Aluminum wheels?

[1tenor]

I'm replacing the tires on my travel trailer. It's been suggested to me that I replace the wheels with aluminum wheels to help them run cooler. Any thoughts on that?

[bsmith0404]

Aluminum dissipates heat better than steel. How much difference it makes is debatable. I’m sure you could find tests that have been conducted if you google it. What ever you change to, get a wheel with enough payload to safely carry the weight. By that I mean extra capacity, not just the minimum. A rep at Sendel Wheel explained it to me this way: A wheel is like an aluminum can. You flex it back and forth enough, it eventually cracks, typically around the hub. Wheels that are maxed out, flex more than ones that are not as stressed. That same principle applies to steel too. I’ve seen both aluminum and steel wheels on trailers break.

[jasin1]

I’d go with a higher rated wheel that would support the next weight capacity tire. Like from a c to d or d to e etc

Metal valve stems also

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by jasin1

I’d go with a higher rated wheel that would support the next weight capacity tire. Like from a c to d or d to e etc

Metal valve stems also

Metal valve stems for sure if you want to run a TPMS. Otherwise, high pressure rubber are fine. They should be getting replaced every 5 years anyway.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by 1tenor

I'm replacing the tires on my travel trailer. It's been suggested to me that I replace the wheels with aluminum wheels to help them run cooler. Any thoughts on that?

Are yours running hot? If so how are you determining that?
Do you have a TPMS providing pressures & temps?
I'd bet $$ that inflation would have more to do with tire temps than the type of wheel. Under inflation will create more heat. Ambient temps can increase temps 10-20% as witnessed by my TPMS.
IMO I doubt the temperature difference between aluminum or steel wheels would be noticeable enough to affect the tires longevity or abilities. I'd say the only real difference would be appearance.
Sounds like someone is trying to get in your wallet!

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

IMO I doubt the temperature difference between aluminum or steel wheels would be noticeable enough to affect the tires longevity or abilities. I'd say the only real difference would be appearance.
Sounds like someone is trying to get in your wallet!

I agree the differences are probably minor, but it is true that aluminum dissipates heat better than steel. I doubt it would be significant enough to have a major impact. The other benefits of aluminum are probably more important than the heat part. They’re lighter, stronger, and more true than steel wheels. They also look better and won’t rust. Price difference is also small. When I put new wheels on my RV, I paid $85 each for Sendel T11 with 3750 lb weight capacity. Now they’re $130, but even a steel wheel I purchased for my car trailer as a spare was $80.

[Balvar24]

Originally Posted by 1tenor

I'm replacing the tires on my travel trailer. It's been suggested to me that I replace the wheels with aluminum wheels to help them run cooler. Any thoughts on that?

Suggested by who? Does he sell aluminum wheels?

[1tenor]

No, just a friend who has been camping a lot longer than me.

[Balvar24]

Originally Posted by 1tenor

No, just a friend who has been camping a lot longer than me.

As mentioned before, the heat conducting abilities are negligible compared to the task at hand.

If you need more heat transfer, just drive faster!

[flybouy]

The typical reason for going to aluminum wheels is looks and weight savings. Heat dissipation is accomplished by air movement. Increasing air flow is the reason for drilled/slotted rotors, ventilated rotors vs solid rotors, and the ducted air over the brakes found on high performance cars.

[JRTJH]

Heat dissipation on metal selection for a travel trailer ?????

Sort of like "re-engineering wheels on a Prairie Schooner... When pulled by Oxen, you need wooden spoke wheels, but when in "high performance mode" and pulled by horses, you need "more heat dissipation in the wheels, so an upgrade is needed ??????

If we were "designing a travel trailer for high performance towing at speeds well above anything that's legal on a highway or that far exceeds the tire speed ratings, maybe a "metal choice to enhance heat dissipation" would be a consideration, but we're talking about a 1920's technology axle with conventional bearings, rubber seals, brake shoes activated by dragging an electromagnet along a cast iron hub with "no enhanced heat dissipation"...

I'd suspect that any wheel that would fit the axle would dissipate more than enough heat to keep the axles "in the safe temperature range"...

It would be, IMO, far more important to be concerned about the bearing condition, brake shoe lining condition and electromagnet "friction surface wear" than to even consider whether steel or aluminum wheels would be a better choice for "heat dissipation" on a Prairie Schooner.....

Now, if you were trying to tow at 250-300 MPH, maybe it would matter, but at 65-70 MPH.... YMMV, but ?????

[JOEJ]

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Heat dissipation on metal selection for a travel trailer ?????

Sort of like "re-engineering wheels on a Prairie Schooner... When pulled by Oxen, you need wooden spoke wheels, but when in "high performance mode" and pulled by horses, you need "more heat dissipation in the wheels, so an upgrade is needed ??????

If we were "designing a travel trailer for high performance towing at speeds well above anything that's legal on a highway or that far exceeds the tire speed ratings, maybe a "metal choice to enhance heat dissipation" would be a consideration, but we're talking about a 1920's technology axle with conventional bearings, rubber seals, brake shoes activated by dragging an electromagnet along a cast iron hub with "no enhanced heat dissipation"...

I'd suspect that any wheel that would fit the axle would dissipate more than enough heat to keep the axles "in the safe temperature range"...

It would be, IMO, far more important to be concerned about the bearing condition, brake shoe lining condition and electromagnet "friction surface wear" than to even consider whether steel or aluminum wheels would be a better choice for "heat dissipation" on a Prairie Schooner.....

Now, if you were trying to tow at 250-300 MPH, maybe it would matter, but at 65-70 MPH.... YMMV, but ?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDx3HZ40qpc

[Balvar24]

Who says you can't pull an RV with an Explorer?

WDH's are for sissies.

[JOEJ]

Those guys wouldn't stand a chance,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E0LYU0AYG8

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Metal valve stems for sure if you want to run a TPMS. Otherwise, high pressure rubber are fine. They should be getting replaced every 5 years anyway.

I published a short video on my RV Tire Safety blog of a failed "Hi-Pressure" rubber stem. Why risk loosing a TPM sensor and a tire to save a buck?

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

I published a short video on my RV Tire Safety blog of a failed "Hi-Pressure" rubber stem. Why risk loosing a TPM sensor and a tire to save a buck?

That’s why I said metal stems for sure if running a TPMS. The sensors centrifugal force will bend the stem over and rub the wheels at minimum, but eventually cause the stem to fail as well. The OP doesn’t say what LR tire he’s running, but assume he only needs between 50-65 PSI since it’s a travel trailer, maybe 80. Most HP stems are rated for 100. I’ve never seen a HP valve stem fail under standard use, but I’m sure it can happen, everything fails at some point, I’ve seen metal stems leak as well.