Just Ordered 19.5" Rickson Wheel Set

[DPeltonen]

Just ordered a set of Rickson Eliminators with 265/70 DH01 Hankooks installed. When I ordered Dave told me to expect them in three weeks. Just got a call saying everything is in stock and they will ship tomorrow. I guess that is better than the 14 month horror story I read about a few days ago.



I looked at the Vision 81 and the Brentz wheels. At $800 each for the Brentz, I figured that was too pricey. The Vision were supposedly available here in California, but I never could seem to get a decent price on them. Last quote was the same as Rickson and I decided the extra cash for the forged was worth it to me.



Delivered price is $3868. 04. Not cheap, but I wanted make sure I had round, balanced tires on a strong wheel (that I enjoyed looking at). I chose the Eliminators for the weight and semi stock appearance. At 32 lbs they are close to the stock wheels in weight and I wanted to limit the unsprung weight as much as possible. With as much weight on the axles as there is, heavier tires and wheels translate to a rougher ride and greater wear on the truck, not to mention the significant increase in kinetic energy to try and stop.



Since this is not a blog, I'll quit here. Getting a little verbose in my old age. :-laf

 

[Bertram65]

Those look nice, how much heavier are the 265/70/19. 5" tires than 265/70/17", and what about the increased diameter? the diameter will probabably have more of an effect than the increased weight on acceration and braking.

 

[BGlidewell]

without pictures of these said wheels on your truck, it's harder to believe you actually have them



I am definitely going to get some of these once the greenback fairy visits me.

 

[DPeltonen]

without pictures of these said wheels on your truck, it's harder to believe you actually have them

I would love to see what they look like too... ... too bad they are not supposed to be delivered until next week. I'll post a pic when I get them mounted.



As far as the weight goes, I plan to weigh them and compare with the stock tires. The diameter is supposedly 3" larger, or about an additional 9. 2% arm to fight on a stop. The Rickson site says ~70 mph true at 64 mph indicated, taking the additional diameter into consideration.

 

[DPeltonen]

Got the tires yesterday and mounted them. It appears that they extend 1" beyond the fenders front and rear. The old wheels weighed in at 75 lbs. The new ones are a hefty 125 lbs each. The new wheels and tires added a total of 200 lbs to the truck. The initial pressure is set at 70 psi and the ride appears to be acceptable.



One note: I was surprised to receive 1 new wheel and 3 used wheels. The used wheels have rust markings transfered to the inside where the wheel mates to the hub, and there are marks on the outside of the wheel where shouldered lugnuts had been used. All the wheels have been cleaned and buffed, but the evidence of previous use and scratches were not removed from the previous use. I will ask Rickson why they sold me used wheels. They charge a 20% restocking fee for returned items, which adds up to $300 I should have saved on these wheels.

 

[Parks]

Looks great!!!

 

[MAshley]

Looks good but is the last photo with the 19. 5 ? they just don't look big enough on the truck... .



how do they ride?

Do you haul? and or tow?

looking to find out the driveability of the truck? especially when towing heavy.

 

[NJones]

If you will, let us know what they say about selling you used wheels for $3800.

 

[MMeier]

If you will, let us know what they say about selling you used wheels for $3800.

What I was thinking also!!

 

[SBeretz]

Your truck looks great, the wheels and tires look stock (in a good way). . Scotty

 

[DPeltonen]

I received this e-mail at 7 PM last night.



"Don,



I just received your e-mail at home this evening and wanted to respond immediately. We do sometimes sell used wheels for various reasons and always disclose that to customers and always discount the wheels. In this case, I'm afraid we were duped by one of our customers and my guys in the shop weren't very observant. We had a set returned to us recently because the customer needed some additional machining done on them for a custom application. We thought it would be easier to just machine them a new set with the features they needed than to re-work the “new” set they returned. My shop was supposed to touch-up polish the wheels just as we would normally have to do after machining or in this case, after normal handling. Neither the manufacturing shop nor the shipping department ever alerted anyone that wheels appeared to have been mounted and I figured the customer had only test fit one to determine that the additional machining needed to be done. I'm familiar with my customer's project vehicle I know the wheels were never driven on, but from your pictures it appears that they did mount them on the vehicle. I'm truly embarrassed about this as we would never intentionally deceive anyone when it comes to our products. If we ran our business that way, I don't think we'd still be here. If I were the customer, I would feel exactly the same way you do and although I appreciate that you're not going to return the wheels, I do insist that we issue you a credit. I'll give you a call tomorrow.



