Rim advice for underpowered overloaded around-the-world trip

Need advice on wheels: Short story: Steel or Aluminum?
Full story: Driving an Tacoma around the world, currently in Malawi, on bad roads, four-wheeling, overloaded with my entire house (a FourWheelCamper), underpowered with 2.7l 4cyl gas engine. Currently have 4 alloy wheels, 16x8.5J ET0 (16", 8.5" wide, 0 offset) which don't rub but stick out wider, but a steel spare 16x7J ET30 similar to original. Cracked a wheel, had it aluminium-soldered twice already, but should really find a more permanent solution, and probably 5 same size, so I can use the spare not just as an emergency tire. Given the small engine I am somewhat concerned it it gets worse if I switch to steel. Or would it make sense to use this as an opportunity to get sturdier steel wheels which I can also easily fix if needed? Or does it not really matter and I just take what I can find? Also, until now I never knew my offset was so different from the OEM set, but of course I get a lot of mud on the side and the mirrors of the vehicle. The ET0 tires did get me 150,000 miles through 14 countries so far. So, should I try to find something with a closer offset to the original ET30, or again just not worry? Thanks in advance for all your educated advice!!

 

Steel would be easier to fiix. But id say, because of where you are, who knows what you could get your hands on.

 

Stock wheels if possible

 

I have my stock steel wheel/spare. I bet you could get 5 of us to ship them to you for shipping cost. Not sure how economic that is.

 

Yeah, just 2 days ago we found a little store, they had a set of aluminum wheels, they claimed same size. After I realized they actually were 9" wide I felt that's too much for the Tacoma and lost a bit of confidence. Also, were only $50 per rim, worried how well they would last. Couldn't find a number for offset and he just kept saying don't worry, fits perfect. Also had a set of steel rims, again said same size as mine, fits all trucks, but count find any info. Didn't like that attitude. At the same time found a place to weld aluminum, so moved on. Maybe should have insisted on checking the steel wheels more. But now I'm in the next country, no way to go back.

 

Wow, thanks for the great offer, but in addition to cost, there would be the problem of timing. We might spend weeks or months waiting for it. Forwarding my new credit cards took 7 weeks by air! We're still mobile at this point, so I think we find an easier option.

 

Thanks for all the input. Just as an update, couldn't find matching steel rims, so ended up with a new set of alloys. Way too pricey, but beats driving on 3 beat up alloys + 1 different size steel + only one leaking spare. Then noticed one of the good alloys already had a tiny crack too.