Your thoughts on 19.5" rims please..

[Sitec]

Hello again all.
Ok, now having the new toy I can think about doing some mods to aid its use on the roads. Have been doing a lot of trawling thru threads on here, on the OKA forum and the expedition forum, I think I have settled on a suitable tyre size and rim replacement for the 101, giving it a decent radial, that is no bigger than the XZL, but cheaper, and giving a bigger rim to allow some decent truck disks to be fitted to the front axle. The tyres I have found are Toyo 285/70 R19.5 (M608z's). Here is a pic of them against the XZL.... Thoughts and comments positive and negative wanted.

[Sitec]

Here's a nice OKA and trailer setup on Michelins and 19.5" rims. I can find rims at the wreckers and get centres put into them at sensible money, and think they'd look ok on a 101 too! (Their might be a set of 5 101 rims with bar grips for sale in the not too distant future!)

[101RRS]

Why not just go for Unimog 20" rims - freely available and the stud pattern is the same as the 101 so no mods needed - tyres no such an issue as well.

[Sitec]

Thought about that... but they're not the prettiest things (I know.. Neither is the 101 but its a looks thing). They're not common either.... This is the pic I found with those Mog rims...

[stuee]

I've was just searching this very topic yesterday. Good timing!

Agree the Unimogs aren't there nicest looking rims, have also read there may be some minor steering arm mods required to fit? This would most likely be the case for the 19.5" rims too. I need to look more into this as again its only been comments on the 101 club forum.

I thought I was set on XZL's but I really like Garry's rims and also the rims on the Rage Rover that you posted a link too. Only issue I'm finding with the 16" rims is that it appears to be limited to around 35" tyre size for commonly available tyres now that everyone is moving on to 17" rims. (I've just been using Tire Rack in the US as a reference). I'd like some 36 or 37's Just to give that for a better stance (If I'm forking out mega bucks I may as well make it look just like I want it too). Eastern wheel works do a nice custom rim made to order, but the flat plate jobbies on the Rage Rover look cool too (except for the fact that the step is useless...).

With the 19.5" rims are you limiting yourself to essentially truck tyres? If I was going to the effort of getting custom rims made I'd want a wide range of tyre types hence why I'm now looking at the 17's. Mind you I haven't look at whats our there for 19.5" rims.

Also with the Zeus disc kit (which I have) it fits in the standard rim so I don't get any real benefit by going much bigger than 16".

These are the tyres I'd like to run:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp'tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+MT%2FR+with+Kevlar&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=725QR7WMTRK&tab=Sizes

Either that or the KM2's like Garry.

[amazing]

you may find the truck tyres lack flexibility in the sidewall and may cause the rear of your 101 to skip a bit.

if you have the tyres side by side with them off rims or deflated low. sit on them and compare flex.

[cooee]

from my experience get your get 8 inch rims ford 8 in weld 101 centres
I had 38.5x14.5-16 maxxis brilliant set on my 101 Iand sleepy 101 has the same I think
cheers cooee:D

[Sitec]

I've thought about widening the rims. AJ has them, but... You still have the issue of only being able to run std brakes or Zeius, which I believe to only have the same power as original brakes but without the constant adjusting. With a 19"+ rim there's room for some decent stoppers. Do like the look Sleepys tho.. Like these too which are on 19.5's...

[Sitec]

Or there's the 20" option with BFG's which would go away from the truck tyres and give me back a known great tyre that I've always loved. Ignore the Alloy but these are BFG All Terrain 305/55 R20's. Believe they are as rare as chooks teeth over here tho!

[101 Ron]

The standard 101 brakes suit the machines performance and there is nothing wrong with the Zeus after market brakes.
Yes a up grade from bar treads is a good idea to take advantage of todays safer tyres.
That's right theres going to be that big diesel up grade and performance increase etc.
The 101 is a light weight military gun tractor....or designed as one anyhow.
I do not mean anything in a bad way, but just looking at the other side of the logical coin.
May be something like a OKA should have been the starting point and save all the hassles of engineering and time.
Something I learnt along time a go was when I had a old BSA B40 motor bike and though it could be improved greatly for what I wanted to use it for.
I put a jap long travel suspension under it, high compression piston, change the looks of it to be more modern etc.
At the end of the day I turned the bike into a Honda 350 XL type motor bike when may be I should have just purchased a Honda 350 XL that done the job better with less effort.
Everyone is different regards
Ron

[Mick_Marsh]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/101-forward-controls-variations/62578d1373071038-your-thoughts-19-5-rims-please-image.jpg

I quite like that Oka and trailer.

