Offsets, camel cuts and one or two sets of tyres?

[Iain C]

Sorry for being a comparative newbie and hogging all the bandwidth, somehow got right into this Land Rovering malarky!!!! 8)

See other thread for my lift and big tyres story, however could do with a bit of help!

With the 2" lift and the standard wheels/tyres, I felt only a marginal difference in the driving, it seemed fine.  However on the 265/75/25 MTs it's certainly a bit more wallowy, and noisier.  I'm in a real quandry, do I keep the MTs on the modulars and use for playing, and keep the roadies on the alloys?  Problem is, I really like the look of the alloys, but I really like the look of the big tyres...pop them on the alloys and it will look the nuts.  How much mileage can I expect out of MTs on the road?  Bear in mind that the vehicle is not a daily driver, it gets used either for playing in the mud or on long on-road trips to the coast, towing a small boat.  What are Hankook MTs like in the wet?  Am I likely to do some impromptu off-roading??? :shock:

Secondly, with the MTs on the modulars, I have not lost any steering lock, so I am guessing that they are at a different offset to the alloys.  Bearing in mind that the Goodyear Eagles are still on the alloys at the mo, is there a way of working out the difference in offset, and consequently how much lock I would need to lose if I did put the MTs on the alloys?

Thirdly...camel cut.  It's gonna need one!!!  Does anyone have any measurements in terms of how far back and how far up from the corner of the arch?  Is there a way that by being clever you can somehow retain the "crease" and not have a sharp arch?  Can you chemical metal the old "crease" inside the arch and fill/paint?

Any thoughts gratefully recieved!!!! :D

[Thrasher]

For the cut - check my gallery - http://members.mud-club.com/profiles/thrasher/gallery/ArchCutting

Did that back in 2000 I think.....

[clbarclay]

Modulars are typically and increased offset, but from what i've gathered there is not a standard offset so one set of 7x16 wheels might not be the same off set as another. Standard LR wheels are 33mm offset compared to say my modulars which are 11mm (measured from the centre of the rim to the hub surface).


I would stick with the steels for more extreme off roading as they can be repaired if damaged (or not a expensive to replace), where as alloys can't be straightened and look horrible once damaged.

[Telaren]

I have the same proble as you with the camel cut.

I found the easiest way (Although time consuming) is to cut the back a bit at a time and test it.

I have cut about 2.5" off from the trim down so far and I think it may need about another 1/2".

Trial and error

There appears not to be a hard and fast rule.

Good luck and keep us informed.

If you find a way or retailing the edge let us know.

Cheers Taz

[BigA]

I folded my arches rather than cut them, so as to not have a sharp edge, this does cause some paint cracking but its not that bad (Especially if you look at it in the dark with a squint). For the amount to be removed, i just looked at the distance available with the wheel on and jacked up, and took a gestimate as to how far back to go, by the amount of space at the front of the wheel  :?  

I have my Muds on modulars all the time, and use my vehicle daily, with no problems, and the noise doesn't seem to be an issue, I did have an old 90 before though, so i guess anything is an improvement  :lol:

Hope this helps?

[Iain C]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I guess that I will get the muds put on the alloys, I just really like the look, and I have to say although the tyres look well'ard on the truck, the grey mods really do make it look quite dull.

I think that the mods I have must have a big offset as the spare fits on the door no problem with the 265 on it and I have not needed to do anything to the steering stops.  So I'll hang on doing the cut until after I have swapped them over, as I have a feeling that I might not need to chop as much away.  

Thrasher, exactly how did you get such a great looking finish?  Really does look good...I was half thinking of chemical metalling a lip onto the back of the arch following the cut and filling the slight gap.  

Can you do me a huge favour?  Can you measure along the bottom of the rear edge so I can work out how much you have chopped out, and also where the new profile starts, is it where the rubber strip is?

How did you get on with steering lock on the freestyle alloys?  Are you using wheel spacers?

Thanks all!!! :D

[Jason2985]

:lol:
Did my camel cut yesterday, (Tuesday). a local green lane provided me with a template to cut to. :lol:
I have 265/70/16`s on black modulars. i knew i needed to do a camel cut but never got round to doing it, well not till i had a template any way.
This green lane is in Horwich nr Bolton, called Georges Lane, it was featured in LRO a bit back by 2 series 1`s 88" i think.
Any hoo i did the lane backwards to the mag and encountered a real axle twister, had the Disco pivoting between opposite corners with the nose in the air.
A crude way of making a template i know and it did make me cringe when the metal was bending.
It was not my intention of doing a template this way :lol: , it was an accident.
A rear spring came off its top mount, and the anti roll bar ended up the other way round making the car higher on one side. :lol:
I laughed my sides sore.

Jay

[Thrasher]

If you look carefully you'll see it start at the very top of the wheel arch and flows down - and then note where my mud-flaps are - they haven't moved ;-)

[Iain C]

Ah, good point about the mudflaps.

How did you "refold" it then?  DIY or bodyshop job?