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Proper backspace and wheel size for Dana 60 and 14BFF

handloader90

handloader90

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I've got a 14BFF and I'm trying to source a Dana 60.

I would like to go ahead and buy some wheels, but before I do I want to make sure I know the best amount of backspacing and wheel size for this setup.

I don't want to have to grind the calipers on the Dana 60.

I want some of those Trail Worthy Fab H1's, but I don't have 1k to spend on just wheels.

What is the best backspace for these axles?

Out of 16" and 16.5" wheels which has more options for tires?

Any recommendations a specific wheel? Not really looking for any kind of beadlock.
 
No grinding required with 16 or 16.5 wheels. Most will be in the 4 to 4.5" backspacing range for 8-10" wide wheels.
 
Ok. Is there a certain amount of backspace that is preferred? Also, which is a more popular size of wheel that has the most options for tires16" or 16.5"?
 
What size tires are you planning on running? I would look into tires and decide what fits your budget and then pick wheels. I would think a 16" would be easiest, but you can go 16.5" and run the 37" bfg off the H1's which you can find everywhere. Up to you.
 
I thought the H1 had to be recentered?

So I can buy a set of H1's off of Craigslist and run them as is with no modification?
 
I meant as far as tires go if you decided to do a 16.6" rim, you can find the bfg's from the H1 all day.

Wheel's themselves do have to be recentered, not sure what that runs.
 
You do not have to recenter hmmwv wheels. You can run dually hubs on the front axle and they'll bolt up no problem. I used to run 1.5" spacers front and rear and had no problems, but recently put 3" spacers on the rear and left the 1.5" spacers on the front, so the rear was the same width as the front.
I haven't looked at tires in awhile, but I'd imagine there being a better availability in a 17" wheel over the 16" or 16.5".
 
I'm looking at the Marsh 16.5" OFF ROAD NON BEADLocK STEEL WHEELS

I plan on running the 37x12.5x16.5 BFG Baja T/A military take-offs.

Marsh offers the wheel width of 8.25", 9.75" and 12".

Is the 9.75" wide option the best for running the 12.5" wide tire?

Also, they use whichever offset I choose. Which would be THE BEST offset to use?
 
The only reason to run 16.5" rims is so you can use the surplus Hummer tires, period. That size has the most limited tire selection out there by far and a poor bead design. For the bead design I wouldn't worry that much about it if you don't air down for off-road. For tire selection I think Interco (Super Swamper) is about the only company still offering 16.5 tires besides for the surplus Hummer tires.

I looked up the Marsh wheels and really don't see any advantage to their non-beadlock wheels when you can get the exact same thing a lot cheaper off the shelf. Unless you want beadlocks or a special offset or size not available elsewhere not sure why somebody would spend the money.
 
Good points made. I don't plan on airing down at all. I guess those white $77.00 wheels would be a better choice for me.
 
What 6.2 said about tires is so true. Only two companies make new 16.5 and they are not cheap, as in price. BFG, and Interco

The only reason to go to 16.5 is if you have a cheap way to get military take offs. As in really cheap. Considering you can find a used "whatever" in a different size rim.

Be careful of the date codes of the hummer take offs also. After 10 yrs most tire shops will not mount them.
 
handloader90 said:
Was it just a SOB to get the tire on the wheel or keeping the bead?
Click to expand...
It was a real pain to set the bead when mounting them. I never took them offroad so I never aired them down. Had a valve core leak overnight once. Went to leave for work the next morning, totally flat and the bead was popped, couldn't get it to set. Had to take it to a tire shop and the used a bead blaster to set it for me.

Pitbull also makes tires for a 16.5 wheel. Hummer double beadlocks are only getting more popular for the offroad crowd. I don't see Interco or Pitbull stopping production of 16.5 tires for quite awhile.
 
Yea my point of running 16.5 is becasue the mil take-offs are so cheap. New tires are so damn expensive. The 33" BFG All terrains on my truck were $200+ each.
 
kgblazerfive said:
Only two companies make new 16.5 and they are not cheap, as in price. BFG, and Interco
Click to expand...

For BFG I think you can only get a 33x12.50 or 35x12.50 All-Terrain for a 16.5 rim. Pitbull makes a few 16.5 sizes in a couple of their styles.

I don't doubt you will be able to get new 16.5 tires for a long time because of the off-road crowd using the H1 wheels, but your tire selection is still going to be very limited. Not a lot of people who want H1 double bead locks are looking for smaller radial tires:whistle:. Most of the 16.5's available are larger (37"+) aggressive bias ply tires
 
I plan on running 37" tires on my cucv axles. I was just comparing the price of my 33×12.5x15 to some mil take-offs. I'll probably go with a 17" rim so I don't have to grind the calipers up front. The 17" when should have a good tire market for a long time I'm guessing.
 
backspacing

Best backspacing is going to have to do with how much you want the tires sticking out and the amount of lift/sheetmetal you want to trim away. The more the tires stick out, the more lift/clearance you will need. Here are a couple of pics of about 5.5" of backspacing and the tires don't stick out at all. They are 35 x 12.5 x 17 bfg AT on h2 hummer wheels.

IMG_0666.jpg

IMG_0667.jpg
 
Your best bet with 16.5" tires, is to run stock steel GM wheels.

Martin
 
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