[101 Ron]

16 inch rims are cheaper to do, less engineering/rego problems if you don't go too wide, tyre OD options range from 32 to 38 inch with reasonable widths.

[cooee]

:) I totally agree with 101 ron says there nothing wrong with way 101 set up
sure mod here and there I would not go 19.5 rims and tyres
but each to his own
cheers cooee:D

[clubagreenie]

20" All Terrains.

Whats the world coming to?

[Sitec]

Cheers guys, all valid points. Ron, certainly not dissing the Zeus Brakes, and read thru your conversion thread with great interest. One thing you said at the end of it from memory was that the disks were on a par with the drums for stopping when set up correctly without the need for constant maintenance. Knowing how well mine went with the Nissan, I know it'll need better 'stoppers'. Working for a tractor dealer I also know that it'll end up being drafted in to tow/deliver tractors here and there to save having to use the large and slow Hino.. With the new vehicle, I'm aiming to fit the diesel and box, but do as I did with the last and do all the mods to the engine/box and its ancillaries rather than mod the chassis and body so it can all be reversed in the future. Re the OKA... Yeah, I hear you, but I'd have to sell the house and SWIMBO to afford the one I want (Cummins or Duramax) as the Perkins is too small and a 4 pot, so I'd still be modifying it. Anyway.... It's not a Land Rover!!! Now, if the Iceberg Diesel had got off the ground then it would have been easy... It would have probably come with a V8 Turbo Diesel!! Mick, yeah, it's the trailer that originally caught my eye! The whole setup looks good tho and prob has a cost to go with it! As for the 20" All Terrains... I'd be curious to know the outside dia of them though, as they are a great tyre! Anyway. First thing is a damn good service, swivel seal change, and general going thru. Might try and address the tapping V8 when cold too.. Tired Disco engine I'm told.. Offender90 is doing some mods to his... (Another thread coming soon eh B!), so there will be a 3.9 efi in the shed that might have to be borrowed and fitted until the diesel arrives!! :D Thanks again all for the valid points! Oh, and here's the infamous 'Iceberg'!

[101RRS]

For those of you who may have forgotton what Cooees old 101 looked like - with its big wheels.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/4720776.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/4720776.jpg.html)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/4722600.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/4722600.jpg.html)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/4722633.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/4722633.jpg.html)

The 16" wheels are plenty big enough for the disk brakes - remember a 101 only weighs about the same as a 110 and its brakes pulled it up OK and zeus brakes are about the same size.

The issue with zeus is that they use the standard 101 booster which is geared to drum brakes not disks. There are three options to get around this:

1. Stay with the standard booster and accept a heavy pedal; or

2. Put in a double diaphram booster from a D1 to almost double the braking effort; or

3. Put in an additional inline booster on the front braking circuit only to boost braking pressure to the front brakes only.

I tend to agree with Ron - all this work to create a 101 Frankenstein when there are better base vehicles for what you want to do out there - Oka, Canter, other Jap FC diesel 4wds.

I think if you do what you want to do to the 101 you will have big issues getting it engineered and just the costs for engineering will be great.

