Chrome wheels

[cpaharley2008]

Did anyone receive any literature on the chrome wheel upgrade? Who is the manufacturer and is there any contact info available? If not, I'll have to go to ETI for help. I need to replace the chrome hub cover and it does not appear to be part of the axle components.

[Jrn56]

Jim, there wasn't anything included with ours.

[cpaharley2008]

I have a feeling I'll have to contact ETI for details on Monday! It appears I may have hit something that dented one of my center hub covers. Cosmetic, but still would like to look into have it fixed.

[J Mac]

Chrome wheels?
I thought ETI only provided aluminum wheels as an option.

[cpaharley2008]

Chrome/aluminum/shiny, I'm not sure, they are not the white ones is all I know.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I have a feeling I'll have to contact ETI for details on Monday! It appears I may have hit something that dented one of my center hub covers. Cosmetic, but still would like to look into have it fixed.

Hi:cpaharley2008... I'd check with Camping World or your local RV. dealer as the center covers are pretty standard for RV. wheels. Worst part I think is the wheel has to be removed to put the hub cover on first.
Here's a pic of "Old Faithful" at 12:56 pm. Right on time!!! We were early. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

Is that you Alf, in the picture, blowing off steam ??

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Worst part I think is the wheel has to be removed to put the hub cover on first.

But, doesn't the cover also cover the wheel nuts? If you put the cover on first, how in the world would you get the wheel bolted on? I'm confused...

[J Mac]

If you look at the picture of the aluminum wheels ETI uses you will see the center cover part that the post is referring to. It does not cover the lug nuts Donna.

[cpaharley2008]

Correct, on the white stock wheels the cover cover's the lugs, on the chrome it is a separate piece, hopefully easy to replace once I get a p/n and a supplier.

[Donna D.]

Learn something new every day!

[J Mac]

I think it's called a wheel center cap. Here's a link to one particular provider:

Wheel Center Cap

[Brian B-P]

It is a centre cap or literally a hub cap (although most people now seem to think of wheel covers when the term "hubcap" is used).

I note that the page J Mac linked uses the terms "snap" (snaps on from the outside) and "push" or "push thru" (goes into the wheel from the inside before mounting the wheel. In either case, a cover like this for just the centre bore does not need to be removed for access to the wheel nuts. I have automotive wheels that I have mounted and dismounted seasonally for years and never touched the cap.

As that supplier's page suggests, the key dimension to determine what fits is the centre bore size (the diameter of the whole in the wheel, or "pilot hole" size). Since typical trailer wheels don't locate on the centre bore, that hole can be any size as long as it is big enough to clear the hub, so you need to check your specific wheels. If the spare is the same wheel (often a vehicle with fancy alloy wheels will have a plain steel spare) then I would measure that one, or even take it to a wheel/tire store or trailer supply store to test fit a replacement.

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Chrome/aluminum/shiny, I'm not sure, they are not the white ones is all I know.

Shiny wheels can be plated with shiny metal (such as chrome) or made of metal which can reasonably be polished (typically an alloy of aluminum). Chrome plating can be put on steel or aluminum alloy wheels, but traditionally when people said "chrome wheels" they meant chrome-plated steel wheels. The optional wheels that I have seen in Escape photos and on Escape trailers are all polished aluminum alloy, usually just called "alloy". The hub cap in these appears to be chrome-plated plastic or steel - if it's dented, it's presumably steel; if cracked, it's presumably plastic.

Looking at the 15" trailer wheels with 5x4.5" bolt pattern offered by eTrailer, it looks like there is some variation in bore (or "pilot hole") diameter, but most are 3.19".

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, the middle is metal and dented, there is a plastic cap that fits the holes and protects the grease fitting inside the middle.

[paulw]

Is this something like what you are looking for:
http://tinyurl.com/owxmr36"

I have the same wheels, but I haven't pried the center plug out yet. Is that how it got damaged?

[cpaharley2008]

Do not know, all I do know is after 6500 miles, it has a dent in the hub and the plastic insert is partially damaged.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, the middle is metal and dented, there is a plastic cap that fits the holes and protects the grease fitting inside the middle.

Ah yes, Dexter's E-Z Lube. If you want to use this feature, you need caps that are easily removable, or have a removable insert for this purpose.

[Zardoz]

[QUOTE=Brian B-P;55707]It is a centre cap or literally a hub cap (although most people now seem to think of wheel covers when the term "hubcap" is used).

Lord I feel old! As Brian notes, it is indeed a "hub cap." That used to be so clear and obvious ...

[Brian B-P]

To more directly address Jim's question...
Does anyone with both Escape-supplied alloy wheels and E-Z Lube hubs know the part number and supplier, or at least the hole size, for this cap?

Jim, a photo might help.

[cpaharley2008]

Some photo's