loads that were 30+ feet long on the lower deck, you're almost at max on the trailer yet 5000+ lbs under on the drives.

[Red Clay Rambler]

You sure that air deflector weighs 400 #???

Actually I am in the market for one but my International has a smaller sleeper, the one with only one small upper side window, not two.

[Maniac]

You sure that air deflector weighs 400 #???

My guess would be maybe 150 pounds at the most

[Red Clay Rambler]

My guess would be maybe 150 pounds at the most

Agreed.

[GMAN]

You sure that air deflector weighs 400 #???

Actually I am in the market for one but my International has a smaller sleeper, the one with only one small upper side window, not two.

You may be able to cut the excess from the rear of the deflector. A good glass man could probably do that for you with minimal cost. I believe those deflectors are made of fiberglass.

[Red Clay Rambler]

I thought about that. I have a good friend that manufactures fiberglass bodies for race cars who has everything imaginable to work with glass. He could also paint it for me.

[Kranky]

As I'm getting ready to pick up my stepdeck, I'm thinking of how I can make the truck lighter. I'm going to remove the full size air fairing from the roof (400 lbs) and am flirting with the idea of changing my rear STEEL rims to used aluminum. Salespeople say you save roughly 25 lbs on one wheel. I can get one used rim here for Cnd$150. Since my front ones are aluminum, I figure I can decrease the truck's weight by 200 lbs if I get rid of the 8 steel rims on the drive axles. Can someone tell me if that can make a difference in terms of freight availability? I mean, can I beat other stepdeck guys if I can take 200 lbs more than they? I don't care too much how the truck looks. My steel rims still look good (I painted the wheel hubs in my truck's color - yellow - and it looks great).

If your truck came from the factory with steel wheels, then the wheel studs are likely too short for aluminum wheels.

A good rule of thumb is that when the wheels are mounted and the lug nuts fully tightened there must be a minimum of 3 stud threads exposed past the nut.

If the studs are too short, replace them with the longer ones, don't take chances!

[GMAN]

Some states will ticket you for not having enough stud thread showing.

[Kranky]

Some states will ticket you for not having enough stud thread showing.

You are correct.

[tracer]

My guess would be maybe 150 pounds at the most

I asked my truck salesman and he said the weight was close to 400 lbs. Also, when I was getting it installed at a shop in US, I remember trying to lift one corner as the deflector was sitting on the ground and I wasn't able to move it. If it was 100 lbs, I'd move it. It was definitely way more. Okay, maybe not 400 lbs, but 300 for sure. I put it on eBay but noone seems to be interested

[tracer]

If your truck came from the factory with steel wheels, then the wheel studs are likely too short for aluminum wheels. A good rule of thumb is that when the wheels are mounted and the lug nuts fully tightened there must be a minimum of 3 stud threads exposed past the nut. If the studs are too short, replace them with the longer ones, don't take chances!

Good tip, thanks.

[Jumbo]

You want to save some weight? throw the mufflers away, throw out the passenger seat and dont fill your tanks to the tippy top. Carrying 200 gallons as compared to 300 gallons is almost 800 pounds difference. My flat top Freightliner and 48'x102" full of fuel and all my junk weighs in at 27,700 pounds or 12,590 kilos for our friends north of the border. You want me to scale a 50,000 pound load, no problem.