BJ74 wheels

[LowFour]

I'm after some advice on wheels & tyres for a BJ74 in Australia.

It's currently got Sunraysia chrome mags, with tubeless 10.5R15 tyres. Sexy, looks good, but I've got some reservations:

For reasons of traction in mud, road noise and mileage, I'd rather have skinnies, like 205R15s. I'd also rather have tubes and split rims, because they're easier to fix if you're stuck out bush - and you can find yourself 200 + kms from anywhere around here.

So, Questions:

The newer LCs all have five-stud hubs, my 1986 has got the old six-stubs. While there are lots of Hilux (small truck) split rim wheels around that fit these hubs, there are precious few LC wheels that do Does anyone know if there is a difference in offset, and if this would be a problem?

And where's a good place to put the spares (I want two) in the BJ74? I'd rather not have one hanging off the back door, as the corrugated roads here mean you soon have a back door that doesn't open. And how do you put a rack on the FRP roof?

Any ideas gratefully accepted, thanks, Peter

 

[crushers]

check your local mine truck supply , they might have take offs...

 

[Gold Boy]

Peter.... Try OZ Ebay.... http://www.ebay.com.au/

Sounds like you live in a interesting location, hows the fishing?

All the best

Simon

 

[roscoFJ73]

Pete where have you been looking? I keep falling over split rims in WA,someone offered me 3 new for $75(long gone) and I see them all the time in the classifieds.
Although getting good rust free splits is not always easy I admit.
Maybe you could offer a swap in the local trader mag for your current rims.
I think the Hilux do have a different offset but others say they are still usable.

You can also get those tyre pliers from the offroad shops that take the hardwork out of changing tyes on standard rims .

The best and only roof rack I would fit is one that was pictured on a cover of 4wd Monthly a while back.

It had the front of the rack supported by the gutters over the front doors,2 clamps each side
The rear was supported by 2 sturdy 50-60 mm alloy tubes that came down to the rear bumper following the contours of the vehicle.
The supports were positioned slightly outside the width of the vehicle so they didnt obscure the tail lights or restrict the rear doors opening.

Some of the big off road out fitters ARB/TJM/ECB have a roof rack design suitable for MWB but they have to be ordered and they aint cheap. I think its about another $3-400 above a 60 series.

Probably work out cheaper to find a local fabricator who can work from your design

IMO never drill the FRP.

 

[crushers]

this is no use to you but i have 4 sitting here i would give away for a box of sugar crisp...
sorry, i will not ship...
cheers

 

[LowFour]

Split rims

Simon, the fishing is not great at the moment - this place is dry eight months of the year, there's been no rain since March, and the last Wet season was a dud. So the barra don't have enough feed, and the water's too cold now anyways. Come the 'Build-up', in November, December (humidity and temperature through the roof, but no rain to flood the rivers), it'll be a different story ... hopefully.

Rosco, I looked in a few tyre shops and wrecking yards in Darwin before I came back down, six hole split rims are rare as hens teeth. I thought it'd be easy, everyone would be jumping for my nice chrome Sunraysia's but no. Beaurepaires had two in an old shipping container out the back but very sorry looking. The trading mag is a good idea, I'll try that. Or I might even stay with the tubeless, get a bit more info on patching them.

The guy at Beaurepaires said the same about the offset vis-a-vis the Hilux - they fit some LCs but not others. He said the 75 utes are OK with Hilux wheels, but he thought the 74 wouldn't be - apparently they hammer the tie rods.

Thanks for the info on the roof rack - it's nice having the MWB but there's a lot less room than the troopie. I might just have to get good at patching the tubeless and get by with one spare.

 

[Gold Boy]

Simon, the fishing is not great at the moment - this place is dry eight months of the year, there's been no rain since March, and the last Wet season was a dud. So the barra don't have enough feed, and the water's too cold now anyways. Come the 'Build-up', in November, December (humidity and temperature through the roof, but no rain to flood the rivers), it'll be a different story ... hopefully.

I am sorry to here about the rims and the fishing for Barramundi, I have seen Rex Hunt and Steve Starling fish for them looks like great fishing.

If you are ever in my neck of the woods, give me a call and I will take you fishing in the Canadian Outback.

Simon

www.thegoldhouse.com

 

[roscoFJ73]

Rosco, I looked in a few tyre shops and wrecking yards in Darwin before I came back down, six hole split rims are rare as hens teeth. I thought it'd be easy, everyone would be jumping for my nice chrome Sunraysia's but no. Beaurepaires had two in an old shipping container out the back but very sorry looking. The trading mag is a good idea, I'll try that. Or I might even stay with the tubeless, get a bit more info on patching them.

The guy at Beaurepaires said the same about the offset vis-a-vis the Hilux - they fit some LCs but not others. He said the 75 utes are OK with Hilux wheels, but he thought the 74 wouldn't be - apparently they hammer the tie rods.

Thanks for the info on the roof rack - it's nice having the MWB but there's a lot less room than the troopie. I might just have to get good at patching the tubeless and get by with one spare.

The tie rod story is new on me too.
I suppose the split rim would be hard to get in you area being the"wheel of choice"up thereLOL.
I would try the wheel and tyre yards in the lower states and see what they got.
See if theyll send a pic.
Generally the private sales from owners who have just bought a mint 75 at the auctions and want the splits gone,give the best deals.

Sometimes just putting something like "split rims for sale" into googles australia search works wonders as well

I also like those goo covered plugs you put in tubeless tyres while its still inflated. I got 2-3 in my cars and they work well.

Have you got any local off road pics?

 

[Etsha6]

Pete,

For what its worth, I have a set of steel split rims from a 60 series which I will fit to my BJ74. They dont fit without modification as the front ones scrape against the steering arms.

Ben

 

[LowFour]

Rosco, I have tried the goo covered plugs - the ones I've got are 'Rema Tip Top Sealfix Super Strings'. They worked a charm on the little puncture I got coming down the Roper Bar road - very rocky and corrugated, the grader only goes through once a year at the end of the Wet - but they didn't work on the bigger hole I got on the same road. The blurb says they only work for holes up to 6mm. I ended up finishing the last 150kms into Borroloola at 60k/h, praying for no more flats.

Peter