Builds Spyduh's Crawler80 Build (2 Viewers)

[Jason Andrews]

Nice work! 1.5" of trimming is the equivalent of being able to run 3" taller tires>3" more lift in my opinion.

I weighed mine when I was cutting grooves in the other day. 120 lbs each for 42s on the 17s. On paper they are supposed to be 118# total plus some balancing weights.

Mounting them is much much easier if you sit your butt on the ground and use your knees/thighs to lift and your arms to guide it onto the studs. That's a trick that big rig mechanics use.

 

[Broski]

So I have had 39s over a year now . When mounting them the issue is you can't really get your back into because there in the wheel well. The way I have been getting them mounted is I jack the Reg up close to the height needed then lean the tire over to the axle then jack it up the rest of the way as the axle comes up the axle hub well catch the hole in the wheel and pick the tire/wheel up for you , now you just need to rotate it to line up the studs up and push it on. This well not work if you don't have a FF axle.
As for my spare it rides in the back under a cage, to get that in I role it up no a milk crate lean on the tail gate, then I can easily grab the bottom of the tire lift it up and slide it in.
All of this is in the comfort of my shop out in the wild I my have to improvise.

 

[spyduh]

Here's a demonstration of how to use the prybar trick to install any tires! Took me a while to find a video online of how my old mechanic buddy showed me to install tires.

Yeah, it's a jeep in the video. It's the technique that matters!

 

[arndog123]

maybe if it was $35 but $135 no way

Ya I thought it was too much $ as well.

 

[80t0ylc]

So I have had 39s over a year now . When mounting them the issue is you can't really get your back into because there in the wheel well. The way I have been getting them mounted is I jack the Reg up close to the height needed then lean the tire over to the axle then jack it up the rest of the way as the axle comes up the axle hub well catch the hole in the wheel and pick the tire/wheel up for you , now you just need to rotate it to line up the studs up and push it on. This well not work if you don't have a FF axle.
As for my spare it rides in the back under a cage, to get that in I role it up no a milk crate lean on the tail gate, then I can easily grab the bottom of the tire lift it up and slide it in.
All of this is in the comfort of my shop out in the wild I my have to improvise.

I hear ya. I rotate my tires myself, even though Les Schwab will do it for free. I just don't trust the airguns with the luck I've had with broken studs. What works for me in my driveway is a hand truck, you know what you use for moving boxes around. Pulling the tires off the axle is no problem, its putting 'em back on. So I'll lean the tire/wheel on the axle end, grab my hand truck and slip the blade about an inch under the tire. Using my foot to trap the hand truck so it will pivot up without rolling back and with one hand pull back on the hand truck and the other guides the tire on to the axle end. With our FF rear axle and hub on the front, the wheel will just "pop" on to the hub. Once there, move the hand truck out of the way and rotate the wheel to line up the studs and push the wheel on to the studs and install the lugnuts. As I say, this only works in my driveway where the hand truck is handy and I'm not in a garage or parked in between other vehicles. You need room to use the hand truck. One other tip: Don't try to jam the blade of the hand truck too far under the tire. An inch or so is all you need. Actually it helps to just barely get enough of the blade under the tire to lift it off the ground. Then when it clears the axle it'll just pop on to it. I don't know how much my 35's weigh, but I'm sure they're lighter than the 39's & 40's mentioned earlier. But this has sure made my life easier. I use this method on my other rigs, also. They say to use your legs and not your back when you do heavy lifting. Well, its impossible to use your legs when your squatted down mounting wheels on axle ends. You need to use some assistance when doing this chore or you'll eventually end up with back problems, if you don't have them already!

 

[80t0ylc]

I have no experience but this tool looks like it might help,

TIRE JACK

The idea is sound, but the price is highway robbery IMHO. @spyduh 's prybar idea seems like a better trail idea - at least for the price.

 

[joez]

You guys can't be serious I'd have to call 911 if I got a flat. I might be able to pick it up, but I'd have no accuracy to get it on the studs

It's really not bad. I just sit on the ground, and use the tops of my feet to lift it onto the hub. If Im on a trail, there's usually someone else there to help.

