Beadlock Variant Options

[Bandit’s Lair]

So I’ve been looking at wheels a good bit lately. Weighing options between a few and would like to hear some solid feedback on a few of them. Below are the ones on my Final Cut List. If you have, or have had, any of them or have opinions on them fire away.

Total Metal Fabrication weld on beadlock (any steel wheel form follows function)

Hutchinson Beadlock Wheel

Icon Rebound Pro

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[fourfa]

I have the Icons. If you’re getting beadlocks because you actually need them, you will grind the outer rims hard and they won’t be as beautiful as new for long. I learned Icon does not sell bronze touch-up paint either.

Might be a point in favor of beadlocks with replaceable outer bash rings, if cosmetics matter. Or stick to basic silver or black. I don’t really care and they’re usually covered in mud anyway.

The pins and o-ring seals have held up fine on mine

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

@fourfa Thanks! That is a concern. I’d be doing a bedliner on them if I do get them and they are wheels so rash is going to be expected. Has the damage you’ve seen to them been about normal for any off-road wheel or worse?

 

[fourfa]

Normal I think. I try not to beat up my gear but all 5 have grind rash after a few years of running 6-7ish trails

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Gottcha. I like those. I REALLY like the Hutchinson but hate the price tag.

 

[Free2roam]

I went with icons too. Love them. No issues to report as well.

 

[Svenable]

I have 3 sets of Hutchinson, one set on my rock crawler which is the only one that needs them, one set on my JT and one on my daughters JK. They are by far the easiest beadlock to change a tire on. They lock the inner bead as well as the outer bead and are virtually indestructible. You put them together with an impact gun and the split wheel studs torque to 100 ft-lbs. The studs are 1/2-20. You don't break the little bolts other bead locks use. The castings are beautiful.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

@Svenable Awesome!! I was assuming that the added weight of them was going to bring some inherent strength. I never broke any HMMV wheels and I definitely wasn’t kind to those. That ,” Its a rental, don’t be gentle.” Frame of mind. I like that they do have a real world pedigree where component failure isn’t acceptable.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I made a set of weld on locks for my Toyota, big hassle.

Have a set of Hutchinsons for my K20, very nice, very easy, very high $$

The lesson I learned is just stop buying beadlocks lol.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

@Jrgunn5150 While I kind of agree with you and they may be overkill, im one to overbuild and this Jeep is going to be with me for a long while so I figure it can’t hurt. I’ve burped my own tires and reset more than a couple beads on the trail for others so I do want that peace of mind that im not going to have to do that for me or my wife out there. One less thing I have to worry about.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I run Hutchinsons on my TJ. Absolutely love the wheels, I've gone through a few sets of tires on them now and they're so easy to work with. Had them for maybe 10 years now.

After sheering another valve stem on my Saltas on the Gladiator I've been casually looking at beadlocks as well and I also just can't stomach the price on the Hutchinsons anymore.

I think I might go with the AEV Borahs, myself.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

They are spendy and that’s about my only negative. I like the fact that I can throw in a bag of Counteracts and do my tires in the driveway and not have to take everything to a shop to be done. As you stated, they’ll last a pretty darned long time as well. I guess I could do that with the others as well the Hutchinson just seem like they’re more “straight forward” to get into operation.

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