Homemade beadlock questions

[El Jefe]

ok, these are the tires I want to get next.

http://www.treadwright.com/shopnow/product/tabid/61/productid/81/sename/37x1250r165-guard-dog.aspx

Ok, see how they are 16.5's? well I had the idea to get me some stock 16.5 rims and make bead locks for them.

My questions are first, is this a stupid idea?
Next, How thick of metal would be best for the beadlocks themselves? was thinking 1/4 mild.

and almost finally, How many holes should they have? 16? 32? I dont wheel hard but would like to get a little more into it.

Thanks in advance.

[j20brett]

ok, these are the tires I want to get next.

http://www.treadwright.com/shopnow/product/tabid/61/productid/81/sename/37x1250r165-guard-dog.aspx

Ok, see how they are 16.5's? well I had the idea to get me some stock 16.5 rims and make bead locks for them.

My questions are first, is this a stupid idea?
Next, How thick of metal would be best for the beadlocks themselves? was thinking 1/4 mild.

and almost finally, How many holes should they have? 16? 32? I dont wheel hard but would like to get a little more into it.

Thanks in advance.

1/4" steel. 32 bolt holes. Call ballistic fab. they do custom orders for not a bad price

[novacayne75]

good tire choice.
sounds like you have a good idea. 1/4 is fine for beadlocks and 32 bolts are the way to go they do seal better. with all the beadlock kits available its not worth trying to cut and drill your own rings. but yea use a set of stockers with a set of weld on beadlocks and you will be set . oh when you install them weld on 4 small tabs to center the tires on the wheels.

[El Jefe]

well at my work I'm trained on what we call the Little CNC. I can program it and punch all the holes lickity split. And I can get all the metal I need. Then I can just plasma them out.

But, them ballistic fab ones look nice. hmmmm

[Sambo]

i have copperhead fab beads and they are fine with 24 bolts i believe.
but if you want a good work out go for the 32 bolt.

btw beadlock wheels are hard to balance if you drive on the street more than the trail!

[Hard Knocks]

Why not just buy a set of H1's and recenter them,with pressed centers?

[gtodriver]

Beadlocks are hard to balance......don't think so. My '65 Pontiac GTO drag race car will do a 1/4 mile in 8.80 seconds at 154 MPH. My rear tires are beadlocked and I have no vibration problems at all....NONE!

[travisrda]

you might want to reconsider the 16.5" and go with some 16" or something more common. I work for one of the largest tire stores in the country and 16.5's arent going to be mad for much longer and as it is there isn't too much of a choice out there.

[78J-10]

check out ruffstuffspecialties.com they make a DYI beadlock kit for a good price. If you want I have a 10 percent discount code for them as well.

[Sambo]

check out ruffstuffspecialties.com they make a DYI beadlock kit for a good price. If you want I have a 10 percent discount code for them as well.

yeah dan has good products.i have ordered alot of brackets and etc. from him

[El Jefe]

I got my disc brake brackets from ruffstuff.

[El Jefe]

Is it really a bad idea to do this for a 16.5 rim? I was figuring 16.5's cause I like the re-treads and wanted 37's.

Also, I do drives this on the road. not alot but once in a while. how bad will it ride with them?

[j20brett]

MAny offroad tire suppliers still offer 16.5's. Swampers and pit bull tires for sure do in many sizes. There are way too many people running military 12 bolt and 8 bolt wheels for them to not make them.

[El Jefe]

ok. Thats good to know.

[jtr]

If you want those tires, don't waste your time with all those bolts, get some 12 bolt H1s. They will be roughly the same weight and DOT approved. It is cheap to put some pressed centers in them too!

Like said above, when you go bigger Interco and Pitbull make tires to fit your wheels.......no worries