Aussie Power Wagon

[Waspworks]

P.S - Mine has 18100 miles on the clock.

Greg.

[aussiecowboy]

Hi again Aussiecowboy.
I have been doing some detective work and found local (Perth) supply of 255/100R16 XZL tyres.
I am waiting on a fixed quotation on supply of five with tubes and flaps and will report the outcome.
Michelin Australia ARE stocking them. No reports of any 11.00R16 sitting around the place, but I believe they are too big on our trucks anyway.


Greg.

Thats great news mate, I'll be very interested to see what they come back with. Heck, if my guy draws a blank then I might end up buying there too. They certainly look the goods.

The wheel arches on the Aussie beds are smaller than the US beds, I did some measuring, 11.00x16 will fit on the front ok but will be too tight on the rear of mine.

You've got me beat on miles, mine has 21,603 on it.

[aussiecowboy]

Great find.
Like Tom, I noticed the headliner - very rare to see an original.
Also the gauges are different than the US trucks - makes it interesting, along with the "support" under the spare tire. I am not sure I have seen that before.
On a different note, I wonder if the Aussie guys ever thought about having a PW Rally in Oz some time?. Those here in the US, Canada and other countries, who have a trip to Australia on their bucket list, would have one other interesting event/place to visit while there!
Not sure if we could bring STA's along in our luggage though ;)

It's a grand idea, if you assembled every Power Wagon in Aus though, you wouldn't need a very big parking lot for them. In almost a decade of looking, I've seen three including mine.

[Waspworks]

The wheel arches on the Aussie beds are smaller than the US beds, I did some measuring, 11.00x16 will fit on the front ok but will be too tight on the rear of mine.

You mean because the rear bed is wider on ours (i have same wide Aussie bed) and would not accommodate wider tires, or do you think the arches are a different diameter?

I have always thought the 11.00 tires to look too "balloony/moon-buggyish/too much tire" and in fact just too big on the 16" wheels.

Respect to the folks who have gone down that path. Just saying its not my cup of tea.

Greg.

[aussiecowboy]

I don't think width is a problem, the wheel arches extend a long way into the tray. The diameter is the problem, from my measurements, with a tyre of 37" diameter there will be about 2" of clearance between the tyre and bottom front of the wheel arch. You might shoe horn an 11.00x16 in but if it picks up mud and rocks then you'd be in trouble.

[Waspworks]

Ahh haa... The penny has just dropped.

I have been scratching my noggin for a while wondering exactly how and where our Aussie bodies are different from the original U.S versions.

My body is under a tarp at the moment, therefore, not being mounted to the truck I dont have the opportunity to sit and study.

We know our bodies are wider in the bed while the guards are in the same place, so i'm thinking the inner wheel well cover must impose further into the wheel area---- Then it hit me.. Ours have HUGE deep guards by comparison.

An Aussie made body on the left, vs mudguard style on a standard U.S body. My guards are quite dented so it looks like I may as well manufacture (if I cant locate a decent pair) some new slim style guards.

[aussiecowboy]

Also the Aussie bed has a lot more of the wheel arch inside the bed than the US version, the width of the fenders is very different. That's where the extra bed width comes from.

[aussiecowboy]

Any news on the tyres mate?

[Waspworks]

Tyre quote is in....

Any news on the tyres mate?

Hi ACB.

I work remote from home Tuesday to Friday and leave my computer at the clients premises rather than cart it 240kms a day and set up each day.
I have been keeping an eye on this thread on my mobile but couldnt respond till now.

After talking with Michelin Australia on Monday, I was told the retail price of the XZL 9.00/R16 was $715ea + GST. I was also told they have stock in Perth and can deliver immediately.
I went to visit the local Perth Michelin agent on Monday and received this information Tuesday.

"Good morning Greg,
I have been able to get you the quote you were inquiring about for the Michelin XZL 255/100R16
Your cost per tyre will be $815.00 including tubes and fitting costs.
If its something you want to be done soon I will just need a days nitice to organize the stock to be delivered."

I responded:

Many thanks for the information Sean but quotation seems to be at FULL recommended retail for this tyre?
Is there no discount that could be offered?

Can you please offer a breakdown of cost that shows your offer on tyres only + offer on flaps and tubes + offer for total with fitting.


Suppliers reply was:

Hi Greg,
Not a problem basically the recommended retail price should have been $787.00 +$11.00 fitting+$61.00 for hd tube
the quote I gave you was slightly reduced to $740.00 for the tyre and $11.00 for fitting and $61.00 for tube and rust band and I wouldn’t be able to go any lower than what was quoted unless you need it urgently because the tubes from Michelin are unavailable for up to two months
if that’s the case and you need it straight away we could get you a cheaper tube and band for $40.00 but would void the warrenty of the tyre

So it looks like a minor discount but better than nothing.

Expensive tyres but I will probably only be doing 3>5K kms a year so will undoubtably last a long time.

I have evaluated the idea of manufacturing 16>17" x 8>10" wide standard rims, but 37" modern tyres are still in the region of $600 per and the rims would cost around $250 each... Not much to gain short term.

P.S - I was enquiring about a set of 5 tyres - Maybe they can do better for a mini group buy?
P.S2 - Price is inclusive of GST.

Greg.

[aussiecowboy]

Cheers Greg. Out of curiosity, what do you do?

Expensive tyres I agree but I'm in the same boat as you, for the miles I'll cover they should last me many years, I'd be happy to go for them at that price. I wonder if buying 10 would make a difference, I'd need to factor in freight from Perth too of course.

I have emailed another dealer local to me for prices (I work remote too, really, really remote) as the first never got back to me. I'll keep you posted. I'm really looking forward to driving mine with tyres that are actually round.

[Waspworks]

Cheers Greg. Out of curiosity, what do you do?

Expensive tyres I agree but I'm in the same boat as you, for the miles I'll cover they should last me many years, I'd be happy to go for them at that price. I wonder if buying 10 would make a difference, I'd need to factor in freight from Perth too of course.

I have emailed another dealer local to me for prices (I work remote too, really, really remote) as the first never got back to me. I'll keep you posted. I'm really looking forward to driving mine with tyres that are actually round.

Industrial Engineering Design.

I will probably order my 5 within the next couple of weeks so let me know if you would like to buy together and I can put the screws on.
I can get a price for shipping TNT express (customers account with very good rates). You are QLD as I recall - What town? May even be able to have them internal transfer through the supply company = Aus biggest Michelin dealer outlets all states.

Looking forward to shooting the breeze when your on dry land.

Greg.

[aussiecowboy]

Mate, if you have the time/inclination to put the screws to them and see what freight might cost then please do. I'd have no objection to buying in WA and shipping. As you say, internal transfer might even be an option. I'm in VIC, Echuca 3564. Your timeline would work well with me, I'm home in 3 weeks and would like to have them fairly soon afterwards.

I'm looking forward to a chat as well.

[aussiecowboy]

Have you had a chance to speak to your guy about a larger quantity at all mate? I can't even get my local guys to answer me about it!

[aussiecowboy]

Never mind mate, my guy came back to me. I have ordered 5 at $725 per tyre including fitting and tubes. Michelin in Melbourne only had 6 of them. I'm very excited.

[Waspworks]

Never mind mate, my guy came back to me. I have ordered 5 at $725 per tyre including fitting and tubes. Michelin in Melbourne only had 6 of them. I'm very excited.

Good work.. Includes gst or plus?

Best I put the word on the supplier over here - What is the name of your bunch?

Greg.