"beadlock ring" holes

[Crusty old shellback]

had a thought this morning and wondering if anyone else has had the same thought or has done it.

On the "beadlock" ring, there are 8 more holes in the rim that were not drilled in the ring. I got to thinking about drilling the holes and adding the extra 8 bolts, just for a looks perspective. I know it will not make it a true bead lock. But was just thinking it may look better.

So what are your thoughts?

Anyone already done it?

 

[Bcool1]

I have not. I've looked for bead lock rings that may fit from other manufacturers. I have thought about trying some to see if they'd work.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Yea, RAM has not made any for these rims.
And they have a different bolt pattern/number of bolts than other rings out there.

The TRX has the same style of rim, but is a 18" and they do have a actual bead lock ring for them. But that doesn't help us any.

 

[Bcool1]

I have seen some 17" rings with the same number of bolts, have you tried any? I haven't taken mine off, do you think it would look good with ring off with bolts in all of the holes?

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I haven't seen any that will fit our rims.
Here is what it looks like without the ring. I took this when I painted mine.

 

[Bcool1]

BTR Racing Wheels Replacement 17" Diameter 24 Bolt Polished Aluminum Beadlock Rings - Kartek Off-Road

BTR Racing Wheels Replacement 17" Diameter 24 Bolt Polished Aluminum Beadlock Rings for a sandrail, rock Crawler, KOH, Ultra4, truck, UTV, side-by-side, dune buggy, mini buggy, manx, king of the hammers, 4x4, or Jeep

www.kartek.com

so with something like this, the concern would be likely the spacing towards the center of the rim?

 

[Crusty old shellback]

That could possibly work.
Just need to know the dia of the bolt holes, inner and outer dia of the ring to make sure it will fit.
Would like to see the back side of it as well.
And what the beadlock rim looks like to see if it's the same as our's.
I'll be pulling my rings off tomorrow as I'm getting new tires. So I'll get a picture of the back side and post it.

 

[Bcool1]

Well, I will go in halvsies if you want to order some and try! I just got new tires, I am tempted to order but don't really want to take the tire off again. I have asked if they can get me some measurements. Not sure the current bolt pattern, these appear to take 5/16"-18 x 1-1/4" bolts.

Replacement 5/16"-18 x 1-1/4" EMPI or BTR Beadlock 24 Piece Hardware Kit Includes Bolts And Washers - Kartek Off-Road

Replacement 5/16"-18 x 1-1/4" EMPI or BTR Beadlock 24 Piece Hardware Kit Includes Bolts And Washers for a sandrail, rock Crawler, KOH, Ultra4, truck, UTV, side-by-side, dune buggy, mini buggy, manx, king of the hammers, 4x4, or Jeep

www.kartek.com

 

[Pearce]

A true bead lock ring is not going to work the same as simulated. A true 17" bead lock ring sandwiches the bead between the rim and ring for an R17" tire. It will be a different diameter. Need a simulated ring to do what your thinking about trying.

I guess you could bolt it up if the diameter is right but probably wont be the look you're after.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Would be awesome if you guys found the correct rings to get these wheels from beadlock-ready to actual bead locks. Beadlocks are the best upgrade besides going to stickies.

I know y’all aren’t there yet but Fwiw I “glue” my inner beads on all my sets of beadlocks to help from burping air out at 4psi or whatever you decide to run. It helps a lot. It’s like super strong black rubber cement.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

The rims from RAM are bead lock rims.
Just they put on a beauty ring as a beadlock is not legal in some states for public roads.
Problem is, RAM never produced the beadlock ring for the 17" beadlock wheels that come on the Power Wagon.
But they did produce one for the 18" rims on the TRX.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

OK, here is some pictures when I took off the rings yesterday.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Get some measurements for the hole pattern and diameters then its easy to have some made for a decent price

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Get some measurements for the hole pattern and diameters then its easy to have some made for a decent price

I’d bet they match a ring that already exists

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I’d bet they match a ring that already exists

Possibly but most manufactures like to offset things just enough to be a proprietary design

 

[Hibiki54]

had a thought this morning and wondering if anyone else has had the same thought or has done it.

On the "beadlock" ring, there are 8 more holes in the rim that were not drilled in the ring. I got to thinking about drilling the holes and adding the extra 8 bolts, just for a looks perspective. I know it will not make it a true bead lock. But was just thinking it may look better.

So what are your thoughts?

Anyone already done it?

Sure. If it's just for looks then there shouldn't be an issue. All you need is a mill and some basic machinist tools.

For those wondering, true beadlocks have teeth or grooves on the ring or on both the wheel and ring to securely hold the tire bead in place. The Mopar 75A wheels are true beadlocks but are shipped in the simulated beadlock form due to liability reasons. Even big box commercial tire places like Discount Tire and Just Tires (among others) will not install beadlocks wheels on your tires.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Sure. If it's just for looks then there shouldn't be an issue. All you need is a mill and some basic machinist tools.

For those wondering, true beadlocks have teeth or grooves on the ring or on both the wheel and ring to securely hold the tire bead in place. The Mopar 75A wheels are true beadlocks but are shipped in the simulated beadlock form due to liability reasons. Even big box commercial tire places like Discount Tire and Just Tires (among others) will not install beadlocks wheels on your tires.

You dont need a mill to tap the holes or drill the rings and not all beadlocks have serrated rings nor do they need them i have made plenty of beadlock wheels out of old steel wheels for rock crawling never made any serrated rings unless you are rock bouncing or other high HP applications such as drag racing

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Sure. If it's just for looks then there shouldn't be an issue. All you need is a mill and some basic machinist tools.

For those wondering, true beadlocks have teeth or grooves on the ring or on both the wheel and ring to securely hold the tire bead in place. The Mopar 75A wheels are true beadlocks but are shipped in the simulated beadlock form due to liability reasons. Even big box commercial tire places like Discount Tire and Just Tires (among others) will not install beadlocks wheels on your tires.

One of the benefits of beadlock wheels is no longer needing a tire shop in your life.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

One of the benefits of beadlock wheels is no longer needing a tire shop in your life.

Exactly… if you need a tire shop to change your tires on beadlocks you likely dont need the functionality of beadlocks lol

 

[Hegear]

I’m talking to a machine shop who makes these for the mopar wheels that come on the v8 Jeep Jl. He thinks his may work but need a diameter measurement for the ring Bolt holes. Does anybody have that? I’m out of town at the moment so can’t measure mine. If any one can get that, we may even be able to come up with some sort of group buy.