eurosonic
Expedition Leader
they were 12.5s. Technically you can mount them but the rim is just too narrow for that tire width.
ImNoSaint's Gen III Build
- Thread starter Imnosaint
- Start date
they were 12.5s. Technically you can mount them but the rim is just too narrow for that tire width.
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Okay. Since this thread has been somewhat hijacked (no worries, this forum is all about tackling a learning curve of sorts), let's talk about tire width. I decided to go tall and skinny, assessing the terrain I drive in I thought a tall tire to mount sandstone ridges with an average contact patch width would be better than going wide taxing torque. My current width does fine in sand. In deflating I'm not increasing the width of the patch, I'm increasing its length. Curious what you all think.
Seamus
New member
What size are running or going to be running? I prefer a thiner tire myself and am looking to put new tires on after I put my OME HD lift in. Going to copy some of your mods on my 2001 Montero as well.... :drool:
speaking of which I am wondering if I can use some kind of grommet to fill the trim holes as I am terrible at body work and don't have all the tools necessary as I just moved to Arizona and had to leave some things behind...Thoughts and or advice? Really like your build so far BTW. :safari-rig:
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nwoods
Expedition Leader
I completely agree with you. The challenge seems to be in finding tall skinny 33" x 15" tires.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
BFG used to make 33x9.5/15 tires but they stopped quite a few years ago. 10.5 is currently the narrowest they have available.
I have 12.5" wide tires because I had always heard you got a bigger contact patch with them but apparently the school of thought has gone in the opposite direction & now they say the narrower tires will give a bigger patch when aired down.
That said I still like the wide tires cause IMHO they look cooler... LOL
nwoods
Expedition Leader
BFG used to make 33x9.5/15 tires but they stopped quite a few years ago. 10.5 is currently the narrowest they have available.
I have 12.5" wide tires because I had always heard you got a bigger contact patch with them but apparently the school of thought has gone in the opposite direction & now they say the narrower tires will give a bigger patch when aired down.
That said I still like the wide tires cause IMHO they look cooler... LOL
Did you happen to read Mark Allen's excellent article on this? It's here on ExPo, one of their front page articles:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/resources/91-guide/983-the-lowdown-off-road-tire-pressures.html
Really good info
nwoods
Expedition Leader
I love BFG KM2's, and had them on my last vehicle, and have a lot of experience with them in a multitude of conditions, but I don't think they are quite the right tire for this rig. I am looking to go a little bit less agressive, and thinking that Goodyear MTR's or Duratracks would be a better choice for me...But not available in 33x10.5x15 darn it.
Similarly, I have a fair amount of time on BFG AT's, and while they wear like iron, they ride like it too. Far too stiff for an undersuspended rig like the Montero. If I was going down the AT route, I would choose the silcone based Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX, but they are only for 16" or larger wheels, and then there is the Discoverer S/T or the venerable STT, but of course, those are both only offered as fatties (12.5) in the 15" wheel size.
The Toyo Open County MT's are available in 33X10.50R15LT 114P, but again, just a bit more agressive (and louder) than I am looking for. The more I look at them, the more I like the Duratrac, but it's the wrong size!
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Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
What a great article. Thanks for the link.
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Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Hi-Lift Mount
A change in our camping setup along with the added rigidity of a roof rack mod got me to consider an alternate spot to mount a Hi-Lift. Before I had it mounted on a pair of Thule load bars, but in their absence since I won't be using the RTT, I created a mount on the factory rack using a pair of QuickFists following their instructions on how to use them for this purpose.
I drilled out the the holes in the QuickFists with a 3/8" bit. I measured the jack and decided on a 34" center that would allow the jack to mount through the holes on the ladder. With that measurement, I drilled two 3/8" holes, 34 inches apart on the passenger side roof rack, perpendicular to the side making it exit at the angle of the rail.
I inserted a 3" 3/8-16 bolt from the underside so the threads were pointing out of the rail. Anything longer than a three inch bolt will not clear the roof to access the hole.