Thanks,



Dan



Daniel R. Richter

Rickson Truck Wheels

Rickson Wheel Manufacturing

11204 McCormick Road

Hunt Valley, MD 21031

Phone: 410-771-9501

Fax: 410-771-9504

www.ricksontruck.com <http://www.ricksontruck.com/>

-- email address removed --"



It certainly appears to me that a genuine mistake was made, and Rickson Truck is interested in making good. I know we all have encountered difficulty in the past with vendors, this is one of the most rapid responses I have ever had from a vendor. I'll keep everyone posted on how this shakes out.

 

[Glen Pratt]

Wow, That's good to know. Let us know what kind of discount they credit you. Sounds pretty stand up to me. Glad it worked out for you and the wheels do look nice.

 

[DPeltonen]

Looks good but is the last photo with the 19. 5 ? they just don't look big enough on the truck... .



how do they ride?

Do you haul? and or tow?

looking to find out the driveability of the truck? especially when towing heavy.

Big enough??? My back seems to think they are plenty big..... Yes the last photo are the actual wheels. I actually feel the difference in ride height even though it only raised the truck 1. 5". I'm glad they do not look especially large, I wanted to keep a stock appearance to the truck. That was the reason I got the Eliminators, no one seems to recognize that they are not stock.



I tow a 2006 39' Holiday Rambler 5th wheel (37RLQ). I have not towed with these wheels yet (been 2 days since I put them on), but I was within 100lbs of the tire limit on the stock tires so I upgraded to 19. 5. They, of course, are larger tires and as such raise the overall gearing. My handheld GPS showed 54. 0 mph with 50 mph indicated on the speedo. Translates to an 8% raise in gearing. I am waiting to see what change is indicated on my milage. I averaged 19 mpg in mixed driving before the change. I expect to see a slight reduction due to the increase in weight.



I'll post a towing update on the towing forum after I tow the first time with these wheels.

 

[BGlidewell]

I'm interested in this picture, is this the extent of the used appearance or is there more? Looks like a lot of scratches...
#ad

 

[Semicrazy]

I'm interested in this picture, is this the extent of the used appearance or is there more? Looks like a lot of scratches...

#ad

BGlidewell,

That picture is from the rear/back of the rim where it contacts the hub so you will never see that or those scratches. The picture above that one with the round circle scratches in the finish around the lug holes on the front side of the rim is what would bother me.

 

[DPeltonen]

I'm interested in this picture, is this the extent of the used appearance or is there more? Looks like a lot of scratches...

#ad

Those scratches are on the part of the wheel that mates to the hub. I imagine they were caused by the studs when the wheel was getting lined up during installation.



I am guessing the round gouges on the other side were caused by a deep socket on an impact wrench. The normal lugs would not allow this, but considering the wheels were used on a non-standard install, I could see how other lug nuts would allow this to happen if the operator was not careful. I originally thought they may have been from a shouldered lug nut, but there really is not enough room in the lug holes for that type of nut.

 

[DPeltonen]

I just spoke to Dan Richter and will receive a $75 credit per wheel. Based on his cost and the return fees he charges, I am satisfied. I believe this is an honest and appropriate credit for the situation. As the lawyers like to say, "I have been made whole".



The wheels look great, and since there is no damage other than cosmetic (that does not show when mounted on the truck) I am happy with the outcome. I just wish there were more vendors like Rickson Truck that stood behind their products!

 

[Parks]

I agree with you. What a great example of customer service.

Be sure to submit some photo's to Rickson's so they can put them on there website.

Brandon

 

[JPereira]

Don,



The truck looks very good. Nice 5th also. I am planning on purchasing the very same rim size/tire size as you went with. Trying to determine what tire to purchase. I would like more of a highway tread as that is where I spend most of my time.



Can you determine yet if you will be adding fender flares?

Are the tires you selected noisy while driving?



I have not weighed my stock tire and rim. I have the factory steel rim but I do not think they are 125 lbs. I was hoping originally that going for steel to aluminum would help offset the heavier tire but had no idea they were that much heavier.



Thanks, Jeff

 

[PRawls]

Has anybody had these tires in the sand? I'm assuming airing them down doesn't do a hill of beans with sidewalls like that. Figure it could almost stand up by itself without any air at all. Just curious since I frequent Hatteras, NC.