Wheel Adapters

[93Ranger4x4]

I was just wondering if anyone knew of a place that made wheel adapters for the ford ranger? Say like going from 5 lug to 8 lug and so forth. thanks for any and all help.

93Ranger4x4

 

[93Ranger4x4]

Anyone? TTT

 

[TwoTrackMind]

My HalfBit

Wait... (cleaning the beer from under my nose) Ok, I remember once wondering the same thing. But now I have to ask you, what do you need 8 lug for? Using 16.5 rims? Ok but most of the larger rim sizes can be bought in 5 lug now (tho a bit pricey). I have never seen the adaptors you (we) seek (maybe due to a liability clause somewhere). I suppose you could find a machine shop to make them (still not cheep), so long as they thought you would never use them on publik roads. Another option is to have wheels made to use the tires of your choise on 5 lugs ( http://diamondracingwheels.com/drwcustom.html ). Wow Im outta ideas, Im subscribing to this thread tho to find out myself

 

[93Ranger4x4]

lol, well i was wanting to find some adapters to go from ranger lug to superduty lug,i've got my stock set of 16" rims for my f350 and i was wanting to find a way to stick them on my ranger since they have a set of 305/70/r16 procomp x-terrains sittin on them. Idont have any 16 inch rims other than the stockers off my superduty and the rims that are on it now. My ranger just has stock ugly ranger rims ive had since my first ranger back in 2003. Just wanting to find some adapters, i know someone used to make some. Dad showed me some wheel adapters he had when he was younger for his old VW he used to have to put some different kind of rims on them. I'd like to find some place that makes wheel adapters, they make wheel spacers dont they? whats the diff? they are both going to kind of do the same thing, spacers space the rim further out, wheel adapters? they will also space the wheel out further but give you an option of a diff. bolt pattern.

93Ranger4x4

 

[TwoTrackMind]

Adapt and Excel

Ok.. Imagine the posibilities... A spacer would simply move your existing wheel (or similar) outwardly to the limits of what stud length would allow a lugnut to somehow keep the wheel attached to the truck (And you can buy longer studs). To be able to go further, you would have to bolt the spacer to the truck, then be able to bolt the wheel to the spacer (even those you can buy). An adapter you (we) are thinking of would be similar but now have 8 lugs on the outside instead of 5. (and yes, there are adapters to change bolt pattern diameter but still staying at 5 lugs) Mechanically, this is quite simple to do. BUT (and this is quite a big bubble butt) now the wheel is offset way outwardly from its original position, at least equal to the length of the studs that you originally bolted the wheel onto. That puts alot of stress on wheel bearings, ball joints (which aint all that much to start with) not to mention that the tires will now be chewing on your fenders. Anyway, just because they make spacers, doesnt mean they work for everyone (some people dont mind monster repair bills each time they go 'wheelin).

Your dad (and others) likely had limited sucess with the VW adapters because of several reasons: Reduced vehicle weight; Different bearing/balljoint arrangement (if he even used them on the front axle); and Modified wheelwell clearances.

In a Knutshell, you (we) asked good questions, but I believe the scarcity of 5 to 8 lug adapters on the market is due to the very (VERY) limited real world applications that they would actually be sold to satisify. And that the line was drawn between 5 lug (even 8 lug) spacers and 8/5 lug adapters was due to the inference that a heavier rating would be imparted from the 8 lug wheel/tire to the lighter rated 5 lug axle of the truck. This is my belief, I stand waiting to learn just like you.

My suggestion is to get wheels that work with the tires you have (look at simple steel wheels), then sell the 8 lug wheels. Your math may be different but Im guessing the end result would be about the same as getting adapters (if you find them), and would work A.L.O.T better in the long run.

 

[TwoTrackMind]

Two MoreBits

Oops... I seem to have overlooked the obvious. And that is what is on my truck as we speak. You maybe able to do this, maybe not. What I did was to use the centers from 7" mopar police wheels and weld them to the outer rims of chevie 8" truck rally wheels. That gave me a 8" wheel that looked moparish and fit my ranger. In addition, I could tweek the backspacing so that the front tires fit the wheelwells and the back tires stuck out a little more to match.

You would have to have steel 16" rims to begin with, carefully measure the diameter of where the center is welded, then either use your (steel) ranger rims or find some the same diameter (some ford, some mopar, some jeep and others have the same bolt pattern). Oh yeah, and find a better then average welder. The basic procedure is to torch the rim from the center you want to use and torch the center from the rim you want to use (after taking off the tire). Clean them up with a grinder so that they fit real nice together. Then put them on a rig (basically a 2wd front hub mounted on a stand) where you can bump the two around and check for alignment and correct offset. Then weld them puppies together being careful not to cause warpage. I would guess that there are shops around that do this kind of thing all the time. I just happen to have talented neighbors

And... another thought hit me as the meds start working.. Isnt there some 16" factory ranger wheels floating around somewhere???

 

[93Ranger4x4]

I used to have stock 01 ranger rims from my old 01 4wd i traded off for the diesel (my dumbass let my 15x10s and 33's go with the truck), but i sold them to my friends dad.
I have seen a guy do what you did, torched the center out and welded a new center in it, altho he didnt care if it was straight or not because it was going on an old trailer lol.

93Ranger4x4

 

[93Ranger4x4]

On another note i just thought of,i would really like to have these one kind of stock ranger wheels, i cant really think of a way to describe them in words.....somethin maybe along the lines of a 5 star? they came on like 02 or 03s and up.

93Ranger4x4

 

[TwoTrackMind]

When I bought my '98 ranger off the used car lot it had stock 15" alum. "starlike" wheels on it. There was another '98 next to it that had wheels just like mine but were 16". If I were in your shoes Id look around for something like that. Or check into new 16x8 steel wheels that are offered from $60 up. I bet adaptors would run nearly that much or more.

 

[93Ranger4x4]

yeah, sounds like i'm just gonna have to buy new rims. I think im just gonna get 15" rims if i do get some,i've already got brand new 33x12.50s on the stockers with less than 500 miles on them. Probably some 15x10's, i HATE 15x8s i like the way the 12.50's look on 10 inch wide rims better than 15x8s

93Ranger4x4

 

[TwoTrackMind]

In that case...

Hmm... you know, I have 15x10 wagon wheels with 33x12.50's on them I could let go real reasonable like The wheels were sandblasted and painted black and still in good condition. The tires are old Armstrong Norseman in a AT style, about half the tread left, and stored in the barn for the last 10 years. I could sell just the wheels. Lemme know if yer interested. Prolly should message me tho so as not to tie this up so much.