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Hutchinson Beadlock Wheels

Sierra H3

Sierra H3

Well-Known Member
Messages
150
Location
Central Sierras
I am quite interested in seeing these as well. I looked into them when they were sold by Boulder Accessories a couple of years ago. They are going to be great on Portager's T!
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Boy are you guys impatient.

The Tustin Hummer service rep call at 4:50 and said it was finally ready. He knew I had at least an hour drive in Southern California traffic, so he pointed out that the rental car was paid for 24 hours, so I could just pick it up in the morning. So ...





















I said I wasn't sure I could make it in before they closed and if I didn't make it, it would be 15 miles out of my way, but I'd make it or die trying. I made it with 20 minutes to spare.

So I took a few pics at Tustin Hummer before I left.


Side view with 2 center caps
IMG_0476-1.jpg



Close up of wheel with center cap.
IMG_0477-1.jpg


Close up of wheel without center cap.
IMG_0481.jpg


Spare again no center cap.
IMG_0478-1.jpg
 
T

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
Hutchinson makes the plastic bolt/nut covers is grey color also. Might look cool with them, along with silver center caps.
 
M

MUTAINT

Guest
A little too much black for my personal taste, but I DO love the rims and the STTs!:thumbs:
Have you thought about making the center cap look like a "baby moon" with some "accent" caps over the bolts/nuts???

I tried a few different "styles" with an extra set of rims/caps I have.

0601150009.jpg


0601150004.jpg


Reverse effect for others to ponder.

0601150007.jpg
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Well they definitely look better with center caps than without. I have two more chrome center caps that I bought on eBay coming in the mail.

The interesting thing is the chrome center caps are cheaper than silver, so if you're going to paint them, why not get chrome? I wonder what the cost of chemically removing the chrome is?

I could just get a bunch of center caps and then change them like women change their shoes. :wink:

I’ll get better pictures tomorrow and then we can Photoshop them to see what looks best on the truck.

I am very happy with the Hutchinson’s and the new tires. I do have a slight rubbing with the steering wheel at the limit. With the stock backspace my tires are almost inside the fenders where they belong.
 
Bigunit

Bigunit

Hammer Down!
Staff member
Messages
6,561
Location
Arizona
Very nice MIke! :thumbs:

Would a dark gray center cap from the OEM steelies fit too? Then if you wanted to add a little chrome onto those, you could get the chrome HUMMER letter stickers off ebay.
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Mataint, I'm shocked you're the only one that said it was too much black. Hmm

I like the baby moon look. The randomly oriented tab is the main thing I don't like about the chrome center caps on the black wheels, but the painted tab looks a little imperfect also. The other alternative would be to get the center caps with a black tab or paint the whole tab black.

BU the round steelie center caps don't have the tab. I looked at them, but the tab area would be naked and I don't know if they would fit right.

Got the old tires unloaded last night and I'm taking it to the car wash on the way to work. Then I'll try and take pictures in the day light during lunch.
 
Hunner

Hunner

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,334
Location
Arkansas
quote "I like the baby moon look. The randomly oriented tab is the main thing I don't like about the chrome center caps on the black wheels"

I started to comment last night with all this talk of how they "look" that you really need to orient those tabs.:giggle: It will then of course take some careful driving not to spin a wheel and mess it all up!! It would look good in pictures though.
I thought more about our conversation on the rock rings. I'm looking at mine after Attica and thinking if the beadlock studs are covered, how much mud and wet stuff up in the backside is going to accumulate and sit there on the threads?? It won't be fun taking them off just to wash and I'm thinking of what you said about continually re-threading the retaining bolts into the aluminum. Just a thought.
I'm fixin to give mine a powerwash reeeel gud down in those holes.
DAH_3025.jpg
 
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M

MUTAINT

Guest
Portager said:
Mataint, I'm shocked you're the only one that said it was too much black. Hmm
Click to expand...

