inexpensive double beadlocks

[Joker11]

I am looking for the function. Form doesn't matter.

I want to stay with my 15 inch rim on the stock 69 bronco bolt pattern.

I want to have an 8 inch wide rim.

I want a steel wheel so I can hammer it or weld it in an offroad emergency. And spray paint it black when I chip the paint.

Am I asking too much?

 

[Amac70]

depends on what you call inexpensive. i think you can get a staz works double bead for 300 a wheel for double internal bead lock. or you can go for stauns that might be slightly cheaper.

 

[Joker11]

300 is doable for me.

Never heard of either of those. Thanks.

Now I am off to Google.

 

[Broncobowsher]

So you want a cheap, disposable, narrow steel wheel but in a double bead lock?

Stauns

How about just an outer DIY beadlock and a cheap innertube?

Do you really need doubles? I can't think of a trip that where an inner bead came loose while running just an outer beadlock. I just don't see the wheeling potential to need an inner beadlock if you are only going for a 15x8 rim. You are asking for something that there isn't a real demand for. Come to think of it, I don't even think they will fit. How is the inner beadlock going to clear the knuckle/steering?

 

[Joker11]

I don't know how it fits. I could go 9 I guess. I was thinking that the beadlocked added to the width. So I don't want to have a 12 inch rim in the end.

And that's why I posted it here. Because there are experienced people here who know a lot more than I do. I am an offroading retard so far.

Ok, if I don't need a double beadlock, why does anyone else?

 

[Broncobowsher]

The typical need for a beadlock is side loading. Typically the front nose down on a side hill with most of the vehicle's weight on one corner. With good traction as well (or bad traction and slide into something that stops the tire like good traction. The wheel pushes through and unseats the outer bead. To unseat an inner bead, the same senerio above, the uphill tire would need enough traction to pull off the bead. Typically weight transfer is unloading traction from that tire, you just don't have the ability to load the tire in the direction to break an inner bead.

Most beadlocks on the market are outer bead only. Typical double beadlock are hutchenson wheels which are very much like the military double beadlocks. a spacer insert in the tire beads and the wheel is bolt together to clamp it all together. The military's need for a beadlock is more of the ability to keep a shot up tire on the rim enough to get out of a bad spot. Slightly different needs than recreational off-roading.

There is also the ego factor. If a single beadlock is good, double has to be better.

Looking at rigs that run the trails, even dedicated trail rigs around here, I don't think I have ever seen a double beadlock without being a low cost military surplus wheel. Never seen a double beadlock on a 15" rim, ever. I have seen it on a 14 once, if you count rim screw on a drag slick.

 

[Joker11]

Ok.
Fair enough.

I just had a guy I know roll his jeep cuz he broke a bead on a hill.

It's not a big deal to roll a jeep. They are a dime a dozen.

I do NOT want to roll my bronco. I have put so much into it and I want to have it for a while. Especially since I just finished the top on it.

 

[Yeller]

Only time I could imagine rolling due to losing a bead it would be on the outside. IMO single is plenty.

 

[Mountain Ram]

Been off-loading a long time and rock crawling pretty hard stuff for the last 8-10 years and I have only lost an inner bead once. I run under 5psi in my single bead locked tires and was running 0 in the rear when it let go.

Understand that most beadlocks are not street legal. The stains are a great alternative to the standard beadlocks... It's basically an inner tube and is completely street legal.

 

[Joker11]

Street Legal where I live is a very loosely interpreted term.

I wouldn't worry about street legal here.

You can drive your Honda Quad down the street on non DOT offroad knobbies and not get busted.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

another vote for the stauns for your application ... if you must have them.

If you are afraid to damage your ride while offroading , you need a trail beater.

If you are going to push this "unbendable" rig to the point that you might roll , you definitely need a trail beater.

Get a beater , than the sky is the limit as far as how far you may want to mod the vehicle ... cutting sheet metal , unstreetable but very trail friendly suspensions etc etc etc.
Then you can focus on cleaning up, resto modding, etc, and saving another (your) bronco from the scrapper.
Plus having a rig that you don't care about on the trail will make the trip more enjoyable and cut way back on the stress when you decide to take "the challenge" out there on the trail.

trail beater = win win win in all areas.

 

[Broncitis]

The Hutchinsons are also DOT legal, but as was pointed out, that really does not matter in many areas. They are also pricey at $440 each, but are damn nice wheels.

http://ok4wd.com/shop-by-vendor/hut...ster-beadlock-wheel-for-jeep-wrangler-cj.html

I've popped an inner bead a couple times, usually when heavily loaded down hill and a rock just pushed on it the right way the inner bead will start to leak or pop off.

 

[Joker11]

No, I don't worry about damaging it. Like scratches, dents, and stuff.

But rolling a vehicle does a lot of damage. The axles, the wheels, the body, the roof. It all goes out of whack. I just don't want to do that. I will probably not get too extreme in the height or extremely long slopes. Just crawling around the desert, trying to see what I can and can't do without rolling. I think there is a lot of fun to be had without getting to a roll point. But I think the Stauns look like a great option and I can move them from one rim to another if I change wheels.

And to be honest, I would never have bought this rig. It just has a history close to my heart. It was given to me. So, I won't be having another one. If I totalled this one, it would be the end of my bronco days. I have plenty of other projects already.
I am focusing on this one to get it done.

Thanks guys.

 

[Broncitis]

Rolling due to an inner bead popping off would be very low on the list of reasons you will ever roll. If that is your main concern, I'd probably apply the money elsewhere since that is a very uncommon occurance.

Popping an inner is rare enough, let alone to actually cause a rollover because of it.

 

[malonejy]

Joker,

Here's a good video showing an outer bead popping and causing a roll. FYI, TJ Rock is out in your neck of the woods by YPG.

James


[youtube]U8GEFbweAzU[/youtube]

 

[mudford]

Has anyone tried these? http://innerairlock.com/beadlocks/