How to modify rims to use dual tires

[aksawyer]

We built a set for a guy down in Dutch Harbor who used it to drag fishing boats up on ground to repair them.I was working as a welder for the fish boats boats and was there with very little equipment.We found some old truck rims(20nch off of a garbage truck).We cut out the center, bolt pattern area,cut a ring that matched the skidder pattern welded one to each bead of the truck rim.Than we bolted them together.Aksawyer

[TessiersFarm]

On a farm I worked at we had an old Massey Fergusen Combine 2 wheel drive, we just used 2 tires and rims slightly smaller than the inner tires (I don't remember the exact sizes but same rim diameter) and used 6 hardened all thread to bolt the 2 together.  We drilled the center of the rims close to the outer part.  We got the all threads from a heavy truck garage that made U bolts and got them before they were bent.  When on hard ground the outer tires never got any real load but on soft ground they really helped out a lot.  Might work for your application.

[5akman]

To keep costs reasonable, I was actually starting to think along those lines. If I could mount the 23.1's inboard and then the 18.4's outboard somehow, I'd end up with what I need. The 18.4's wouldn't have much load on them until the bigger inner tires had sunk a bit in the marbles. Now just to figure out how to adapt the wheels. Your all thread idea might work but those are some big tires to keep in perfect rotating alignment..............

Lance

[Okrafarmer]

To keep costs reasonable, I was actually starting to think along those lines. If I could mount the 23.1's inboard and then the 18.4's outboard somehow, I'd end up with what I need. The 18.4's wouldn't have much load on them until the bigger inner tires had sunk a bit in the marbles. Now just to figure out how to adapt the wheels. Your all thread idea might work but those are some big tires to keep in perfect rotating alignment..............
Lance

I think you may be kidding there, but I wouldn't worry too much about perfect rotating alignment for your application. 

[5akman]

Yep, I was joking! You'd probably have to be running down the pavement to see/notice if they were off by much.

[rick f]

From what I see in your pictures of the truck hauling the boat up from the sea, I would make a hitch for the blade of the skidder.  Push the boat trailer down the slope, load the boat, then backup to the road/ top of beach. Set a couple od 400# deadmen into the beach if needed. Should the skidder start to chatter in the stones hook the winch to the first deadman winch in then rehook to the second up by the road. I make it sound easy , maybe it would work maybe not. This sugestion maybe worth what you payed for it .

Good luck

[5akman]

The deadman idea has merit, especially if I run up the marble pile backwards. I do have a 4" post buried about 5' deep at the top of the pile that I could connect the winch to.

Keep the ideas coming, I have 10 months to dream this stuff up and ponder possible solutions and then about 7 weeks to try to make all of it work!

Lance