Has any CAT owner out there had experience with lift kits and wheel spacers. I just bought a 2001 AC 500 Auto and when the warranty runs out I plan to turn it into a mean mudder with 28" tires and all the goodies I can get for it.

Since tires that big require a lift kit I am a little unsure whether I should just go with 26" tires and loose the lift kit.

If you do put a lift kit on it seems like a good idea to compensate for the extra height with the wheel spacers to assure stability. Besides, "wider is better" as the Pontiac commercials would lead you to believe.

Also, how is handling impacted by both?

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

 

You know, you can fit 27" stock without the lift or spacers. Just a thought, might be worth looking into if you don't want to add the lift/spacers.

Mike

 

Dreymac: Checkout Scotto's AC 500 at his website of a resurrected Cat. It is in the forum posted earlier. He also is on the Hi-Lifter page of readers rides, about 6 or 7 pages into the rides. That will tell you all the mods he did.
I ride with him, and the machine IS awesome. The spacers were necessary because the tires rubbed the shocks when turning. The only drawback I see is that the wheels are out beyond the stock fender skirts a couple of inches, and it throws mud like a *****!!!!
You might also checkout his profile and email him to get some personal input.
Hope this helps...good luck!

 

You can fit 27" on it stock and it will still have a lot of room to tell the truth. I have 27" Bi/Tri Claws on my stock rims (which balloon the rear Tri Claws making them stand up taller- I run lower pressure to keep the sizes even) and they still have plenty of room. To be honest, you might just fit the 28" under there without having to lift it. I think it would work. You can get the Dirtwheels July or August issue with the Mud Tire Specs in it and see what the actual diameter of the 28" tires is. They measured them all and told what pressure was in them when they measured. None was really over 28". In fact, I think the Outlaws measured under 28. When I mounted my Claws, they had 9lbs. of air in them and were just almost 28" tall. Of course I lowered the pressure, but when they did have 9lbs. they still fit fine. The only problem I could see you having would be wide tires on the front rubbing the shocks. Wheel spacers would correct that if you had wide outlaws or something. As far as fender clearance goes, I'm pretty sure any 28" tire will easily clear the fenders on the top and side both front and rear. Unless you just really want to lift it, I think you can get this 28" setup you want without the lift. That is, as long as everything sets up the same from 99 models to 2001, and I think they are the same as far as frame and plastic goes.

 

Andy:
Any luck with the SP yet? How about buyers for the 'Cat? Hope all is going well.

Mike

 

Thanks everyone for the valuable feedback!

As a point of clarification I am considering the lift kit to keep the my belly above the mud and not so much for suspension clearance. It's good to know you don't really have to have it just to run the bigger tires.

My real concern is handling. That's why I asked about the spacers. My plan is to:

1) Lift it to keep it off the mud.
2) Install spacers on the back only to give more suspension clearance and stability.
3) Slightly smaller tires on the front than the back to maintain handling.
4) Big *** tires on the back for traction.

My hope is that I'll get good handling and ride on trails, which I do the most of, and nothing will stop me getting across the creeks that get in my way.

So the real question is should I put the same size tires on both front and rear and spacers on both too?

Sound like a plan? I'm real new to ATVing and am having the time of my life. Only wish I could have afforded it sooner.

 

When you say smaller do you mean narrower or shorter in height?

IF you mean narrower that is fine, but you will need the same size tires(height) on the front as in the back or you risk damage to it.

 

He means narrower. I must say that the 495's turn about 3 times as bad as the 27" Bi-Claws do on my quad. I don't see how people with 12" tires on the front can stand to turn the thing.

 

If I ever get my Tri_claws mounted up I will tell you how hard it is. Nothing I can't handle, I bet.

 

Thanks again for the feedback.

I meant narrower not shorter.

I got stuck (WARN got me out) in the mud for the first time Saturday with the OEM tires (25X10 Titan 489's I think) so I placed an order with HighLifter this morning for 27x12-12 Tri-Claws for the rear and 27X9.75-12 Bi-Claws for the front.

They assured me that 27s will fit on a Cat without a lift kit or spacers so I'll add them later if necessary. FYI: HL also said that the AC lift kits are not yet available with an ETA of 2-4 weeks at the reduced price of $79.95.

I'll keep you informed as to the impact on handling.