- 1,504
- 1,169
- 113
- Location
- TN
Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
.Let me guess....
$400 per wheel ?
Absolutely not. Only $399.99.Let me guess....
$400 per wheel ?
LOLWhy only 3 bolts? Man, that just flares up my OCD. It makes them look so goofy.
That's not as good of an idea in this case, where it would only supported by the standoffs. On rockcrawlers, the ring sits against the rim, and the rim supports it. You would have to make these really thick to take the abuse from rocks.I've said for years, just make it a flat disc like rock crawlers use, like sand car bead locks.
Just a flat disc bolted to standoffs (like the $3 standoffs and a $1 bolt that MWE or the OEM use).
View attachment 825251View attachment 825252View attachment 825250
View attachment 825254View attachment 825255View attachment 825256
Disagree.That's not as good of an idea in this case, where it would only supported by the standoffs. On rockcrawlers, the ring sits against the rim, and the rim supports it. You would have to make these really thick to take the abuse from rocks.
The stock guards are formed in a "U" shape, and both points of the "U" contact the rim. It's completely supported, and so a rock hitting anywhere has to crush the "U". So it's an arch, and is pretty strong.Disagree.
The OEM's use 4" standoffs with a 3" tuck in the metal back to the rim.
MWE use a 2" standoff with what looks like no more than 1" tuck back into the rim.
A flat disc (and I'm talking like a giant washer, not a solid disc) could use a 1" standoff and sit flat on the edge of the rim.
I know it would work because I mocked them up with cardboard a couple years ago. The specifics on the length of the stand off and bolts above are just examples, but go look at a Titan rim. A flat disc will work and it will sit against the rim.
btw, I was the first one to suggest using hex coupling nuts and hex cap screws (and it was Neil from FB who located the right size at Fastenal).
![]()
very good points. I think the MME one has a broader span thus allowing the 1" outer bend to possibly sit on the rim.. just below the rubber.... where as the OEM one sat more in the dish... MME needs to put another bend on the inner circle for strength but it does not "have" to hit the rim IFFFF.... they put a plastic or even plywood ring inside it that sits against the rest of the bead lock ring bolt ends.The stock guards are formed in a "U" shape, and both points of the "U" contact the rim. It's completely supported, and so a rock hitting anywhere has to crush the "U". So it's an arch, and is pretty strong.
With a flat metal plate that is only supported at the standoffs, you have a bridge that can be caved in in the middle, or a cantilevered section. Both of those are not ideal.
It would be ok in mud country, but not as much in the rocky stuff.
[Queue Austrian accent] "Because 4 is too many and 2 is too few."Why only 3 bolts?
And a flat plate would be crushed at 14ga steel.The stock guards are formed in a "U" shape, and both points of the "U" contact the rim. It's completely supported, and so a rock hitting anywhere has to crush the "U". So it's an arch, and is pretty strong.
With a flat metal plate that is only supported at the standoffs, you have a bridge that can be caved in in the middle, or a cantilevered section. Both of those are not ideal.
It would be ok in mud country, but not as much in the rocky stuff.
the problem with rock guards like hardcore-ish offroaders "USE" to run is they collect mud and pebbles...... which is why it is NOT on most rigs anymore..... it fell out of favor quickly. Most who have them now are Mall Crawler rigs. Too make sure Im not imagioning things .... just scanned thru about 2 hrs of 2020 rockcrawling and hill climbing videos... only two rigs was using them.
Now that said..... our rigs do have those hoses/valve etc to protect.... so either we need very narrow rock ring to protect them so very little mud gets packed in there......or... very large ones that cover the whole thing and let nothing in. (theoretically) Issue with a full thing like that though is it retains hub heat.. UNLESS... you set the ring say 1/4 inch OUT so muddy water can get in.. mud can get in.... rocks can not.. things cant wack the hoses.... AND... mud can get SLUNG OUT and air sucked in while driving on the road to cool the hub still.
Plywood?MME needs to put another bend on the inner circle for strength but it does not "have" to hit the rim IFFFF.... they put a plastic or even plywood ring inside it that sits against the rest of the bead lock ring bolt ends.
the problem with rock guards like hardcore-ish offroaders "USE" to run is they collect mud and pebbles...... which is why it is NOT on most rigs anymore..... it fell out of favor quickly. Most who have them now are Mall Crawler rigs. Too make sure Im not imagioning things .... just scanned thru about 2 hrs of 2020 rockcrawling and hill climbing videos... only two rigs was using them.
Now that said..... our rigs do have those hoses/valve etc to protect.... so either we need very narrow rock ring to protect them so very little mud gets packed in there......or... very large ones that cover the whole thing and let nothing in. (theoretically) Issue with a full thing like that though is it retains hub heat.. UNLESS... you set the ring say 1/4 inch OUT so muddy water can get in.. mud can get in.... rocks can not.. things cant wack the hoses.... AND... mud can get SLUNG OUT and air sucked in while driving on the road to cool the hub still.