first, Bill has a
really nice wheel-well mod to line it with aluminum and protect the sewer lines from being wrecked. Search for it, and THAT problem should be over.
But, there's several tire-related facts which lead me to disagree with Mr. Adventure-- I don't think that there's been
any cases of unprovoked blow-out documented on this board in a 2619/2720 running 15" tires, they've all occurred on 14". I can think of no rational explanation except for the idea that the 14" are running too close to their limits, for both abusive and by-the-book travel. 15" folk like UtahSue and I certainly take our TM's on bad-enough roads, and I like to cruise 70+ MPH, keeping pace with the sedan traffic, wherever the law allows more than 55 (e.g., Nevada yes, California no.)
There is a load-range D Kumho 14" tire at "tire rack", some people like it a lot. It's very slightly wider than the Marathons, fits OK. "205/R14C Load range D 8 PR 857 tubeless Radial"
205R14C 109/107 Q
Radial Tubeless
Plies Tread 2 Steel +2 Polyester
Sidewall 2 Polyester
Max load single 2271 lbs / Duel 2150 lbs both at 65 psi (although you'd want to tune your PSI to loading and planned speeds, not run-em rock hard all the time.)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Radial+857
But a couple of TM'ers have said that it's
easy to upgrade just the wheels and tires to 15", staying with the same bolt pattern on just the smaller "light" axle hubs. No rubbing occurs, although some clearances are a bit tighter. As long as you already have or can easily add a lift kit (I don't know if the 2005 allows for bolt-on, or requires welding), and as long as you you've got about 3-1/2" to spare under the garage door (2" lift kit, 1" wheel rims, 1/2" taller tires), you can do this-- with no new axle.
Look here:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=6870