Rickson wheels...

[MMeier]

... any of you have an order with them? Friend of mine that was trying to get a set was informed that it may be several months before they are able to get any more out!! Getting rid of my goodyears (started getting those damn tears again) :{ and putting on some Michelin LTX M/S's for the time being, did the front ones tonite and should have the 4 off the back by next weekend!! Sayonara GY POS's !!

 

[SRadke]

I've had an order in for a really long time. They've been having difficulty with their chromer and havn't gotten anybody to tool up and make the aluminum ones with the right offset for the new trucks. The wait continues...

 

[MMeier]

IIRC, the letter said something about the supplier of the blanks for the wheels not coming through on their end, and that Rickson was contemplating doing everything in house anyway, this just gave them a reason to, and that they have to get all the machinery in and such before anymore are available.

 

[SRadke]

That's the basic story I've been getting for a while now...

 

[DOWG]

My new wheels are in transit (UPS) and will be delivered on January 31, 2006. I placed the order in November, 2005.



I was not pleased with the delay. However, having owned a set of Ricksons before and then researching for possible alternatives, I decided to wait.



Based on my "function over form" mind set (steel wheels), Rickson's match mounting wheel balancing process, and my experience driving the 1st set over 200,000 miles, there were no alternatives.

 

[EricBu12]

I love my ricksons and they are worth the wait. They are a little heavy and ride a little harsher... ... but for towing, You can't beat it. I have a 15K 5th and I average 10 MPG in hilly and hot climate.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Rolled back in last night from picking up my Denver Off Road bumber from Layne in Palisade, CO. It was a good opportunity to assess the ricksons driving on a variety of roads and surfaces from 4" of fresh snow from Jackson to Bondurant, dry in southern WY, gravel on WY 430, dry in CO, fresh falling from Fruita to Vernal, salted slush from Vernal to Flaming Res, ice and snow pack from Flaming Res, dry from Rock Springs to Cora, snow pack and icy from Cora to Moran including the worst whiteout across Antelope Flats I've been in yet.



Over all impressions are very positive. The Hankook DH01 drivers didn't miss a beat on the slick roads and I was impressed. I have the AH06s for steers and they are as smooth as silk, much better than the Interco Truxus MTs that came on the truck.



This was my first gravel road driving where WY430 pavement ends at the CO border and it is gravel-old surface through Irish Canyon to CO318. The 19. 5s were rougher on the gravel but not annoyingly so. I have also noted that while traveling on snowplowed roads the 19. 5s are rougher where there the snow plow has "chattered" the snow pack.



What takes some getting use to is how the steers will follow ruts more than 16s on snow pack rutted roads and where heavy truck traffic has wallowed out the roads. Although this is a negative, I have become use to how they handle differently.



Commentary: Spent the night in Vernal because I really didn't want to do 191 at night with snow falling. Apparently they rarely see snow in Vernal country. "Dudes" driving around spinning their tires and fishtailing just for funsies. What really had me POd was driving over 50 miles of salted slush from Vernal to Wyoming border. My truck was white with salt when I got to Rock Springs. I could feel it rusting as I drove. Much prefered the snow pack and ice in WY. It was too cold by the time I got to Pinedale and north to wash it off and will have to do so ASAP.



Edit: Oh yeah, forgot, had a hotdog in a Nissan Pathfinder from CO pass me just outside Dinosaur. Remember the pea green vehicle because I thought "In a hurry, huh?" The next morning saw the vehicle about 100' off the road covered with snow. He had made it as far as almost to the top of the big long ridge that runs to Rock Springs. Must have been moving to get that far off the road. Lucky he didn't pull this hat trick at the big drop off just before you get to the Salt Wells road. Looks like a place where they wouldn't find you til spring.

 

[robertyoke]

My new wheels are in transit (UPS) and will be delivered on January 31, 2006. I placed the order in November, 2005.



I was not pleased with the delay. However, having owned a set of Ricksons before and then researching for possible alternatives, I decided to wait.



Based on my "function over form" mind set (steel wheels), Rickson's match mounting wheel balancing process, and my experience driving the 1st set over 200,000 miles, there were no alternatives.

what!! I orderded mine in september 05 and still waiting. here is the latest letter from rickson



Rickson Truck Wheels

A Division of A Wayne Arley Company, Inc.



19. 5″ Heavy-Duty

Wheel & Tire Upgrades

11204 McCormick Road

Hunt Valley, MD 21031

1-800-587-7633





January 29, 2006



Dear Robert:



Thank you for your order for Rickson 19. 5″ forged aluminum wheels, and for your patience as we have endured an unprecedented delay in receiving them from our manufacturer. As you may know, although we now manufacture our steel wheels here at our facility in Maryland, we have been contracting-out the manufacturing of our forged aluminum wheels. Traditionally, when we submit a Purchase Order to our supplier the turn-around time has been about eight weeks. In August, we submitted our usual stock order with them and for various, vague reasons, the delivery date was delayed multiple times. This of course became a tremendous source of frustration for us and certainly for you as well. To make a long story a little shorter, they finally came to us yesterday and disclosed that although they will be happy to sell us forged “blanks”, they are no longer able to do the actual machining and polishing of the wheels - the final processes. Unhappily, we wondered why we were not told about this far before now instead of what we have been given: countless, empty excuses for the delays. As fate would have it, we had already been planning to bring these operations in-house, and had recently placed orders for the necessary machinery.



This is all very exciting news for our company’s future and will finally afford us control over the manufacturing processes for both steel and forged aluminum, however, the news is bittersweet: our supplier has put us in an extremely unpleasant position regarding your current forged aluminum wheel order and we sincerely regret any inconveniences this may be causing you. Based on the equipment delivery schedule we have been given, we expect to be producing our own forged wheels within the next 12-14 weeks and will be very happy to fill your order as soon as possible. Naturally, if you cannot continue to wait, we more than understand; as you know, we have not charged anything to your credit card at this point and will not until the day we ship your wheels as is our company policy. There are several relatively immediate alternatives to consider if you are not able to wait for the forged aluminum wheels:



Single Rear Wheel (SRW) Dual Rear Wheel (DRW)

Powder Coated Steel Wheels Powder Coated Steel (with or without simulators)

Cast Aluminum Wheels by Vision



We can deduct 10% off the price of any of these options if you wish to switch and we could deliver these to you within 3-4 weeks upon changing the order. If you would like to discuss this letter or other options, please call or e-mail either Heather (heather@ricksontruck.com) or Scott (scott@ricksontruck.com) and they will be happy to assist.



Again, all of us at Rickson are very disappointed with our supplier’s lack of communication regarding their decision to make these changes in their manufacturing infrastructure and mostly, we regret the effects this may have on your need for wheels and tires. Thank you for your understanding during this period.



Sincere regards,





Daniel R. Richter

Owner/President

Rickson Truck Wheels



-robert

 

[DOWG]

robertyoke, I ordered the steel wheels. The aluminum wheels are the ones backordered. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Parks]

I have the steel wheels also, I am extremely happy with mine. The best aftermarket item I have added to my truck without a doubt.

So far I have put a little over 3000 miles on them sense the end of December and It just keeps getting better.

 

[SRadke]

The crome steel wheels with 2000+ model year offset are also backordered.