Top Truck Challange, 2012

TreeClimber · Sep 16, 2011

You can also compete

The NOVEMBER 2011 issue is out.
One lucky entry will also be chosen to compete.
So buy your Four Wheeler mag, November issue, and fill out your entry along with a good picture and come on down to Hollister. We'll swap lies and drink beer.

Brandon: Put that Bronco back together!

TreeClimber · Sep 18, 2011

So I'm waiting for the rest of the snorkel elbow & tubing to arrive via UPS, and a few other misc doodads. I borrowed another 42 inch tire. This is a 14-42-17 Irok Bias. Mounted on a 17 inch 5 on 5.5 wheel. Should be a direct bolt on. Woohoo.

As you can see by the pics, it's larger.

The BFG Krawler KMs are 37s. New, they measure exactly 37 inch tall. When mounted on wheels, and with the weight of the vehicle on them, they sit about 36.5 tall. With wear, these are 36.0 tall

The IROKs are 41.5 tall, per Interco's website. These have a very small amount of wear, and measure out at about 40.25 or so tall.

They're about 4 inches taller than the current tires.

TreeClimber · Sep 18, 2011

So I installed them on the front first. DAMN!.... The center hole of the aluminum wheels measure juuuuussst under 4.25 inches.

My wheel hubs are dana 60s, and the wheels juuuuusst won't fit.

Tried to sand down any imperfections on the wheel hubs, and did a very gentle sand to the aluminum wheels (remember, they aren't mine) just to make sure it wasn't something stoopid. Nope they still won't fit.

So mounted them on the rear next.

The tires look fine. But they do hit drastically on the springs. These are about 4.875 backspacing. My current wheels are 3.5 backspacing. Both wheels are 9 inch wheels, converted to beadlocks. So about 9.5 wide now. With the 12.5 wide Krawlers, everything clears. But with the 14.0 wide Iroks, with the additional 1.5 (approx) backspacing, then it all rubs.

But it still LOOKS like, the tires themself will work. I'll probably still have to do some very minor rear fender trimming.

TreeClimber · Sep 18, 2011

So my next thing with tires, is to call back to BFG and find out if I can actually get the BFGs or not, and in 42s.

Then I've got to figure out wheels, as the BFG require me to get 20 inch wheels, and if so, what's the minimum backspacing I can get, as the wider tire will still create rubbing issues with the suspension unless I get wheel spacers or 3.5" (or less) backspacing.

And if BFG doesn't come thru, then it's a debate as to Kreepy Krawlers, Iroks, or.... At least if I don't get BFGs, then I can run my existing beadlocks. Although I still may need spacers.

longfield · Sep 18, 2011

Will they work?

TreeClimber · Sep 19, 2011

longfield said:
Will they work?

Tires - Yes
Wheels - No

KarlVP · Sep 19, 2011

Which lift coils are you running on that thing? Methinks I has an idea for the snow wheelin on my TJ.

TreeClimber · Sep 19, 2011

Karl,
The springs are 5.5"
But the brackets are not OEM. The rear was moved backwards about 5 inches, and recessed up and into the frame, which was reinforced. Also, both front and rear axle brackets are custom, on the D60s. So I'm NOT saying it's got a 5.5" lift.
The rig sits about 1 inch taller than my YJ, which you wheeled with at Rimrock.
Tony

POR · Sep 19, 2011

Why 42's they seem alittle small for ttc

TreeClimber · Sep 19, 2011

POR said:
Why 42's they seem alittle small for ttc

They are indeed small.
But this TJ will be used for local wheeling for years (after TTC), and I don't want to cut it up any more than absolutely neccessary. So, the largest tire that's going to make any sense, is 42s. Although, I may end up with 39s or 40s before it's all over. Also, remember that most guys who run 44s and up, also run Rockwells, Mogs, or some other moster axle. I'm committed to running my existing D60s. They are polished D60s, but there is a point where polishing simply isn't enough.

TreeClimber · Sep 20, 2011

Here's what the snorkel will look like when finished, obviously, I won't have the top or windshield on while at TTC, so the snorkel will be secured thru the windshield's location, to the upper roll bars (probably with 100mph tape)

Next on the agenda, swapping out the engine cooling fan.

little crawler · Sep 20, 2011

After being there I would highly suggest a larger tire just for help and ease of beating on your rig... Ryan ( the Sammi) in the year I went ran 60s and 54's with a 4.3 and did fairly good do to the fact the tires rolled over many of the obstacles and he ran Superior axles he had a few other problems but i dont recall him doing anything axle wise... If you need any help get ahold of me and I would love to give a helping hand in any part...Im thinking tires is going to be your worst part. I am so glad I ran 54 Boggers while there just wish I could have shown everybody how how well they work and how my Bronco worked with them

TreeClimber · Sep 20, 2011

So I swapped fans tonight. The original build, had an OEM HD cooling fan, about 19.5 inch diameter, 7 blades, with a modified flex/solid blade. Kinda odd, if you ask me. The shroud is built to fit a 20 inch blade'd fan, but I chose to replace it with a 19 inch fan, in order to have a little extra room, when it submerges. My fear, is that the 'flex' of the OEM fan could bend, and tear up the radiator. Yes, it's a clutched fan. And the clutch should be able to take a great deal of the 'shock' of water. But I remember a couple of rigs of TTC (in 94) that destroyed radiators, so I'm not taking any chances

TreeClimber · Sep 20, 2011

And this pic is of my new mechanic I hired. He's spends most of his time drinkin'

TreeClimber · Sep 20, 2011

little crawler said:
After being there I would highly suggest a larger tire just for help and ease of beating on your rig... Ryan ( the Sammi) in the year I went ran 60s and 54's with a 4.3 and did fairly good do to the fact the tires rolled over many of the obstacles and he ran Superior axles he had a few other problems but i dont recall him doing anything axle wise... If you need any help get ahold of me and I would love to give a helping hand in any part...Im thinking tires is going to be your worst part. I am so glad I ran 54 Boggers while there just wish I could have shown everybody how how well they work and how my Bronco worked with them

I agree, that big tires are the key to winning. And if I was building a dedicated, 1 time use, vehicle, then I'd run 49s or 54s. But it just won't work. For one reason, I really need to be able to keep this rig beyond TTC. And secondly, I don't have the $$ to buy new axles. When I originally built it, I had these 60s narrowed to a more friendly TJ width. To fit monster tires, I'd need to build a new set of wider axles. Full width is key, to being able to steer large tires.

If I'd have known TTC was going to invite me, I'd have asked to borrow the Bronc before you parted/sold it. Sweet rig for TTC.

But I think you sold it, for all the same reasons I'm keeping this one with smaller tires. Just not worth it to have a monster truck in pacific northwest.

little crawler · Sep 21, 2011

I totally undertsand that bout needing it to be able to run around the PNW afterwards, cool build though

2pwrlftrs4u · Sep 27, 2011

finally found this thread tony.. cant wait to see this :awesomework:

Ba-Riedo · Oct 6, 2011

This is great, good luck to you next year!:awesomework:

-Alex

TreeClimber · Oct 6, 2011

Thanks Alex, for setting me up with the Racer's discount. Much appreciate it. I'll post pics when I install the Masterpull rope.

So I don't have much updates as of this week. I did service the trailer, packed all the bearings, changed the brakes, etc... in anticipation of Kalifornia trip.

Still trying to get tires sourced for cheap.

Also got some one-off wheel spacers, 1.5" thick, with 5 on 5.5 spacing. The one-off is having 9/16ths wheel studs. Standard is 1/2". These should give me the added width to compensate for wider tires.