Like I said, my personal taste. I like the OEM chrome. You have a "classy" amount of chome on her now and an "accent" of chome on the rims would compliment your "T" very well. :)
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Hunner said:
quote "I like the baby moon look. The randomly oriented tab is the main thing I don't like about the chrome center caps on the black wheels"

I started to comment last night with all this talk of how they "look" that you really need to orient those tabs.:giggle: It will then of course take some careful driving not to spin a wheel and mess it all up!! It would look good in pictures though.
Click to expand...

That's what Photoshop is for. I noticed that with the way the studs are oriented on the spare the tab can be at 2:00 or 4:00 but not at 3:00. O well!

Hunner said:
I thought more about our conversation on the rock rings. I'm looking at mine after Attica and thinking if the beadlock studs are covered, how much mud and wet stuff up in the backside is going to accumulate and sit there on the threads?? It won't be fun taking them off just to wash and I'm thinking of what you said about continually re-threading the retaining bolts into the aluminum. Just a thought.
I'm fixin to give mine a powerwash reeeel gud down in those holes.
Click to expand...

I see your point about the holes being easier to wash out, but on the other hand with them covered, the mud can only get in from the back side. If that turns out to be a problem I could drill a small “pressure washer” hole in the center.

I talked to some Mechanical Engineers at my work about the cover mounting bolt holes and they said they wouldn't put steel bolts into Aluminum threads unless it was a onetime installation. They warned that if the anti-seize dries out, the bolt could seize in the holes and be very difficult to remove because Aluminum has a tendency to gal. They recommended drilling the holes out and putting in ALCOA "Keenserts" :link:. I'm still dithering, but I think it is the right thing to do.

MUTAINT said:
Like I said, my personal taste. I like the OEM chrome. You have a "classy" amount of chome on her now and an "accent" of chome on the rims would compliment your "T" very well. :)
Click to expand...

I agree, I'm just surprised. I thought you were an "all black" king of guy (I mean relative to chrome, I mean on the truck, not … never mind!). On my truck, I think the chrome center caps tie in nicely with the rest of the chrome. Although the tabs might look better painted black with the Hummer letters and the big "C" left chrome?
 
Hunner

Hunner

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,334
Location
Arkansas
Those are interesting inserts. I think for now I should set up a scheduled maintenance and pull the bolts to check them, if I leave them on very long. I probably will not run my rings all the time so other than possible gauling and thread chasing or tapping I guess I will keep slathering on the anti-seize. It's always sumpthin!
Hutchinson must have had something in mind when they tapped those.
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Hunner said:
Hutchinson must have had something in mind when they tapped those.
Click to expand...

The drawing labels them as "Cover Mounting Holes", so they must have intended them for how you're using them.

I will try to call them tomorrow and see what they say.
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Here are the daylight pictures I promised. Drivers side view.
IMG_0487.jpg


Back wheel close up.
IMG_0488.jpg


Front wheel close up.
IMG_0489.jpg


Front quarter
IMG_0490.jpg


Pasanger side view. I got another center cap in the mail today, so I just need one more.
IMG_0492.jpg


Rear quarter.
IMG_0493.jpg

Rear view.
IMG_0494.jpg


Front view.
IMG_0495.jpg


Finally, the tires are under the fenders where they belong.
IMG_0497.jpg
 
M

MUTAINT

Guest
Portager said:
I agree, I'm just surprised. I thought you were an "all black" king of guy (I mean relative to chrome, I mean on the truck, not … never mind!). On my truck, I think the chrome center caps tie in nicely with the rest of the chrome. Although the tabs might look better painted black with the Hummer letters and the big "C" left chrome?
Click to expand...

Haaaa! I get what you are saying. Mr. "T" is "blacked" out because that is what my wife wanted ( I wouldn't paint the grille). All of our others have/had the OEM chrome polished to perfection before and then after wheeling. You know the saying "chrome won't get ya home"? Well I like to say "Black won't get ya back (home)".:cheers:

By the way how did they balance your new tire/rim combo?
 
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