The QuickFists were mounted on the bolts, along with four washers, a lock washer and a lock nut. (Were the bolt completely threaded I wouldn't have used the washers save one along with the lock washer - I was using existing hardware hanging out in my garage.)
With the QuickFists in place the Hi-Lift mounted on it using the protruding bolts to hold it in place. For my own peace of mind I added a fender washer and another lock bolt on top of that to cinch things down. Solid, rattle-free.
A change in our camping setup along with the added rigidity of a roof rack mod got me to consider an alternate spot to mount a Hi-Lift. Before I had it mounted on a pair of Thule load bars, but in their absence since I won't be using the RTT, I created a mount on the factory rack using a pair of QuickFists following their instructions on how to use them for this purpose.
I drilled out the the holes in the QuickFists with a 3/8" bit. I measured the jack and decided on a 34" center that would allow the jack to mount through the holes on the ladder. With that measurement, I drilled two 3/8" holes, 34 inches apart on the passenger side roof rack, perpendicular to the side making it exit at the angle of the rail.
I inserted a 3" 3/8-16 bolt from the underside so the threads were pointing out of the rail. Anything longer than a three inch bolt will not clear the roof to access the hole.
The QuickFists were mounted on the bolts, along with four washers, a lock washer and a lock nut. (Were the bolt completely threaded I wouldn't have used the washers save one along with the lock washer - I was using existing hardware hanging out in my garage.)
With the QuickFists in place the Hi-Lift mounted on it using the protruding bolts to hold it in place. For my own peace of mind I added a fender washer and another lock bolt on top of that to cinch things down. Solid, rattle-free.
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Illumination
Since I trashed the driver's side driving lamp on the Three Hour Tour, I've been looking for a replacement alternative to OEM. Prices were outrageous, at least for me, to go stock or upgrade, either way I was looking at $300+. So I rolled the dice and ordered a pair of Montero Sport driving lamps, under $75 for the pair and engineered a new mount for the lamps.
I removed the factory frame along with the connectors, since the Sport connectors don't match the Montero's factory harness, go figure. I fed the lamp housing through the front of the openings in the bumper and used steel strapping to create a frame with which they were mounted. I eye-balled the beam path, measuring lamp centers. I later tweaked height with an adjustment of what's left of the lower bumper, creating an adjustable strut that pulls the lower part of the bumper in.
Since I had the bumper off I picked up a pair of Hella 500 FFs and installed them.
Passed the shake and rattle test.
Since I trashed the driver's side driving lamp on the Three Hour Tour, I've been looking for a replacement alternative to OEM. Prices were outrageous, at least for me, to go stock or upgrade, either way I was looking at $300+. So I rolled the dice and ordered a pair of Montero Sport driving lamps, under $75 for the pair and engineered a new mount for the lamps.
I removed the factory frame along with the connectors, since the Sport connectors don't match the Montero's factory harness, go figure. I fed the lamp housing through the front of the openings in the bumper and used steel strapping to create a frame with which they were mounted. I eye-balled the beam path, measuring lamp centers. I later tweaked height with an adjustment of what's left of the lower bumper, creating an adjustable strut that pulls the lower part of the bumper in.
Since I had the bumper off I picked up a pair of Hella 500 FFs and installed them.
Passed the shake and rattle test.
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Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Rubber and Rims
Having run out of patience with my back-ordered OME kit, I went ahead and mounted the Big Horns on the new steelies. Went out to Warner Valley for a couple of pics. The 33s raised the height by 1.5".
Great thanks to Scottish Treats for the stickers. They look terrific and were gracious to work with.
And Mitsubishi, if you're listening, a factory version of this should grace your showrooms.
Having run out of patience with my back-ordered OME kit, I went ahead and mounted the Big Horns on the new steelies. Went out to Warner Valley for a couple of pics. The 33s raised the height by 1.5".
Great thanks to Scottish Treats for the stickers. They look terrific and were gracious to work with.
And Mitsubishi, if you're listening, a factory version of this should grace your showrooms.