19.5 alloy or chrome wheels??????????

[gardnerteam]

Put 3,000 miles on my truck this last week running to Baja & back. Came back extremely overloaded with 24' triple axle Pace and truck loaded to the hilt with a GCVW of 33,000 lbs - heaviest I have ever towed with a dually or non dually (my D/A is a non dually). My 305E Nitto's did fine, but I want to go to 19.5 wheels and have a heavier (12 to 14 ply) narrower tire on it. Does anyone make a 19.5 alloy or chrome for the D/MAX? Would appreciate any info known.

[mdrag]

gardnerteam,

Check the links in my sig for pics of the 19.5" conversion using 8-10 bolt adapters and Alcoa wheels.

Other options include:

RICKSON TRUCK (http://www.ricksontruck.com/)

APP (http://www.appwheels.com) also makes a direct bolt on 19.5" wheel - I could not get their website to work this morning.

Try a search using 19.5 and you will find MANY posts on the 19.5". Also check the classifieds since Maverick had a complete 19.5" listed.

[gardnerteam]

Thanks. Mavericks are the 3500 wheel and mine is a 2500HD. APP is now found on a web page at Aluminum Precision Products. I will call them monday. Will also call Rickson. Thanks again.

[mdrag]

A 2500HD with 225/70 19.5" - from Rickson's website.

http://www.ricksontruck.com/wheels/Maroon_C.gif

Good Luck.

mdrag

[LA DMAX]

gardner,
I talked to Alcoa several months ago about a 19.5" wheel. The guy said they may have one out for our bolt pattern by next year. He said that things work rather slowly overthere. I asked why and he said that they have to build a tester set, test them, make changes if needed, then start producing them. He said all in all it usually takes 1-2 years from the idea to the show room. Wow, that's a long time. The 19.5's look sweet, I saw an F350 in Glamis last year with the APP's and 265/70 19.5 Michelin XZX. Since then I've been dreaming of that setup. :D Good luck

LA DMAX

[DieselDixon]

Does anyone know what the ratings are on these wheels? Also being a half size, does that mean that the tires do not have beads?

[mdrag]

Originally posted by DieselDixon:
Does anyone know what the ratings are on these wheels? Also being a half size, does that mean that the tires do not have beads? I don't recall the wheel ratings for the Rickson's. My Alcoa 19.5" x 7.5" wheels have a 6600 lb rating, and the Michelin XDE M/S 225/70 19.5" LRF are rated 3640/3415 lb (single/dual). Many of these tires are also available in Load Range G, and some sizes LRH

The 19.5"/22.5"/24.5" sizes are medium/heavy duty sizes. The tires DO have beads.

mdrag

[a64pilot]

gardnerteam,
Wouldn't going to that big of a wheel change your gear ratio a lot? As heavy as you pull I would look into it before I went to that big of a wheel.
33,000 lbs., my God man you must be crazy ;) especially on a SRW truck.
I ocassionally pull about 20,000 on a three axle tag along trailer.

[gardnerteam]

Truck currently has 305x70x16 Nitto E's on 8" Weld on it. 305 is the same heigth as 285, just load range E and wider. 285x16, 305x16, and 245x19 are all about 33" tall, give or take a fraction depending on tire. Pulled the weigth just fine - had to ease it off the line or would get shudder. I agree - way too heavy. I never even pulled that heavy with my GMC Case/Cummins dooley with the 45' gooseneck. It was a matter of necessity as I had already overloaded a suburban and U Haul, and the rest had to go into the truck and 24' as the triple axle carries the weight very well. Braking was the problem and I just drove with my eyes a mile ahead and allowed lots of distance and time. Worst part was going down the Grapevine north of Bakersfield. Normally, at 24 to 26,000 I run it in 3rd, tow haul, at 50 mph and it holds without touching the brakes. Not this time - had to use brakes and apply trailer brakes alone to keep it under 50. Truck brakes got warm, very mild fading, but trailer brakes worked well manually - thanks to HD brakes and Prodigy. Rolled most of the way at 63 mph indicated, which is about 69 mph true. Mileage ran from about 10 to 11. And no, I do not plan to carry that much again. Need to go on a diet. The BIGGEST plus was outside temp was from 95 to 106, and the D/A ran 195 degress engine temp and 180 degrees Allison temp no matter how I used it. Thrilled with that - and yes, I do have the deep pan.

[dmaxstu]

Gardner:

I was wondering when you go south of the border do you carry any spare parts? I'm hoping to go down to Baja how hard would it be to get an alternator for instance should it crap out?
BTW thanks for generating this post it is going to help me to jack up that GVW a little with those bigger wheels and tires, I seem to be pushing the envelope at times. Stu

[gardnerteam]

The 2500HD chassis will handle a lot more weight than it is classified for, but its stock tire and wheels won't. 245GX19.5 will take you to about 18,000 lbs tire and wheel rating.
I used to carry alt, starter, water pump, belts hoses, coolant, tool chest, JB Weld, - you name it. With the D/A, I have carried only coolant, tool chest, JB Weld, etc, but now that I have 50K on it, will carry belt, alternator, and other things. Have always carried my own oil and filters - 24 gals of oil, 12 oil filters, 12 fuel filters, Cetane and Lubriwhatever. That is for my trips to Guatemala & beyond. For Baja, carry one change of oil, two filters, 3 or 4 fuel filters, and a spare belt. Now everyone can see why my trucks are so heavy - not just my fat a--, but a lot of equipment including the 1/2 steel bumpers, 1,500 lb warn, 56 transferflo and on and on.

[dmaxstu]

After mulling over this bigger wheel issue I found I can get those wheels and tires locally but was warned of ABS brake, SES light and other issues that might rear their ugly heads. Is there any one out there who have had problems making that mod? Or are those things just someone's imagination? Stu

[mdrag]

Originally posted by dmaxstu:
After mulling over this bigger wheel issue I found I can get those wheels and tires locally but was warned of ABS brake, SES light and other issues that might rear their ugly heads. Is there any one out there who have had problems making that mod? Or are those things just someone's imagination? Stu No issues on my '01 in over 1 year with the 19.5" set up. I did not recalibrate the ABS. The OEM 215/85 16" GY Wranglers (http://www.goodyeartires.com/catalog/products/WRLATSSize.html) are 30.6" in diameter vs 32.6" for the Michelin XDE M/S 225/70 19.5" (http://truckus.webmichelin.com/tires/74/specs.html), or roughly a 6% difference in circumference.

mdrag

[ 07-30-2003, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: mdrag ]

[gardnerteam]

Those issues are may or may not be raised because of the difference of the overall diameter of the tire, not the diameter size of the wheel. 19.5 sizes correspond with 31", 32" 33" & 34" tall tires. I am currently running 305 nitto which is the same size as a 285, only wider and E rated. It has changed my speedo about 9%, but never affected my ABS nor thrown any codes in 48,000 miles. If I go to 19.5, I will either use the same heigth tire, or possibly go 1" higher. I am looking for the narrower tire, a load range G (14 ply rating) and long wearing. My truck does eat tires or maybe it's my style of driving? Nah, couldn't be that - LOL,

[Maverick]

This pic is from Rickson also. Anybody know this guy. must have stock in Ranch Hand. Out of Baytown, TX. He has 265/70-19.5's. Also a 6" lift.
http://www.ricksontruck.com/customers/36/2.jpg