1 Piece Internal Beadlock Wheel

[Route55]

Since you seem to have an "in" with the designer, have you brought up the inner bead issue? Does he plan to offer wheels with the lock on both sides somehow?

Like others, I'm not hating on the design, however as an individual whom has been very involved in the offroad world for the last 15 years, including running a parts business in the past, I have seen the single bead design going away quickly. As much as I love old technology, this product makes about as much sense to me as someone launching a new carburator design.

IMHO, I feel the product is interesting, but already dated, prior to launching.

[Route55]

BTW, I believe the Hutchinson double beadlock is DOT approved.

[blk88]

When mounting the tire, what keeps the pivot pins to the side and out of the way?

The patented pivotal stud design was a prototype design and will not be on the production wheel. The pivotal stud has been replaced with a solid straight stud. This changed helps keep the cost down and added ease for assembly. It was a win-win change.

When reaching through the inner bead, is the safety bead on the inside of the wheel smaller or shallower to gain access for arms?

Actually the interior safety bead is as tall and wide as the Tire and Rim Association allows, which is taller and wider than the most typical wheels. Accessibility to installing the interior lock rings is from the backside of the wheel, which has a deep drop center into the air chamber. A typical drop center on a standard wheel is about 3/4." The B.A.D. Wheel is just under 2.5" deep allowing room to get into the air chamber securing the internal lock rings. Along with that, the wheel still clears brake calipers.

Can you mount these up without a tire machine?

Yes. A 42" Pitbull Rocker was installed in a home garage with 2 pry bars with the aid of soap and water. Then internal lock rings were installed securing the outer bead. It was then aired up with a typical air compressor securing both beads with no ratchet straps, CO2 tanks or chemicals and flame source.


Do the pivot pins have multiple holes for the clips/cotter pins to ensure the nut can't loosen much?

As stated above, the patented pivotal stud will be replaced with a solid straight stud. The stud will have multiple holes to work with various tire bead thicknesses.

With testing, does the inner locking ring cut/rough up the inside of the tire with low tire pressures (lots of sidewall flex)?

No. The internal locking ring has no purtuding edges. Only minor knurling on the face of the lock ring to grip the tire and prevent the tire from sliping on the wheel.

Not hating on the design, just trying to help with real world questions..

All good questions. Most new ideas come with questions. No worries.

[warrpath4x4]

i have a set of innerairlocks, basicly like a staun but you can buy replacement tubes at just about any tire shop.

[blk88]

Since you seem to have an "in" with the designer, have you brought up the inner bead issue? Does he plan to offer wheels with the lock on both sides somehow?

There is already a double bedlock design in the works, but targeted towards a 20" wheel design to be used in racing applications and goverment use. It will be a forged wheel and probably pretty costly. I don't know much about that wheel at this point. Who knows, maybe it will eventually work it's way into the cast design.

Like others, I'm not hating on the design, however as an individual whom has been very involved in the offroad world for the last 15 years, including running a parts business in the past, I have seen the single bead design going away quickly. As much as I love old technology, this product makes about as much sense to me as someone launching a new carburator design.

I don't think single beadlocks will be going away anytime soon. Walkers are consistently on back order, sometimes being a few months at a time. Heck, vehicles are still designed with leaf springs when links offer higher performance!

IMHO, I feel the product is interesting, but already dated, prior to launching.

Remember that the idea and design of the B.A.D. Wheel is to assist the natural bead of the tire and wheel. You can forgo installing the lock ring and still drive this wheel safely. Put the internal lock rings in, air down to single digits and rock crawl with it. It's a dual purpose wheel with absolutely no maintenance after installation.

[blk88]

BTW, I believe the Hutchinson double beadlock is DOT approved.

Yes they are. However they are a two piece wheel and leave the locking hardware exposed. The B.A.D. Wheel is one piece; all locking hardware is internal within the air chamber, protected from collateral damage. It has a sacrificial rock ring on the exterior protecting the outer surface of the wheel. If you don't like the look of a rock ring, take it off. If your state requires you to pass a state inspection (like PA and many other states), it just takes 30 seconds to remove the ring. It's held on by 6 bolts. The 6 bolts are not subject to the stresses of holding the ring in place due to the reinforced 3/8" wide wheel lip. The wheel is designed to have a recess that accepts the rock ring. Similar to how a manhole cover sits in a manhole ring.

I'm not discounting any wheel design. All the wheels we have been discussing are great designs and work well. I'm just trying to educate on a new design and point out its positives.

[Stumpalump]

i have a set of innerairlocks, basicly like a staun but you can buy replacement tubes at just about any tire shop.

I don't think you can even get Stuans anymore but these are as good or better. One thing I noticed about the inner airs is that they recommend a lot lower pressure in the bladder. I tried that lower pressure in the Stuans and it was a great improvement. It seemed to smooth out the hits that bottom out the tire. Personally I think any headlock is mandatory for anything considered a trail.

[Metcalf]

How is this one piece? The inner ring looks like it moves to me?

It basically looks like you have to tighten the internal ring with the inner bead unseated in a tight space?

Cool idea, but like every design, it has some shortcomings. Nothing like a little competition in the market....

[blk88]

How is this one piece? The inner ring looks like it moves to me?

If you Google images of Hutchinson Wheels you will see what a 2 piece wheel looks like. The rim actually splits into 2 halves. The B.A.D. Wheel design is a single cast wheel.

It basically looks like you have to tighten the internal ring with the inner bead unseated in a tight space?
Yes, it has 3 internal rings that compress the tire bead to the wheel bead, if you choose to install the lock rings. I assure you, there is plenty of room to get the internal beads mounted to the 5/8" studs and tightened down. I can't post pics of it yet, because Off-Road has the rights to the first review/ right up and those pics as for now are being reserved for the write up, but please refer to the 4th pic in my original post. There's ample room to install the inner lock rings.

Cool idea, but like every design, it has some shortcomings. Nothing like a little competition in the market....

Wait until you see the wheels in a write up or on local rigs before you cast judgment. You really can't call it "shortcomings" from what's in this thread and from what I've shared. The write ups will happen soon!

[blk88]

Here's the Hutchinson 2 Piece wheel...
Hutchinson_Rock_Monster_Wheels.jpg

Here's the H1 2 piece wheel...
H1Wheels.jpg

Hopefully this clears the confusion of 1 and 2 piece wheels.