Custom Beadlocks

[rednk1980]

Im still in high school and our ag shop just got a computer operated plasma cutter. Me and a buddy are going to build some custom DIY beadlocks and probably sell them as well. We just started working on this project, its actually our class assignment for our independent study. We have been throwing around some ideas of using aluminum on our outer ring and steel for the inside ring or just steel all the way around. Here is our first prototype drawing.

Let me know if you have any ideas of what we can do to make these the most builder friendly or to just add ideas on designs. Thanks.

[alwayzbroken]

Those look sweet! I personally like the wider outer ring like Trail Ready has. An aluminum outer ring would be really cool. The key is doing something different from the norm and that design is really cool

[rednk1980]

if we are able to make these for sale the aluminum will be almost twice as expensive to make and sell a sheet of aluminum is 460 when a sheet of steel is only 230

[alwayzbroken]

if we are able to make these for sale the aluminum will be almost twice as expensive to make and sell a sheet of aluminum is 460 when a sheet of steel is only 230

Wow. But you wouldn't need as much Aluminum since the outer ring would be the only thing unless you made them for Aluminum wheels. The initial invesment in buying both sheets would be the lousy part.

[88Rokyoat]

I like those. As long as the inner weld on ring is a good fit for welding, I would  buy a set.

[KYOTA]

cool project espescially for a HS project! the design looks good. Make the inner weld on ring fit inside the lip of the rim with 1/16" to 1/8" gap for proper centering and a better weld. Look at my thread (link in sig) click on beadlocks in first post and you'll see how I did mine. If you're going to produce these to sell, start looking into fastener suppliers and what kind of price breaks they might give you for bulk orders.

[Loki]

i think i've seen this somewhere before

[toytank]

very nice guy.i think i would stick to steel i beat the crap out of mine. the prob with bead locks is the price thats why every one build thier own if you could nmake them affordable you could make some good money

[rednk1980]

not really interested in making alot of money. Like i said this is a HS project we are doing for a class so we might just end up making a set for us i don't know yet. But from the looks of how stuff is going well have enough made to sell as the pualyup swap meet next month. If they sell good there then we might think about going bigger in don't know things are still very up in the air as of this moment. As for the aluminum the outer ring would be the only aluminum. the inner ring is steel. we don't have the equipment or the skills to weld aluminum so why try.

[Loki]

that outer ring is going to have to be just about as strong as the inner...so like i said earlier today...Billet Aluminum Outer Rings

also, think about how much weight you're putting on the outside of the rim...balancing is going to be a pain in the 

[toytank]

most people running a breadlock dont balance anyway its a waste of time on a 35" or bigger tire. but point made balance would be an issue if someone desired to.

[Loki]

i ordered my rims and tires and they wanted 200 bucks to mount and balance 4 tires (37's) i called them out on false advertisement but still...50 bucks a tire is a bit much...my 20's were free mounting and balancing...either way. i don't want to get off topic.

[rednk1980]

so were are probably gonna put a third ring on these beadlocks to prevent the rings from coning. It will be ad added feature for these

As for the aluminum we are gonna hold off on that until we get the steel rings dialed down to perfection.

[alwayzbroken]

so were are probably gonna put a third ring on these beadlocks to prevent the rings from coning. It will be ad added feature for these

As for the aluminum we are gonna hold off on that until we get the steel rings dialed down to perfection.

Forget the coning rim. Waste of time. Steel beadlocks are too heavy the way it is.

[rednk1980]

i'd rather add a little extra weight and have it done right then cut corners and pay for it in the end. Like i said this will be an optional addidion.

[alwayzbroken]

i'd rather add a little extra weight and have it done right then cut corners and pay for it in the end. Like i said this will be an optional addidion.

What do you mean pay for it in the end? The only issue is cosmetic and it hardly is an issue at all. Great Lakes Offroad makes awesome beadlocks and he doesn't recommend coning rings. They are not necessary.

[TacoStewie]

can you do it for a 16.5"? cause i am looking for some and that would be cool

TacoStewie

[rednk1980]

What do you mean pay for it in the end? The only issue is cosmetic and it hardly is an issue at all. Great Lakes Offroad makes awesome beadlocks and he doesn't recommend coning rings. They are not necessary.

I was under the impression on what ive read that without the coning ring the bead has a chance of coming out.
So if it is uneeded i don't want the extra weight. 

can you do it for a 16.5"? cause i am looking for some and that would be cool

TacoStewie

When we get the system up and running and get the 15" rings down ill see if we can try a 16.5 lock for ya, but it will be a couple months before we even think about trying it but ill keep it in the back of my mind for when we get to that step it'll just take time.

[yotaboy79]

ive ran mine without and with a coning ring and i was much happier with the coning ring and it was quicker to mount because you dont have the ring flexing more and more each time you tourqe the bolts down it took 6 trips around the wheel without the coning rings to get the bolts to hold a touque setting and 3 trips around the wheel with the coning rings and i noticed that without the anti coning ring they tended to loosen up and they would trap dirt between the rings
i used a piece of 3/16x 1/2 flat bar and bent it around in a circle and tacked it to the inner ring

[rednk1980]

we were just gonna cut another ring out that you could weld on.

[alwayzbroken]

I only had to go around 3 times with mine without the coning ring I used an air ratchet the first two rounds and a ratchet wrench the last round though. I torqued each wheel in about 15 minutes. I never thought about the coning ring making the tires easier to torque and stay tight though. Maybe in that respect it would be worth it.

[KYOTA]

we were just gonna cut another ring out that you could weld on.

unless you cut them out of 1/2" they wont be thick enough and would weigh a ton. Like yotaboy said they need to be rolled out of 3/16" x 1/2" flat

[rednk1980]

Okay thanks for that KYOTA ill have to talk to John and figure out what were gonna do.

[854RUN]

How much do yall think you will sell them for. Have you thought about including hardware or just the rings. Sweet school project 

[TacoStewie]

I was under the impression on what ive read that without the coning ring the bead has a chance of coming out.
So if it is uneeded i don't want the extra weight. 

When we get the system up and running and get the 15" rings down ill see if we can try a 16.5 lock for ya, but it will be a couple months before we even think about trying it but ill keep it in the back of my mind for when we get to that step it'll just take time.

unless you cut them out of 1/2" they wont be thick enough and would weigh a ton. Like yotaboy said they need to be rolled out of 3/16" x 1/2" flat

Right on. sounds good to me.

[rednk1980]

How much do yall think you will sell them for. Have you thought about including hardware or just the rings. Sweet school project 

Were thinking around 200-225 for a complete set w/o hardware, but im not for sure on that it will most likley change between now and then.
If were add hardware to this it will cost a little more don't know the exact amount yet were still researching everything out and getting prices ill get back to you on this topic.

[TacoStewie]

Maybe you could do a limited edition for the guys at Marlin with a little turtle head on them

[rednk1980]

thats a good idea , but i would have to get permission from marlin himself before i even thought about it just to be on the safe side i wouldn't want to make any one mad. 

[TacoStewie]

I will have to have a talk with him on that one.

[854RUN]

That would be sweet with the turtle head on them. but ether way i will buy a set