 

[80t0ylc]

old mechanic trick my buddy taught me. Use a big f.....n pry bar as the leverage to lift. The other hand guides it on. I always carry a 3 foot pry bar in the truck. Multi purpose tool.


While that works for mounting it on axle.

I hurt my back lifting that 39 inch monster onto the studs on the 4x4labs swing out. 125 is heavy but what makes it worst is the giant size and its awkward to hold. I can barely get my arms around it.

I'm actually second guessing myself and not carrying a spare anymore. I always bring a flat kit and a can of foam slime. However, my luck with tires is not so good lately. I've shredded 4 tires thus far in the past 3 years. Back of my head tells me I need a spare cause all 4 times a flat kit would not have fixed it. that weight and departure angle has me concerned.

That prybar concept is sound. But, as you say it won't help you get the flat onto the swingout. Best to have help, if its available. Have you tried grabbing it by the spokes of the wheel instead? IIRC, that can work better sometimes - depending on the wheel of course.

"Spare or not" has always been a gamble. Experience is the best teacher. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

 

[spyduh]

The idea is sound, but the price is highway robbery IMHO. @spyduh 's prybar idea seems like a better trail idea - at least for the price.

I use it at home on the driveway too. It's not just for the trail!
All the time for every massive tire. Even helps with baby tires for passenger cars. Not that it's really needed but it's easier on the old back.

This is my trail pry bar. Good for everything and lining up bolt holes like the Radius arms, links, etc if you end up needing to take it off.

36 in. Alignment Pry Bar

Amazing deals on this 36In Alignment Pry Bar at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

This is my at home pry bar. Better for changing jumbo tires cause it's easier to grip!

36 in. Jumbo Pry Bar

Amazing deals on this 36In Jumbo Pry Bar at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

When it gets real tough I break out the 60" pinch bar. They don't make the same one I bought from HD but HF has something similar stupid cheap.

60 in. Pinch Point Bar

Amazing deals on this 60In Pinch Point Bar at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Walmart Pinch Point Bar


Edit: Good old amazon has a pretty good one for a decent price. Amazon product ASIN B008M23DIE

 

[80t0ylc]

I use it at home on the driveway too. It's not just for the trail!
All the time for every massive tire. Even helps with baby tires for passenger cars. Not that it's really needed but it's easier on the old back.

Try my hand truck idea sometime if you've got a hand truck. You might be surprised how easy it is. Here's a pic of mine - just an old one that almost got pitched one time. Now has a useful healthy life:

Of course it won't take the place of all the other uses that a prybar has, but for lifting tires onto an axle in your driveway - it's pretty damn handy. YMMV

 

[spyduh]

Try my hand truck idea sometime if you've got a hand truck. You might be surprised how easy it is. Here's a pic of mine - just an old one that almost got pitched one time. Now has a useful healthy life:


Of course it won't take the place of all the other uses that a prybar has, but for lifting tires onto an axle in your driveway - it's pretty damn handy. YMMV

I totally see how the hadn truck will work. Its all about leverage point making it easier to lift. My hand truck is stored wayyyy in the back. Harder for me to get to. My pry bars are right at my tool box and easy to get to. Half the time I'm wrenching there's like 4 laid across the driveway. lol

 

[StaticTorque]

Mounting them is much much easier if you sit your butt on the ground and use your knees/thighs to lift and your arms to guide it onto the studs. That's a trick that big rig mechanics use.

I only have 35's with 17" steels and I think they're heavy as s***! But I did use this exact technique.
Also a long time lurker, build is fantastic Spyduh!

 

[spyduh]

I only have 35's with 17" steels and I think they're heavy as s***! But I did use this exact technique.
Also a long time lurker, build is fantastic Spyduh!

Yea I use to do it exactly using my feet/knees/thighs to help lift it off the ground while sitting. Did it that way for probably 20 years. Till my old mechanic buddy told me I'm doing it wrong when he saw me one day. I kept refusing to it his way for over a year lol. Till one day I was like. fine I'll give it a try your way with the pry bar. I hated admitting that he was 100% right. I've been using the pry bar technique for over 5 years now. Give it a try, its really less wear and tear on the back/body. Using the pry bar for the mechanical advantage really works. 80t0ylc hand truck method would work well too if you had one. Most people have a hand truck versus a prybar.

