I know this has been discussed, but I'd like to play it safe and verify whether these are the "widow-makers" that gets so much attention.

Here are a couple of pics of the wheels/tires that are on the F4 I just recently bought.

Thanks for your patience!





Front







Rear

 

I debated with myself whether I should first welcome you on your other thread, without bringing up the subject, or wait to welcome you here knowing we'd soon be having this conversation. So welcome, you have a very nice looking F-4.

All dual rear wheel F-4s came equipped with 18" wheels having the Firestone RH-5° outer rims. Widow makers, all of them. So yes, that's what you have. The good news, though, is that there are solutions. The best fix is the 19.5" tubeless wheel with 8R19.5" tire. It is a very close match to the outside diameter of your present 7.00 x 18" tires. The 19.5" wheel is available new from companies like Wheels Now and American Wheel Specialist, and can be found used on 1970s/80s era Ford and Dodge based motor homes. The used ones will look more like your current wheels. You'd be money ahead to find them at a local yard, but if not several of us keep our eyes open for them and have ads in the classified section here. Stu

 

Thanks Stu,
I had read some of your previous comments prior to my buying the truck, and because of your information, I went into it thinking they were the widow makers. I really appreciate the verification, however.
I'm not sure what my odds are up here in AK as far as finding them at a local yard, but I'll look into all options, including the classified section on here. Luckily, I've grown used to having things shipped to me. It's good to have a freight forwarder!
Thanks again for all your help and info.
Mike

 

Mike,
I've got a set of 6 lock ring 20" rims available if you want to go that route. Just down the coast in BC. Let me know if you are interested.

Cheers,

Another Mike

 

Another idea I just had, since you live in Alaska. American Wheel Specialist is located in Pasco, WA. They are the wholesale custom wheel builder for the huge Les Schwab and Commercial Tire chains that blanket the western states. Several years ago I visited them and, while being given tour, spotted a set of 19.5s on a pallet off to one side. Asking I was told they'd been built for a Schwab customer but returned for out of balance reasons at highway speeds. Realizing my trucks would never see a highway much less highway speed I bought them on the spot. That set is indistinguishable from the factory Budd 89340s that we talk a lot about. Their custom 19.5s have the centers from donor 17" wheels welded into new tubeless rims. The centers fit perfectly.

I'll now jump to my point. If Les Schwab has retail outlets in Fairbanks, it is my understanding that custom wheels built in Pasco would be picked up and shipped free of charge to the servicing retail location. If you can't find a set of 19.5s locally in a yard you might be money ahead getting a custom set if Schwab would ship along with their other deliveries to their dealers. Just a thought. Stu

 

Les Schwab has one store in Alaska, in Juneau.

 

I just need to say that Les Schwab is Awesome!

I'm not sure how the location in Alaska works but here in the western states. you can get these 19.5" wheels sandblasted and powder coated for about $35 per wheel. I'm in Salt Lake and they shipped them to Washington to be coated then shipped them back.

anyway the point of my story is I had asked them if I was to purchase a set of wheels in another state and had the seller drop the wheels off at their local les Schwab to ship to Washington for powder coat and then ship them back to me in Utah. that was no problem they said. I would have just received free Shipping?

Anyway, you should look at buying some 19.5 wheels from someone near a Les Schwab and get them powder coated in Washington then sent on to Alaska? I bet that powder coating at $35 each would be cheaper than shipping?

(unless of course they charge double for everything going to Alaska?)


Edit, just looked at your location relative to Juneau. Holy smokes! its only a quick 19 hr drive....

 

Thanks for all of the info. I had looked up Les Schwab to find Juneau is the only Alaska dealer. Actually, there isn't a road to Juneau, it's accessible by air or by sea.

Thanks "Another Mike", I'll approach the Fairbanks salvage yard and tire guys first to see if anything is available through local channels, and go from there.