Definition of Backspacing


95XL

15+ Year Member

Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
190
Points
3,101
City
Fulton, NY
Vehicle Year
2002
Transmission
Automatic
Definition of Backspacing (Dually Conversion)

Hey guys, I have an idea for my senior project, but I need a little more info to draw up some sketches. I'm in my senior year of a machining course. I want to make a dual wheel conversion kit for my ranger. I know some people think that dual wheels on a ranger is pointless and dumb, which it is, I completely agree, but I like the look and I think it would be cool.

What I need to know is what exactly backspacing means, is it how far the center of the wheel (where the lugs go through) is back from the front lip of the rim. Or is it from the back lip of the rim? I also need to know the backspacing of a stock ranger 15/7.5" aluminum wheel. Thanks.
 
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Now, after looking that page over, it raises another question. The bolt pattern. I've read time and time again that the ranger's bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5. To me, that means that the diameter of the bolt circle is 4.5" Is that true, or does the 4.5" come from measuring the way that is depicted on that site?
 
It's 4.5" from lug hole to lug hole across from eachother, on a 5 lug they're not exactly across from eachother but you should get the idea, just how it's depicted on that site ther:icon_thumby:
 
With a 5 lug pattern, the bolt pattern is measured from the center of one lug to the edge of one across from it. Without actually looking closely at a wheel, I would say that 4.5" is the actual bolt circle diameter and that measurment method is just an easy way to estimate it. If you do the math, the dimension you measure would be 4.53 inches for a 5-lug 4.5" bolt circle wheel.
 
Ok, after figuring out that in order to use two stock ranger rims in the rear, I would have to make a 10.75" wheel spacer, I've decided to take another route.

I've decided to make adaptors, from 5 on 4.5 to 8 on 6.5. It's what the older style F-350 dually's use. I'll use 16" steel dually rims all the way around, front and rear. Then, I'll wrap them in a 245/75 r16 tire, which roughly is the equivalent of a 30 to 31" tall tire.

Then, I'll just order the dual wheel kit fenders from JC Whitney, paint 'em and slap 'em on.

Does anybody know if it's legal to run a dually without fenders over the outer tires?
 

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