Originally Published in Issue 35 of 4Low Magazine
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By Christian Sturtz, [email protected]
Photos by Christian Sturtz
Off-road upgrades can be hell on a budget; sometimes, the changes need to be done in stages. In the future, we are planning an axle upgrade on a YJ, both front and rear, but that is a big project. When we do the axle upgrade, we plan to change the wheel pattern from 5 on 4.5” to 5 on 5.5”. The reason for the change is the number of wheel options and the cost of running lockout hubs. In the meantime, the YJ needs something on it for tires and wheels; we have a set of Outlaw IIs from OMF with a beadlock conversion and Nexen Roadians MTs 35×12.5 R15s, which have held up remarkably. The only problem is the bolt pattern on the wheels is 5 on 5.5”, which is not what we have, but what we eventually want to run.
One of the best companies in the off-road business for creativeness, fit, and finish is Spidertrax. Spidertrax makes a wide array of wheel spacers and wheel adapters. They use top quality 6061T6 aluminum and anodize them a brilliant blue color that holds up for years. Spidertrax had what we needed (part # WHS004), which allowed us to bolt the 1.25” spacer adapter to the stock wheel hub with the 5 on 4.5” pattern and convert it to the 5 on 5.5” pattern. Now we can save up and accumulate parts until we have everything to do the axle swap. Spidertrax spacers are sold in pairs and made in conservative thicknesses, giving you more clearance but minimizing the stress on drivetrain components. Plus, Spidertrax spacers are very easy to install!
Sources:
Spidertrax Inc.
174 12th St. SE
Loveland, CO 80537
1-800-286-0898
www.spidertrax.com
GEARWRENCH
APEX Tool Group
910 Ridgebrook Rd. (Suite 200)
Sparks, MD 21152
1-800-688-8949
www.gearwrench.com
OMF Performance Products
8199 Mar Vista Ct.
Riverside, CA 9250
1-951-354-8272
www.OMFPerformance.com
American Racing
www.americanracing.com
Nexen Tire
21073 Pathfinder Rd., Ste 100
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
1-909-923-4011
www.nexentireusa.com
Parts Used:
Spidertrax:
Wheel Spacer Adapter x 2 (WHS004)