Alcoa aluminum forged wheels.

[markatherton]

I am looking at Alcoa aluminum forged wheels to replace the two front and two outer rear wheels on my 1997 concourse. (Alcoa part # 160282 16"x6") The wheels are rated at 2780 lbs each. Are these wheels strong enough to use on my Chinook. I am figuring 10,700 lbs loaded. I have not been able to find anything that explains how the dually rear axle affects the wheel capacity.

[Scott]

Yes, Alcoa's are plenty strong enough. You might need longer studs and different nuts, but I'm not sure. Figuring 10k lbs. is a safe bet, but it's a good idea to get on a scale; you might be surprised by the numbers. The axle doesn't affect a wheel's capacity. Having four wheels distributes the load among four supports instead of two.

[dougm]

They fit and they work perfectly fine, you do not need different studs. I have had them on my Concourse since i bought it.

[markatherton]

Anyone know the stud length I need?

[markatherton]

Sorry, misread your post...

[Blue~Go]

The only time you would need something different in the way of studs is if you wanted to run aluminum inner rear duallies. At least as I understand it, two won't fit on the existing studs (not sure if there are other issues as well, so just addressing the studs still might not guarantee anything).

As Scott said, I can't see the capacity being an issue. Look at it this way, the GAWR for the front axle is 3,700#. Two of the Alcoas are rated at 5,560# total. So you'd have to be over on the front axle max rating by nearly 2,000#. That's like 50% over - not likely to happen.

On the rear, the GAWR (for my year anyway) is 7,500#. Four Alcoas have a rating of 11,120#. You'd have to be over again by nearly 50%. Don't do that

Conveniently, a typical LT 225/75R16E tire at full inflation of 80# can carry about 2,700# (each tire) on the front axle (conveniently close to the Alcoa rating). On the rear (de-rated because duallies) they can each carry about 2,500#.

So, as Scott said more succinctly, the wheels are far more highly rated than the E-350 Chinook, and are a good match for the tires (not that we'd be carrying weights that would require the full 80# of pressure).

[markatherton]

Thanks for the education....Mark