Edit: if you don't have a prybar you should probably get one anyway. It's a useful tool if you wrench on your own 80.

 

[Broski]

Yea I use to do it exactly using my feet/knees/thighs to help lift it off the ground while sitting. Did it that way for probably 20 years. Till my old mechanic buddy told me I'm doing it wrong when he saw me one day. I kept refusing to it his way for over a year lol. Till one day I was like. fine I'll give it a try your way with the pry bar. I hated admitting that he was 100% right. I've been using the pry bar technique for over 5 years now. Give it a try, its really less wear and tear on the back/body. Using the pry bar for the mechanical advantage really works. 80t0ylc hand truck method would work well too if you had one. Most people have a hand truck versus a prybar.

I have both, I rather let the jack do the work

 

[80t0ylc]

Yea I use to do it exactly using my feet/knees/thighs to help lift it off the ground while sitting. Did it that way for probably 20 years. Till my old mechanic buddy told me I'm doing it wrong when he saw me one day. I kept refusing to it his way for over a year lol. Till one day I was like. fine I'll give it a try your way with the pry bar. I hated admitting that he was 100% right. I've been using the pry bar technique for over 5 years now. Give it a try, its really less wear and tear on the back/body. Using the pry bar for the mechanical advantage really works. 80t0ylc hand truck method would work well too if you had one. Most people have a hand truck versus a prybar.

Edit: if you don't have a prybar you should probably get one anyway. It's a useful tool if you wrench on your own 80.

The longer prybar can also be used as a extention for your hi-lift jack handle. You'd want to make sure ahead of time that it fits into the handle. I hate using a hi-lift, but sometimes, nothing else will do. The more leverage and distance away from the jack & harm's way, the better. An extention can give you both.

 

[StaticTorque]

Yea I use to do it exactly using my feet/knees/thighs to help lift it off the ground while sitting. Did it that way for probably 20 years. Till my old mechanic buddy told me I'm doing it wrong when he saw me one day. I kept refusing to it his way for over a year lol. Till one day I was like. fine I'll give it a try your way with the pry bar. I hated admitting that he was 100% right. I've been using the pry bar technique for over 5 years now. Give it a try, its really less wear and tear on the back/body. Using the pry bar for the mechanical advantage really works. 80t0ylc hand truck method would work well too if you had one. Most people have a hand truck versus a prybar.

Edit: if you don't have a prybar you should probably get one anyway. It's a useful tool if you wrench on your own 80.

I'm just now getting into working on my rigs, I tried to man handle it and lift it onto the axle. Did not work at all LOL. I was pooped. Even after sitting on my butt and using legs and everything, still took a lot out of me. Leverage is key, so I will give the "pry bar technique" a shot this weekend when redoing my rear brakes.

 

[spyduh]

Side by side against @Broski wheel wells. He def. cut more out and went further up than me. But I think I did pretty good for just eyeballing and freehand cutting it. I probably should have went a little more aggressive but I also have stuff inside the panels for storage. I might not have the same level of up travel as Broski and might hit the inside or need to bump more. I'm still toying with the idea of going 4" DOBI heavies and 30mm (in) spacer to net me at 5". I need to be at 5 or 6" with my DeltaVS 6' radius arms. I have too much caster right now for my 4" total lift. That might keep my COG a bit lower.

Yea mine isn't as pretty as his cut. My truck was bought beat and dented. It's going to get beat anyway. So nothing for me to cry over if its a little wavy. It's function over form is what counts!

 

[jcardona1]

Looks good, about similar to mine I think. I pretty much went as high as I could while still being able to seal the cab afterwards and not have to redo the tubs & doors.

 

[spyduh]

Just received 4 more 39 Kanatis. Slightly more than my original price. No not for me. My buddy got jelly and wanted a set too. These are reallly hard to find right now. But I have a source now for tires slightly more than wholesale.

 

[GW Nugget]

Crap, by the time I can afford a set of 39s are there gunna B any left?
I'm glad these are getting to be "The New 37"