dbltap's Mojito! JLUR

doubletapdaddy

Caught the Bug
When I built my JKUR in Florida, the 35x12.5r17 BFG KM2s fit the Raceline Monsters with ease - they basically fell on. Even torquing down 32 ring bolts went without a hitch.

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I never knew just how easy I had it. Enter 37x13.5r17 Cooper STT Pros, XD229 Machetes and a 30° Colorado garage. Compared to my previous experience, this was like trying to stretch 15" tires onto 20" wheels. Seriously, I actually double checked the side walls and wheel size. Lol. Just getting the wheels into the tires in sub-freezing weather wasn't easy, and thank goodness for the KMC XD231 RG Beadlock Wheels & Cooper STT Pro INSTALLATION write-up and companion video. I would have never thought to use a set of flathead screwdrivers to seat the bead.

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Initially I was unable to sufficiently squish/pinch the tire bead with the beadlock ring. I had seen a post on JLWRANGLER about Wheel Pros offering beadlock ring spacers to accommodate tires with thick beads. I contacted Wheel Pros and they were kind enough to ship the spacers out to me. In the meantime I had moved the tires and wheels indoors and let them sit in the heated house for several days, which ultimately resulted in my ability to mount the beadlock ring appropriately. I guess a 45° increase in temperature improved the extensibility/pliability of the tire bead.

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I followed this torque pattern, using a dry erase marker to number each bolt on the ring.

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As mentioned previously, one of my Machetes required replacement. By the time that it arrived, I had already received the beadlock ring spacers as well. I promise there are two more somewhere.

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Spacer thickness.

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I figured I would try one on the replacement wheel.

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The use of the spacer allowed for a relatively quick and easy installation of the beadlock ring, without very much fuss and retorquing. However, after airing up, multiple leaks coming from between the beadlock ring and the tire bead were so bad that they were audible. To be sure that everything was seated appropriately I removed the ring and spacer, inspected the bead on the mounting lip of the wheel, and addressed the bead with a dead blow hammer. Unfortunately upon reassembly the leaks were still present and just as severe. After removing the spacer and reinstalling the ring, the tire is now holding air as expected.

Now, I'm not recommending whether or not you should use these beadlock ring spacers. Please follow manufacturer recommendations. I can only offer you my personal experience. I found the spacers to be too thick for my needs. Of course YMMV.

EDIT - My wife was disappointed with my "culturally insensitive" joke at the beginning. I thought it was pretty goddamn funny, but took it out anyways.
 

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wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Again, huge thanks for the install videos on Wayalife and JLWrangler. After putting the BFGs on the Racelines (which was VERY easy) I would have been convinced that something was amiss when working on this project.

LOL!! Well, I may not be the prettiest thing to look at but it is my hope that I can help others like yourself out.
 

doubletapdaddy

Caught the Bug
Now for a little something that I like to call "What's In The Bag?"

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As mentioned previously in this thread I decided to use the Mopar CHMSL relocation kit. Unfortunately neither my Craftsman nor my Crescent brand T45 sockets could fit through the "headlight" cutouts...

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...so that I could access the mounting bolts.

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While looking for some extended Torx-bit sockets, I came across a Tekton Key Wrench Set set on Amazon for less than $10 delivered. With Tekton's "Always Guarantee" I figured that I would give them a shot. If they ever break, all I need to do is email them a picture of the broken tool and they should send me a replacement. I say "should" because I've never owned Tekton, and therfore have never used their warranty process.

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What's great, is that they are long enough to access the T45 through the cutout...

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...yet they are still short enough to use for final tightening and/or initial loosening, and not have to worry about contacting the wheel (although difficult to see in the picture, there is plenty of room between the end of the wrench and the finish of the wheel).

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doubletapdaddy

Caught the Bug
Well, my local Sears is gone. My local Ace Hardware and Lowe's stores don't seem to know anything about Craftsman warranties and replacement hand tools. So I guess it's time to move on. I've been impressed with my Irwin / Vise-Grip pliers (including needle-nose, diagonals and channel locks), as well as my recent purchase of Crescent Torx sockets.
 

Jdofmemi

New member
Now for a little something that I like to call "What's In The Bag?"

View attachment 9989

As mentioned previously in this thread I decided to use the Mopar CHMSL relocation kit. Unfortunately neither my Craftsman nor my Irwin T45 sockets could fit through the "headlight" cutouts...

View attachment 9990

...so that I could access the mounting bolts.

View attachment 9991


While looking for some extended Torx-bit sockets, I came across a Tekton Ket Wrench Set set on Amazon for less than $10 delivered. With Tekton's "Always Guarantee" I figured that I would give them a shot. If they ever break, all I need to do is email them a picture of the broken tool and they should send me a replacement. I say "should" because I've never owned Tekton, and therfore have never used their warranty process.

View attachment 9992

View attachment 9993

View attachment 9994

View attachment 9995

View attachment 9996

What's great, is that they are long enough to access the T45 through the cutout...

View attachment 9997

...yet they are still short enough to use for final tightening and/or initial loosening, and not have to worry about contacting the wheel (although difficult to see in the picture, there is plenty of room between the end of the wrench and the finish of the wheel).

View attachment 9998

That all came together nice.

Too bad it has to be such a PITA to get the spare off now.
 

Mud Bug

New member
Yeah, really! I mean, it's just a freaking spare. 🤨

man, I want to relocate the license plate and 3rd brake light to the spare as well... I love the look of the spare on the back of the Jeep. I think it is one of those iconic things like the 7 slots. But more and more I wonder if I should just do a spare delete (but still moving the license plate up) and be done with it.
 

doubletapdaddy

Caught the Bug
My dream of a two-Jeep family is over. My wife bought a new Subaru (official "Colorado State Vehicle", lol). However, this just arrived...

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Does anybody know if the redemption code can be transferred/given to someone that can use it?
 

dixonk

Member
My dream of a two-Jeep family is over. My wife bought a new Subaru (official "Colorado State Vehicle", lol). However, this just arrived...

View attachment 10099

Does anybody know if the redemption code can be transferred/given to someone that can use it?

Make sure you take her to buy some Birkenstocks and go ahead and fill the back window with Colorado stickers.


Sent from my iPhone using JL Wrangler Jeep Forum mobile app
 

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