Garry

[Sitec]

Ah! I have pics of this! Where did it end up? That and Sleepys are great looking trucks!! Mmmmm, gotta find me some 'cheep' (ha ha) Michelins then!! Still wanna hear from someone who's given the 'clones' a go..... Done the Canters, don't have the OKA money, and love the 101s. It'll work, promise I won't ruin the base vehicle and it'll all cost under $25000 and still be a Land Rover! Well, I was thinking of calling my 101 'Mick' because of its door markings and the help I had getting from and to the airport... but maybe it should be 'Frank', though I think that name would be better suited to the 'Rage Rover'...! :D

[101 Ron]

Today I had a great little run with the local 4wd club and I took the 101 and mixed with the modern 4bys.
It was nothing serious , just abit of play and dirt road touring in the state forests and hilly country behind the Clyde river.
Yes the standard 3.5 was just alittle bit slower than the modern stuff on the tarred road, but any thing else it did well.
Today I noted to my self the brakes are working better.......the discs have now bedded in, not so much in greater out right wheel locking power, but the brakes are working a lot better as a package, especially on loose dirt roads and I found my driving style has changed slightly to reflect this.
The 35/36 inch rubber is working well for what I want, but if you are doing a lot of tarred road work they wouldn't be 1st choice.
Where the different rubber to standard shines is not so much in diameter, but the greater width and more modern tyre tech giving safer and better handling.
To day I was having some fun sliding the 101 into corners on hard fast dirt roads something I never done much before.
Diesels are good and they are hard to beat for fuel burn, but that little rover 8 is just so smooth and tractable fun.
Yep a 4.6 rover carby/LPG motor is on the cards and the thing should have more than enough poke, just I cannot justify the cost until the 3.5 motor dies.
Today driving along the highway I was able to sit on 100 to 110 kph ........pushing a bit harder than normal and that speed is about the limit of what the canvass top and drive train will take over along period of time.
4.7 diffs will help greatly if power is advailable and a hard top.

[Sitec]

Yeah, I'm still undecided about a hard top... In the UK it was a given, but a GS with the door tops and sides removed and the canvas rolled up in summer would be hard to beat over here! It's good to hear that the brakes are getting even better. Do you think a set on the rear would be waisted coin or not? Guessing it would be with just a rag top and two spares mounted at the rear. What ever rubber I decide on, it has to be pretty good on the road.... We've locked in to camp (in the 101) at the Blues Fest in Sydney next year along with several other mates in their fourbys from here! Combining it with a two week trip around and about!! If my V8 really is rough, it'll b getting the borrowed 3.9 short term so I'll let you know how that goes with the 4.7's Ron.

[Sitec]

Well.... The deal has been done! I have 6 x 255/100R16 Michelins bound for SA!! I'll listen and stay with the correct size.... Forum 1 - Sitec 0. ;) I like the look of them anyway and they are aggressive enough while being decent on the road I'm told... Watching the other thread with interest as to upping braking power.

On a different note.... About 18months ago we were down at the Murray Mouth (Goolwa End), and whilst at the mouth a green 101 appeared over the other side along with several other fourbys... Who was that then??? :)

[Sitec]

Well, thanks to another helpful forum member I have my tyres!!! Can't wait to shod the animal now!!! As for door to door carriers!! Useless! Suppose to have been collected Wed... Then Thurs... Finally collected Fri.. Passed by the tyres Fri lunch time, and not been seen since! No coms what so ever!! Not a happy bunny!!

[DasLandRoverMan]

Shiney.

When I was much younger I once dreamt of being able to buy a new set of BFG's for the 90 I had at the time.
Eventually I got a set for my 110, and now aspire to being able to afford a set of Michelins for a 101.

[Mick_Marsh]

As for door to door carriers!! Useless! Suppose to have been collected Wed... Then Thurs... Finally collected Fri.. Passed by the tyres Fri lunch time, and not been seen since! No coms what so ever!! Not a happy bunny!!
Patience. They probably had to collect or drop off in Adelaide. They will deliver. If it was on the way over Friday it'll probably arrive Monday.
I found them much easiert to deal with than other transport companies. And a big plus, it is door to door and not depot to depot.

Of course, now we will be able to get first class service for future Landrover logistics. We now have our very own in house vehicle moving company.

I'm sure his details will soon appear in the "Vendors" section.

[Sitec]

Mmm, my patience ran out when the promised pick up on wed became thurs, then Fri.. She then promised that it would arrive late Fri eve/sat morn... It even overtook the wheels... Which arrived sat arvo. Hey ho, not a lot I can do about it I guess!! :)